Bills vs broncos live: Allen answers early as Buffalo lead in Denver

The AFC Divisional Round is underway and it’s already tense: with bills vs broncos live in Denver, Buffalo struck back after an early Denver field goal to seize a 7–3 edge late in the first quarter, and we’re now into the second. Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High—high stakes, thin air, and two QBs who don’t spook easily.

Score & Status — bills vs broncos

• Status: Live (Q2 ~14’)

• Score: Buffalo Bills 7–3 Denver Broncos

• Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

Kickoff (Time Zones)

• USA (ET) — Sat, Jan 17, 4:30 p.m.

• USA (PT) — Sat, Jan 17, 1:30 p.m.

• Canada (Toronto) — Sat, Jan 17, 4:30 p.m.

• UK (London) — Sat, Jan 17, 9:30 p.m.

Live Timeline (Key Moments)

• 7’: Denver march sets the tone—methodical, heavy on Bo Nix’s quick game. Drive stalls inside the 10 after a dropped end-zone ball; Wil Lutz converts from 28 yards. Broncos 3–0.

• 0:47’: Buffalo grind at the goal line—Josh Allen sneaks to the 1, James Cook denied by Dondrea Tillman at the 4.

• 0:09’: Bills flip it—Allen rifles a 4-yard TD to Mecole Hardman, Matt Prater adds the PAT. Bills 7–3.

• Q2 14–13’: Surtain scare; returns soon after. Denver opens the quarter but can’t sustain; Buffalo’s front squeezes edges and forces a punt.

• Q2, early: James Cook pops chunk yardage off-tackle; Buffalo threatening midfield before Denver tightens.

Standout Performers & Turning Points

• Josh Allen (BUF): Opened crisp, used legs in the red zone, then punished single-high with the Hardman TD. The combination of QB power and quick outs is stressing Denver’s interior fits.

• James Cook (BUF): Splash runs on early downs flipped field position and helped Buffalo win first-read rhythm.

• Dondrea Tillman (DEN): Red-zone TFL on Cook was a momentum hold just before Buffalo’s score—sign that Denver’s second-level reads are alive even when backed up.

• Bo Nix (DEN): Sharp on the script, but two off-schedule snaps at the end of Q1/Q2 sequence stalled promising phases. Need cleaner protection on long-developing concepts.

• Turning point (late Q1): After Denver’s opening statement drive produced only three, Buffalo answered with a 12-play response capped by Allen-to-Hardman—first big swing of the day.

Lineups & Shape (if confirmed)

• Buffalo Bills (multiple fronts, spread variations): heavy 11 personnel, QB run mixed with gap schemes; quick game to Shakir/Hardman to soften the rush.

• Denver Broncos (balanced shotgun look): play-action with inside zone, quick isolation throws for Sutton, McLaughlin as the change-up.

Match Stats (early, in-game)

*Through late first quarter; second-quarter flow tightening.

What It Means — bills vs broncos

If Buffalo continue to win early downs with Cook and Allen’s keepers, Denver’s vaunted rush package is forced into run fits instead of straight heat—tilting the trench leverage the Bills’ way. For Denver, flipping this requires earlier downfield answers from Nix (shot plays off hard run action) and a takeaway—Sean Payton’s group has lived off timely swings all season. The winner moves one step from Super Bowl LX; the loser’s season ends on a mile-high hinge. Expect a one-score fourth quarter; special teams and short fields could define bills vs broncos in the closing stretch.