Broncos vs Bills playoff preview: Saddle up for a Mile High showdown

For the first time in a decade, an NFL playoff game is set for Mile High.

The Denver Broncos welcome Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to town for the AFC Divisional Playoffs. And the Broncos will look to dish out a little revenge on Saturday. It was Allen and the Bills who eliminated Denver from the playoffs last season.

But the tables have turned, and the Broncos will play this game at home after a bye in the Wild Card round. Mile High will be rocking with Denver looking to flip the script on last season’s outcome with a trip to the AFC Championship Game at stake.

The Broncos come into the game as a slight +1.5-point underdog at FanDuel Sportsbook. It’s the first time in nine years the No. 1 seed has been the underdog in the divisional playoffs. The total sits at over/under 46.5 points for Saturday’s AFC playoff game.

Offensive Rankings (regular season)  

Buffalo: Fourth in total offense (376.3 yards per game), first in rushing offense (159.6 YPG), 15th in passing offense (216.6 YPG), tied for fourth in scoring offense (28.3 points per game).

Denver: Tenth in total offense (342.6 yards per game), 16th in rushing offense (118.7 YPG), 11th in passing offense (223.9 YPG), 14th in scoring offense (23.6 points per game).

Defensive Rankings (regular season)  

Buffalo: Seventh in total defense (293.1 yards per game), 28th in rushing defense (136.2 YPG), first in passing defense (156.9 YPG), 12th in scoring defense (21.5 points per game).

Denver: Second in total defense (278.2 yards per game), second in rushing defense (91.1 YPG), seventh in passing defense (187.2 YPG), third in scoring defense (18.3 points per game).

Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Saturday’s game.

Control the line of scrimmage

This is as about as cliche as you can get for a key to the game (there’s one more obvious right below), but it’s absolutely true. For the Broncos to advance to the AFC Championship Game, they need to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. That means consistently opening up running lanes for the backs and giving Bo Nix time on offense. On defense, it means shutting down James Cook and Allen in the running game while getting consistent pressure with exotic looks on Allen in the passing and not breaking pocket containment. If Denver wins the line of scrimmage on Saturday, it wins the game. — Ian St. Clair

It’s playoff football, baby!

This past weekend, every team that scored more than its opponents advanced into the next round. In fact, the Broncos achieved this 14 times this year, and in all 14 instances, they won their game. As the saying goes, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” So, the Broncos just need to score more points than Allen and the Bills, and they will advance to the AFC Championship Game. — Scotty Payne

Establish the run game, let Jaleel McLaughlin cook

Coinciding with Ian’s point of controlling the line of scrimmage, the Broncos must establish the run game in order for that to happen. On Wild Card Weekend last year, the Bills throttled the Broncos on the ground with 210 yards while Denver only had 79, with over half of those coming from Bo Nix. This time around, the Broncos have to be the ones to establish the run. While I’ve been impressed with RJ Harvey’s knack for scoring touchdowns, he has averaged less than three yards per carry over a significant stretch of games at the end of the season. Meanwhile, third-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin has impressed in limited opportunities. Will head coach Sean Payton finally give McLaughlin more opportunities, as he mentioned in Week 18? We will see. The Broncos will need a few unsung heroes to come up big in this game to win, and I believe Jaleel can be the “real deal” to help deliver Denver a Divisional Round victory. — Christopher Hart

Win the turnover battle

If there is one area the Broncos defense has been found wanting, it is generating turnovers. With the number of QB hits and with some of the best defensive backs in the league, you would think the Broncos would be leading in categories like forced fumbles or interceptions. That has not been the case, but this weekend, to help score more points than the Bills, the defense needs to get the ball out of Josh Allen’s hands and back into the hands of Nix. — Adam Malnati

Contain Josh Allen

Keep him from extending the play with his legs. Impossible task for 60 minutes, for sure, but at least contain him as much as he ever has been. — Tim Lynch

Making good field-position decisions

Too many teams this year are going for it on 4th down when they can kick a field goal or punt for great field position. There is a time and place for this, but this is the playoffs.  Let other teams make foolish mistakes. Keep putting the Bills in tough positions. — sadaraine

Also, be smart with timeouts

Don’t waste them on stupid challenges or when there is indecision about play calls or personnel. — Joe Mahoney

What are your keys to Saturday’s game?