The most recent Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos matchup was the AFC Divisional Round on January 17, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The Broncos defeated the Bills 33–30 in overtime. Buffalo led 30–27 late in the fourth quarter, but Denver tied the game with a 50-yard field goal before Wil Lutz won it with a 23-yard field goal in overtime.

Key Statistics

Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos — January 17, 2026

StatisticBuffalo BillsDenver Broncos
Final score3033
Regulation score3030
Overtime03
Total yards449349
Offensive plays7868
Yards per play5.85.1
Passing yards266 net279
Rushing yards18370
First downs2822
Third-down efficiency10/158/16
Fourth-down attempts00
Turnovers51
Interceptions thrown21
Fumbles lost30
Penalties53
Penalty yards6820
Time of possession40:5829:18

Buffalo generated 100 more total yards and 113 more rushing yards, but five turnovers gave Denver significant short-field opportunities. The Bills ran 78 offensive plays compared with Denver’s 68.

Quarter-by-Quarter Score

QuarterBuffalo BillsDenver Broncos
1st73
2nd317
3rd73
4th137
Overtime03
Final3033

The scoring included three Josh Allen touchdown passes for Buffalo and three Bo Nix touchdown passes for Denver. Wil Lutz made four field goals, including the 23-yard overtime winner.

Career Overview

The Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos are long-standing NFL opponents. Their most recent meeting was their 43rd all-time matchup, with Buffalo holding a 24–18–1 series advantage according to Pro Football Reference. That record includes 22–17–1 in the regular season and 2–1 in the postseason.

The January 17, 2026 game was their second postseason meeting in consecutive seasons. Buffalo had defeated Denver 31–7 in the 2024 AFC Wild Card Round on January 12, 2025. Denver then won the 2025-season Divisional Round matchup 33–30 in overtime.

The 2026 game featured quarterbacks Josh Allen and Bo Nix. Allen finished with 283 passing yards, three touchdown passes and two interceptions, while Nix produced 279 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Career Statistics

Because this is a team-versus-team matchup rather than a single-player career page, the most relevant career statistic is the Bills-Broncos franchise head-to-head record.

Head-to-Head CategoryBuffalo BillsDenver Broncos
All-time meetings4343
Buffalo wins2418
Ties11
Regular-season record22-17-117-22-1
Postseason record2-11-2
Buffalo points in series971857
Denver points in series857971
Most recent meetingJan. 17, 2026Jan. 17, 2026
Most recent resultL, 30-33 OTW, 33-30 OT

Pro Football Reference lists Buffalo ahead 24–18–1 through the January 2026 meeting.

Josh Allen — 2025 Regular Season

CategoryStatistic
Games17
Starts17
Passing completions319
Passing attempts460
Completion percentage69.3%
Passing yards3,668
Passing TDs25
Interceptions10
Rushing attempts112
Rushing yards579
Rushing TDs14

Allen entered the Broncos playoff matchup after a 2025 regular season in which he accounted for substantial passing and rushing production.

Bo Nix — 2025 Season

Nix played only one game in the 2025 postseason before suffering a broken ankle during Denver’s overtime victory over Buffalo. In that game, he completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Season-by-Season Stats

Recent Bills vs Broncos Meetings

DateVenueCompetitionResult
Jan. 17, 2026DenverAFC Divisional RoundDenver 33, Buffalo 30 OT
Jan. 12, 2025BuffaloAFC Wild Card RoundBuffalo 31, Denver 7
Nov. 13, 2023DenverRegular seasonDenver 24, Buffalo 22

Denver’s official preview before the 2025 postseason noted that the teams had last met during the 2023 Monday Night Football game, when Denver won 24–22 on Wil Lutz’s late field goal.

