Bills vs. Broncos live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NFL playoff game

Bills vs. Broncos live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NFL playoff game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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After their first-round bye and securing the No. 1 seed in the conference, the Denver Broncos will host the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen.

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Allen, who willed his team to a wild-card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, now sets his sights on returning to the game he has struggled to win in previous years. This time, the key difference is the absence of Patrick Mahomes and the three-time AFC champion Chiefs.

The Broncos, after going 14-3 in the regular season, are the top contenders in the AFC, in large part due to their defense. They will rely on this unit to limit Allen and company, with Mile High making it even more challenging for them to operate their offense.

The Sporting News is tracking live scores, updates, and highlights as the Broncos host the Bills in the Divisional Round. Follow along to see all the action from Mile High.

STREAM: Watch Bills vs. Broncos LIVE with Fubo (free trial)

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Bills vs. Broncos score

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Bills vs. Broncos live updates, highlights from 2026 NFL playoff game

7:30 p.m.: Nix, who has killed the Bills all game with his legs, picks up a huge third down as the game approaches under one minute.

The Broncos take a timeout to talk things over with their season on the line.

7:25 p.m.: The Broncos will now lean on Nix’s composure as they’ll need a touchdown to take the lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

Nix throws a strike to Sutton with a little over two minutes remaining on 3rd and 11. They are now at the Buffalo 38-yard line, with a chance to win the game at the two-minute warning.

Bills 27, Broncos 23

7:20 p.m. FIELD GOAL: The Bills think they might’ve scored a touchdown but it gets ruled incomplete. However, Buffalo still manages to get some points and extend the lead off of Prater’s foot.

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7:16 p.m.: Allen puts the city of Buffalo on his back and picks up a first down to keep the drive alive and continue milking the clock.

7:04 p.m.: Bills’ defense forces a stop and gives the ball right back to Allen. The Broncos’ defense will need to step up to prevent the Bills from adding to their lead.

Bills 24, Broncos 23

6:57 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Allen delivers a dime to his TE to take their first lead since the 1st quarter. The Bills erase a 13-point deficit, and now the pressure falls right back on the Broncos and Nix.

6:56 p.m.: Allen is able to connect with Khalil Shakir for a 46-yard completion. This is now the longest play the Bills have had during this game.

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6:45 p.m.: The Buffalo defense is emptying the tank when it comes to pressures on Nix. The Broncos are unable to capitalize on their second Allen turnover of the half and punt the ball right back to the Bills.

Payton elected to attempt to pin the Bills deep rather than extend their lead.

6:40 p.m.: Allen once again gives the ball to the Broncos as he forces a ball into double coverage. P.J. Locke takes the ball right back for his squad and bails out his young quarterback.

1st and 10 for the Broncos.

6:37 p.m.: In an insane turn of events, the Bills forced a turnover and are in a great position to take the lead. Nix was fooled by fake pressure and threw it right to the Bills defender for an interception.

First and 10 for the Bills at the Broncos’ 36-yard line.

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Broncos 23, Bills 17

6:32 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Allen and the Bills with a huge answer after fumbling the ball on two consecutive drives. Allen finds Keon Coleman, who extends for the score.

The Bills cut the lead to six and are right back in this ball game.

6:28 p.m.: Allen finds Dalton Kincaid for the first time all game, and he makes the most of it. Kincaid takes the pass for a 25-yard gain, which also marks the longest completion for the Bills to this point.

Allen then goes right back to Kincaid to set up a third and short, followed by a tush push for a first down.

Broncos 23, Bills 10

6:23 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Buffalo’s defense bails them out and holds the Broncos to a field goal after yet again working with a short field. Lutz has been busy and drills another short field goal.

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Denver now leads by 13, and Allen will need to show some of that playoff magic if the Bills are to come back against this defensive unit.

6:20 p.m.: History is against the Bills, and the fumble on their opening drive of the second half is not going to help.

6:18 p.m.: Ball security issues continue for the Bills as Allen is sacked and stripped. Three turnovers in five drives for the Bills and two fumbles in three snaps.

The Broncos are in a prime position to extend the lead they built.

Halftime: Broncos 20, Bills 10

6:06 p.m.: After the Bills scored the game’s first touchdown and then got the ball right back, Denver fans may have been nervous. However, Buffalo has two fumbles that the Broncos not only recovered, but scored points off.

