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Broncos vs. Bills grades: Denver completes another comeback to advance to AFC title game

The Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in the AFC Divisional playoffs at Empower Field at Mile High.

Here are the grades from the 33-30 overtime win:

Offense

The Broncos did not take advantage of the poor Buffalo run defense as quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle in overtime and will miss the AFC Championship Game, threw the ball 46 times. But it didn’t matter. Nix was good for most of the game, except for a bad interception. He finished with three touchdown passes and 279 yards. Marvin Mims showed his big-play ability once again with 93 yards and a touchdown. Courtland Sutton was quiet most of the game until the final drive of regulation with a couple of clutch catches.

Grade: B-

Defense

How do you grade a defense that forced five turnovers but also didn’t force one punt in the game? It was an average day for the Denver defense against Josh Allen, but they forced him to fumble twice and picked him off twice, including a game-saving one by Ja’Quan McMillian. The Broncos will have to be better next week against whoever the opponent is, but it’s hard to knock forcing five turnovers.

Grade: B-

Special teams

Kicker Wil Lutz is clutch. That’s all there is to it. He was 4-for-4 on field goals, including the 23-yard game-winner in overtime.

Grade: A

Coaching

Head coach Sean Payton’s first-half gameplan looked pretty solid as the Broncos were up 20-10 going into the third quarter. In the second half, he struggled to adjust to the Bills bringing more pressure and his offense struggling. But once again, in the end, the Broncos had enough to win and Payton has his team believing.

Grade: B

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