January 17, 2026 — Main Offensive Statistics

PlayerTeamPassingRushingReceiving
Josh AllenBUF25/39, 283 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT12-66—
James CookBUF—24-1172-24
Dalton KincaidBUF——6-83, 1 TD
Khalil ShakirBUF——7-75
Dawson KnoxBUF——3-32
Ray DavisBUF——2-33
Bo NixDEN26/46, 279 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT12-29—
Marvin MimsDEN——8-93, 1 TD
R.J. HarveyDEN—6-205-46
Courtland SuttonDEN——4-53
Lil’Jordan HumphreyDEN——2-33, 1 TD

The box score confirms that Kincaid led Buffalo with 83 receiving yards, while Mims led Denver with 93 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Records

Matchup Records

  • Buffalo leads the all-time series 24–18–1.
  • The teams have played 43 games.
  • Buffalo’s postseason record against Denver is 2–1.
  • The January 17, 2026 matchup was the first overtime game between the teams in their most recent three meetings.
  • Denver’s 33 points were enough to eliminate Buffalo despite the Bills gaining 449 total yards.

2026 Divisional Round Milestones

  • Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes.
  • Bo Nix also threw three touchdown passes.
  • James Cook rushed for 117 yards.
  • Dalton Kincaid recorded 83 receiving yards and a touchdown.
  • Marvin Mims caught eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
  • Buffalo committed five turnovers.
  • Denver committed one turnover.
  • Wil Lutz’s 23-yard overtime field goal ended the game.

Awards and Honors

The matchup itself did not produce a separate official player award comparable to an MVP or Pro Bowl selection. Relevant 2025-season honors for key players included:

PlayerTeam2025 Recognition
James CookBuffaloPro Bowl; Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro
Josh AllenBuffaloPro Bowl; third in AP MVP voting
Zach AllenDenverPro Bowl; Associated Press First-Team All-Pro
Talanoa HufangaDenverAssociated Press Second-Team All-Pro
Nik BonittoDenverPro Bowl

The listed season honors are reflected in the 2025 player and team records.

Performance Trends

Buffalo’s Running Game

Buffalo’s rushing attack produced 183 yards on 36 attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. James Cook supplied 117 yards on 24 attempts, while Allen added 66 yards on 12 carries.

The Bills’ rushing advantage was substantial:

  • Buffalo: 183 rushing yards
  • Denver: 70 rushing yards
  • Difference: 113 yards
  • Buffalo average: 5.1 yards per carry
  • Denver average: 3.2 yards per carry

Passing Production

Allen and Nix finished with almost identical passing yardage totals:

QuarterbackComp/AttYardsTDINTRating
Josh Allen25/392833290.0
Bo Nix26/462793187.1

Allen produced more passing yards despite attempting seven fewer passes. Nix completed one more pass, but Denver’s passing attack required 46 attempts.

Turnover Differential

Turnovers were one of the largest statistical differences in the game:

Turnover CategoryBuffaloDenver
Interceptions thrown21
Fumbles lost30
Total turnovers51
Turnover differential-4+4

NFL reported that Buffalo’s five turnovers resulted in 16 Denver points, including an overtime interception by Allen that gave Denver possession in the sudden-death period.

Historical Context

The Bills-Broncos series has been competitive across its history. Buffalo’s 24–18–1 advantage represents a six-win margin across 43 meetings, while the postseason series is 2–1 in Buffalo’s favor.

The 2026 Divisional Round result also created a sharp contrast with the teams’ previous postseason meeting. In January 2025, Buffalo defeated Denver 31–7, with Allen throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns and Cook rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown.

One year later, Denver reversed the result despite Buffalo’s statistical advantage in total yardage and rushing production. The 2026 game therefore stands out as a matchup in which the team with the higher yardage total did not win. Buffalo had 449 yards to Denver’s 349, but Denver had the much better turnover margin.

