ENGLEWOOD — It’s the play that everyone quickly forgot because of what happened next.

But rookie running back RJ Harvey made one of the biggest plays in overtime, helping the Broncos capture a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.

Facing a second-and-7 inside Denver’s own 25-yard line, Bo Nix flipped a pass to Harvey in the flat, and it looked like he would pick up a minimal gain to set a manageable third down. But, Harvey made the first Bills defender miss and then ran his way through two more potential tackles before winding up with a 24-yard gain that set up the Broncos just shy of midfield and just one or two first downs away from a potential game-winning field goal.

The rookie from Central Florida only had six carries for 20 yards in the game (just the second time in the last eight games he’s had single-digit rushing attempts). Still, that play shortly before Nix broke his ankle showcased why Harvey remains a weapon no matter where he gets the ball and the Denver coaching staff believes he’s close to a breakout performance, one that could be necessary this week without Nix.

“I think (he’s) close,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday at Broncos Park. “I think he only had like six carries last week, just the way that game went. I think it’s coming. He’s had flashes of it. As we get here in late January, as an overall team, hopefully we can get more consistent in that aspect of the overall running game.”

Whether it’s with Harvey or Jaleel McLaughlin or maybe even a newly-healthy J.K. Dobbins, establishing the run will be important for a Broncos offense led by backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, especially with frigid temperatures in the forecast for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game (1 p.m. CBS) against the New England Patriots.

“You hear people talk about (how) this team is built for December, January football. That usually means you’ve got a good defense, which we do, and it means that you run the ball well, which at times we have,” Lombardi said. “I think it’s important, regardless of who the quarterback is. We live in Denver, but I feel like we’re a warm-weather team based on the weather we’ve had this winter. This’ll be different for us, as you look at the weather report. Hopefully we can go out and run the ball well and do what we need to do.”

Broncos aware of dangerous Patriots punt returner

One play can flip the momentum in a game like Sunday, where so much is on the line.

Those plays often come on special teams and the Broncos know they have to be on their toes when they will inevitably have to punt the ball away to the Patriots this week.

New England has an All-Pro punt returner in Marcus Jones, who was tied for the league lead with 17.3 yards per return this season and was one of five players who had multiple punt returns for touchdowns.

“I was telling the story today, when I was at the Saints and in the draft process, I remember watching Marcus,” Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said. “It was like one of the most unbelievable college return highlight films you’ve ever seen. It was like, ‘Man, this guy is going to be a dynamic player in the league.’ He has carried it over right into the NFL. He has the highest average ever in NFL history, punt return average. Just a dynamic player. [I] have a ton of respect for him. He’s a game changer.”

Jeremy Crawshaw’s steady improvement as a rookie

The Broncos hope their solution to solving Jones is their punter.

Jeremy Crawshaw has shown improvement throughout his rookie NFL season and he received high praise from Sean Payton for his punt in overtime last week that pinned the Bills inside their own 5-yard line.

Now, Denver will likely ask Crawshaw not only to continue to flip the field when required, but also keep the ball out of harm’s way.

“Like any rookie, I think at any position, you’re going to have peaks and valleys throughout your first year,” Rizzi said. “The one thing we always stress is just the constant improvement at every position. Really, his last two punts, the one went into the end zone, but it just missed checking out of bounds by about two yards, but he hit a bomb. Obviously, he had that punt in overtime, flipping the field and kind of getting them back and backing them up. Situational punting, winning punting as we call it, but very, very happy with him. 

“He works his tail off at all the little things that the general fan doesn’t see, so I’m happy to see him respond in a big moment just for him.”