Denver will hand Jarrett Stidham the ball Sunday in the AFC Championship after starter Bo Nix suffered a right‑ankle fracture in the overtime win over Buffalo. The 29‑year‑old, a 2019 fourth‑round pick, has not thrown a pass in a regular‑season game since replacing Russell Wilson in 2023, making his first playoff start a near‑unprecedented scenario.

Veterans on the line quickly rallied behind him. Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey praised Stidham’s preparation, while defensive tackle Zach Allen called him “the first guy in the building every day.” Cornerback Pat Surtain II and edge rusher Nik Bonitto said his confidence fuels the locker room and that he’s ready to compete.

The last quarterback to make a first start in a conference title game was Roger Staubach in 1972, but Staubach had logged regular‑season action. Stidham joins Joe Webb as the only post‑1950 QBs entering a playoff start with zero passing yards that season. His performance will dictate whether Denver can topple the New England Patriots and reach the Super Bowl.