Head-to-Head Statistics

All-Time Series

CategoryBuffalo BillsDenver Broncos
Games4343
Wins2418
Losses1824
Ties11
Regular-season wins2217
Regular-season losses1722
Postseason wins21
Postseason losses12
Total points971857

Most Recent Postseason Meetings

DateRoundWinnerScore
Jan. 17, 2026AFC DivisionalDenver Broncos33–30 OT
Jan. 12, 2025AFC Wild CardBuffalo Bills31–7
Jan. 26, 1992AFC ChampionshipBuffalo Bills10–7

The January 1992 AFC Championship Game remains the only postseason meeting before the back-to-back playoff matchups of 2025 and 2026. The 2025 and 2026 games therefore account for two of the three postseason meetings in the series history.

Recent Form

Buffalo Bills — 2025 Season

Buffalo finished the 2025 regular season 12–5 and then reached the Divisional Round after defeating Jacksonville in the Wild Card Round. The Bills subsequently lost 33–30 to Denver in overtime.

James Cook was Buffalo’s primary rushing weapon during the regular season, recording:

PlayerGamesRush AttemptsRush YardsRush TD
James Cook173091,62112
Josh Allen1711257914
Ray Davis1758275—
Ty Johnson1750200—

Cook also caught 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns.

Denver Broncos — 2025 Season

Denver finished the 2025 regular season 14–3 and entered the playoffs as the AFC’s top seed. Bo Nix started the Divisional Round against Buffalo and produced 279 passing yards and three touchdowns before suffering a broken ankle in overtime.

Denver’s defense also featured major statistical production during the season. Nik Bonitto recorded 14 sacks, Jonathon Cooper had eight, Zach Allen had seven, and John Franklin-Myers had 7.5.

Statistical Highlights

  • 33–30: Denver’s overtime victory over Buffalo.
  • 449: Buffalo’s total offensive yards.
  • 349: Denver’s total offensive yards.
  • 183: Buffalo rushing yards.
  • 117: James Cook rushing yards.
  • 66: Josh Allen rushing yards.
  • 283: Allen passing yards.
  • 279: Nix passing yards.
  • 3: Touchdown passes by Allen.
  • 3: Touchdown passes by Nix.
  • 83: Dalton Kincaid receiving yards.
  • 75: Khalil Shakir receiving yards.
  • 93: Marvin Mims receiving yards.
  • 5: Buffalo turnovers.
  • 1: Denver turnover.
  • 50: Matt Prater’s fourth-quarter field goal that tied the game at 30–30.
  • 23: Wil Lutz’s overtime game-winning field goal.
  • 43: Total all-time Bills-Broncos meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos?

The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 33–30 in overtime on January 17, 2026, in the AFC Divisional Round at Empower Field at Mile High.

Who was the leading passer in Bills vs Broncos?

Josh Allen threw for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Bo Nix threw for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Who led the Bills in rushing?

James Cook led Buffalo with 24 carries for 117 yards. Josh Allen added 66 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

Who led the Broncos in receiving?

Marvin Mims led Denver with eight receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown.

Who led the Bills in receiving?

Dalton Kincaid led Buffalo in receiving yardage with 83 yards on six receptions, including a touchdown. Khalil Shakir added seven receptions for 75 yards.

How many turnovers did the Bills have?

Buffalo committed five turnovers: two interceptions and three lost fumbles. Denver had one turnover.

Who kicked the game-winning field goal?

Denver kicker Wil Lutz made a 23-yard field goal in overtime to give the Broncos the 33–30 victory.

What is the all-time Bills vs Broncos record?

Buffalo leads the all-time series 24–18–1 across 43 games. The Bills are 2–1 against Denver in postseason meetings.

Did the Bills and Broncos play in the playoffs before 2026?

Yes. Buffalo defeated Denver 31–7 in the 2024 AFC Wild Card Round on January 12, 2025. The teams had also met in the 1991 AFC Championship Game.

When was the latest Bills vs Broncos game?

The latest meeting was January 17, 2026, when Denver defeated Buffalo 33–30 in overtime at Empower Field at Mile High.

Sources and References

Statistical note: The article uses the latest completed Bills-Broncos matchup, January 17, 2026, rather than the January 12, 2025 Wild Card game. Player statistics are separated by game and season so postseason figures are not mixed with regular-season totals.

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