The Denver Gazette sports staff predicts Saturday’s AFC divisional round playoff game between the Broncos (14-3) and the Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Empower Field at Mile High:

Paul Klee’s pick: Broncos 24, Bills 23

Is the 2025 Broncos defense in the same tier as Denver’s Orange Crush and No Fly Zone? There’s no better way to test it out than a matchup with reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen. The fiercest Denver defenders went through the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Kenny Stabler, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger in the playoffs to justify their nicknames. We’ll see what these guys are made of.

Chris Schmaedeke’s pick: Broncos 23, Bills 21

The Broncos have to score a bunch of points in this game. Seventeen will not be enough for Denver to move on to the AFC title game. But two touchdown drives and three field goals will do the trick. And like all Broncos games, the defense will have to stop Josh Allen in the final minute.

Overall record: 12-5

Chris Tomasson’s pick: Broncos 23, Bills 20

The Broncos don’t necessarily need a fast start. They scored on the first drive in the playoffs last year at Buffalo on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Troy Franklin, and look what that did for them in a 31-7 loss. The Broncos are specialists at fast finishes. Expect another one for a team that has gone 11-2 in one-score games.

Overall record: 13-4

Mark Kiszla’s pick: Broncos 16, Bills 13

As much as Broncomaniacs might love Bo Nix beating Josh Allen in a grab-the-popcorn shootout, wouldn’t fans settle for the Broncos advancing to the AFC title game in their usual defensive snoozefest?

Overall record: 11-6

Kyle Fredrickson’s pick: Bills 13, Broncos 10

Bo Nix is not Josh Allen. That is the biggest reason why Denver will be one-and-done again in the playoffs. That’s no slight on Nix, who ascended to another level in Year 2 as the Broncos starting quarterback. But the offense slumped to finish the year. Allen is the most talented QB among AFC playoff teams and seems poised for a Super Bowl run.

Overall record: 11-6