​The Sporting News published a piece highlighting how a rarely used Broncos running back may have saved Denver from playoff defeat to the Bills in a gripping postseason clash. The game, a divisional-round showdown at Empower Field, pitted Denver against Buffalo in what many called one of the standout contests of the 2025 season. It marked a rematch from the previous year’s Wild Card matchup, intensifying the stakes and keeping fans on the edge of their seats through an overtime finish that determined who would advance to the AFC Championship Game.
Denver seized the overtime opportunity, but the sequence that defined the outcome began with a high-risk decision on fourth and 11 from their own 38-yard line. Head coach Sean Payton elected to attempt a fake punt, a move that drew immediate attention and speculation. ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported on Payton’s thought process, with Broncos insider Mike Klis noting that Payton’s plan was indeed to run the fake punt on that very play. The boldness could be compared to the infamous onside kick to start the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, though the rationale in this moment was clear: giving Josh Allen a short field could have sealed a Bills victory with a field goal.
However, the Broncos’ fate shifted when running back Tyler Badie recognized a potential giveaway scenario and checked out of the play. Denver adjusted, punter Jeremy Crawshaw delivered a booming kick that pinned Buffalo back deep in their own territory, changing the field position dynamic. On the ensuing Bills drive, Ja’Quan McMillian made a pivotal interception, setting up Denver’s eventual game-winning drive. Postgame, Payton maintained that the original plan had the right look, admitting he was upset with how it unfolded, but the decision to check out of the fake punt by Badie proved crucial in the moment.
If Denver had converted the fake punt, the Bills could have been within range of a field goal to win, or even driven to secure a victory by other means. By not attempting the gamble, the Broncos kept Buffalo in a precarious position and preserved their own opportunity to keep the game alive and push for a championship run. The sequence underscored how a single, well-timed decision by a running back in the moment can alter the course of a playoff game, especially in a sport where the margins are razor-thin and roster decisions loom large.
As the offseason looms and Denver studies its running back room, questions about who to retain, who to release, and who to place on the practice squad will be informed, at least in part, by moments like Badie’s audibles and the team’s willingness to adapt under pressure. The article notes that small, game-changing decisions—such as Badie’s choice to opt out of the risky play call—often separate players in a sport known for its fierce competition for a roster spot. Those considerations will presumably factor into the Broncos’ approach to upgrades and depth as they prepare for the 2026 season, a period when SEO-driven coverage and media narratives continue to spotlight the team’s evolving strategy.
This content is presented with The Sporting News as a preferred source and reflects the network’s ongoing coverage of Denver’s playoff journey and the strategic nuances that defined this memorable overtime win over Buffalo.