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The Broncos could not have had a better end to the first half, scoring 10 points in 22 seconds. Buffalo will start with the ball, and Allen will look to make up for the costly fumble.

Broncos 20, Bills 10

6:00 p.m. FIELD GOAL: After a disastrous fumble by Allen with the half winding down, the Broncos took advantage of it and extended their lead.

Denver scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the first half.

Broncos 17, Bills 10

5:58 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Nix looked sharp in the two-minute drill, throwing several strikes and picking up yards with his legs.

Nix then launched a beautiful 29-yard touchdown to Humphrey to take the lead once again against the Bills. Humphrey dropped a touchdown in the first quarter, but made up for it

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5:53 p.m.: The Broncos will be without Pat Bryant after leaving the game with three catches on the game’s opening drive.

Troy Franklin is also questionable to return with a hamstring injury. The Broncos will now have to heavily rely on Sutton and Mims, who are already banged up.

5:46 p.m.: Broncos are able to cross midfield with under a minute to go in the half. Nix once again rushed for a first down.

Denver is driving and looking to score before halftime.

Broncos 10, Bills 10

5:36 p.m. FIELD GOAL: The Bills were unable to answer the Broncos’ touchdown with one of their own, but they managed to tie the game with a 33-yard field goal made by Matt Prater.

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All knotted up in Denver.

5:34 p.m.: The Bills put together a good drive on a 24-yard pass to Cook, then faced some adversity after a sack made it 2nd and long.

However, Allen connected with Bradin Cooks for a 15-yard pass to keep the drive alive.

Broncos 10, Bills 7

5:25 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Denver makes the most of the Cook fumble and scores on some trickery. Frank Crum, the offensive tackle, caught a touchdown pass from Bo Nix.

The Broncos take the lead off of some creativity from Sean Payton.

5:17 p.m.: Cook was drilled by Alex Singleton and fumbled the ball. The Broncos recovered it, and now Denver has excellent field position.

This marks Cook’s fourth fumble of the season which is tied for the most among other RBs.

5:15 p.m.: Allen scrambles for a 25-yard run, Buffalo dominating on the ground. They’ve already picked up 75 yards on only 10 carries.

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5:11 p.m.: The Broncos are unable to do anything on their second drive of the game. Courtland Sutton nearly made a diving catch on third down, but it was ruled incomplete.

The Bills will send Allen and company back onto the field, looking to extend their lead.

End of the first quarter: Bills 7, Broncos 3

5:07 p.m.: At the end of one, both offenses had promising opening drives, but only one was able to capitalize with six. Cook was spectacular on the Bills’ first drive, as was Allen.

The Broncos fumbled on the final play of the opening quarter but recovered. It will be 2 and 10 after the break for Denver

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Bills 7, Broncos 3

5:04 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: With Cook and Allen dominating Denver with the ground game, Allen only needed to complete four passes.

Allen was able to complete a 4-yard pass to Mecole Hardman to put the Bills on top just before the opening quarter is about to end.

4:55 p.m.: Pat Surtain looked shaken up and is heading towards the blue medical tent. The Broncos certainly cannot afford to lose their all-pro corner.

4:54 p.m.: After having a technical issue with his helmet, Allen was forced to call a timeout. Allen changed his helmet and is now set to go.

4:53 p.m.: James Cook picks up a chunk play on the first play for the Buffalo Bills on offense. Cook picked up 24 yards on his first carry.

Broncos 3, Bills 0

4:50 p.m. FIELD GOAL: After a dropped touchdown by Lil’Jordan Humphrey, the Broncos have to settle for a field goal in the red zone. Will Lutz drilled the 28-yarder to open up the scoring.

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4:49 p.m.: The Broncos were fortunate that a fumble was overturned due to an offside by the Bills.

4:46 p.m.: On 4th down, the Broncos once again run Nix, and he picks up the first down. The Broncos’ offense had picked up four first downs on this drive.

4:43 p.m.: After a completion for a first down on the first throw of the game, Jaleel McLaughlin showed incredible effort to gain five yards. Pat Bryant, who had three catches on the opening drive, was a bit shaken up.

On the first third down for the Broncos, Nix keeps it for a 5-yard run and first down. The Broncos are driving into Buffalo territory on the opening drive.

