The Denver Broncos already knew they were going to face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, regardless of the outcome of the final AFC Wild Card Round game between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Once the Texans defeated the Steelers, 30-6, the Broncos could finally find out what time they play — the No. 1 seed Broncos will host the No. 6 seed Bills at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 17, with CBS and Paramount+ handling the broadcast.
The Bills opened at -1.5-point favorites — an oddity for a No. 1 seed hosting a home playoff game to be the underdog. The other Saturday game will be the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks starting at 8 p.m. EST (Fox).
The Texans will travel to face the No. 2 seed New England Patriots in the other AFC Divisional game on Sunday, January 18, at 3 p.m. EST (ABC/ESPN), followed by the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. EST (NBC/Peacock).
“A TRIP TO THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP IS ON THE LINE,” NFL on CBS wrote on its official X account. “See you in Denver.”
Key details (quick answers)
- Divisional Round Weekend: Saturday, January 17 & Sunday, January 18
- Broncos seed: The Broncos are the AFC’s No. 1 seed and will have home field advantage through the playoffs
- Why it matters: If the Broncos defeat the Bills, they will host the AFC Championship Game
- Official game time: Saturday, January 17 at 4:30 p.m. EST (CBS/Paramount+)
Broncos, Bills Paths to AFC Divisional Round
The Broncos earned the No. 1 seed by going 14-3 in the regular season, tying the franchise record for most regular-season wins. The Bills advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with a thrilling, 27-24 road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round on Sunday, January 11, meaning they’ll get less than one week off before their next game.
It’s a rematch of last year’s playoffs, when the Broncos traveled to Buffalo and lost, 31-7, in the AFC Wild Card Round. After missing the playoffs for 8 consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2023, the Broncos are in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The Bills are in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, with 2 appearances in the AFC Championship Game in that stretch.
“I’m telling you what: As a No. 1 seed and having a bye in the wildcard, you don’t want the Bills coming into your building off a performance like that from Josh Allen and how the defense made timely plays,” Trainwreck Sports’ Ajay Cybulski wrote on X. “Doesn’t really feel like a reward for the Broncos.”
Most Important Things to Watch for Bills
There is just one thing people will pay attention to when it comes to the Bills as they approach kickoff with the Broncos. That’s the health of quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, who suffered knee and hand injuries as well as a possible concussion.
In the end, Allen still found a way to put up 306 yards of total offense and 3 total touchdowns — 1 passing and 2 rushing — as the Bills won their first road playoff game since 1992 and Allen won a playoff game with a game-winning drive for the first time in his his career.
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