4:35 p.m.: Bills’ Dorian Williams on special teams was in a huge collision on the opening kickoff and is down, injury timeout in Denver.

4:33 p.m.: The Bills have deferred, which means Bo Nix and the Broncos offense will take the field first.

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4:20 p.m.: Josh Allen firing up his guys before they take the field at Denver. Allen is 8-1 in playoff games when he doesn’t play Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow.

4:18 p.m.: Almost that time from Mile High.

4:08 p.m.: Several members of the Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 winning team are in attendance, cheering on their former organization.

The Broncos will look to advance to the AFC Championship for the first time since Super Bowl 50, when that team did so in the 2015-16 season.

3:52 p.m.: Bronco legend Peyton Manning is in the building to root on his former team.

The last time the organization reached the AFC Championship was under Manning’s leadership. The Broncos eventually won the Super Bowl with that team.

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3:43 p.m.: Josh Allen warming up at Mile High.

Allen, who played at Wyoming in college, is used to elevated stadiums as his former school is the highest in the NCAA at 7,200 feet.

3:18 p.m.: Courtland Sutton can be seen warming up for the Broncos home divisional playoff game against the Bills.

Sutton was the Broncos’ leading receiver this season with 1,017 receiving yards on 74 receptions.

3:14 p.m.: The Broncos released their active and inactive lists ahead of their divisional-round game against the Bills.

3:10 p.m.: The Bills released their active and inactive lists ahead of their divisional-round game against the Broncos.

Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is officially active after coming into this contest as questionable.

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2:38 p.m.: Bills running back James Cook has arrived at Mile High to face the Broncos. The NFL rushing leader will look to have another explosive game against Denver in the playoffs.

When these two teams faced off in the postseason last year, Cook torched the Broncos for 120 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Bills’ win.

2:25 p.m.: Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has made his way out onto the field for some workouts ahead of his battle with the Bills.

Nix is looking not only to advance to the AFC Championship but also secure his first career playoff win.

2 p.m.: Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard is appearing to go through pre-game workouts out on the field. Bernard enters this game questionable with a calf injury.

Bernard was a key contributor on that Bills defense, stacking up 65 total tackles and 44 solos during the regular season.

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1:56 p.m.: Will the Denver Broncos be able to shake off the rust against a red-hot Josh Allen and company?

Quarterback Bo Nix will have to settle in and potentially close an early gap. The Broncos have not played a starting quarterback in nearly three weeks.

1:49 p.m.: Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrives to face the Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs. Allen aims to lead Buffalo to the AFC Championship for the second consecutive year.

The first two times Allen faced Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, he lost. However, this season, he would face either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans.

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1:45 p.m.: Bills defensive ends Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa arrive at Empower Field at Mile High ahead of their divisional clash with the Broncos.

Bosa will look to make an impact and reach his first ever conference championship game with a win in Denver.

1:38 p.m.: Denver will aim to get back to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

The last time this happened, Peyton Manning was the Broncos’ quarterback, and Cam Newton was the league MVP. The Broncos, of course, won the Super Bowl that year over the Carolina Panthers.

1:24 p.m.: Buffalo will look to get back to the AFC Championship for the third time in the last six seasons with an appearance in 2021 and 2025.

A win over the Broncos today would mark the eighth time the Bills organization has reached the conference championship, tying them with the Kansas City Chiefs for all-time appearances in the AFC.

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1:16 p.m.: Josh Allen has a chance to tie or make NFL history with just one rushing touchdown today against the Broncos.

Allen, sitting at nine, will only need one more to tie Jalen Hurts for the most rushing touchdowns by a QB in the postseason.

MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:

Where to watch Bills vs. Broncos

Bills vs. Broncos start time

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 17

• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. PT

Broncos vs. Bills will kick off from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 17.

What channel is Bills vs. Broncos on today?

Broncos vs. Bills will air nationally on CBS. Jim Nantz will be in the broadcast booth as the play-by-play analyst, and he will be joined by former quarterback Tony Romo serving as the color commentator. Tracy Wolfson will be the sideline reporter.

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NFL playoff schedule 2026

Wild-card round

Saturday, January 10

Sunday, January 11

Monday, January 12

Divisional round

Saturday, January 17

Sunday, January 18

Conference championship round

Super Bowl