Snapshot: In Orchard Park on January 12, 2025, the Buffalo Bills handled the moment with a 31–7 Wild Card win over the Denver Broncos, building a three-score cushion and never looking back. For readers searching Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills match player stats, this page compiles the verified leaders and the small efficiencies that broke the game open — from Josh Allen’s controlled distribution to James Cook’s steady body blows — drawn from the official box score. For more recent player-led breakdowns across the league, see our NFC benchmark Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Commanders match player stats and the AFC counterpart Washington Commanders vs Bengals match player stats.
Final: Bills 31, Broncos 7 | Venue: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, NY) | Possession: BUF 41:43, DEN 18:17
Denver Broncos — leaders
- Passing: Bo Nix — 13/22, 144 yards, 1 TD
- Rushing: Bo Nix — 4 carries, 43 yards (long 18)
- Receiving: Courtland Sutton — 5 receptions, 75 yards; Troy Franklin — 2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD (43-yard score)
- Defense: P.J. Locke — 10 tackles (5 solo); D.J. Jones — 1.0 sack
- Team totals: 224 yards; 2-of-9 on 3rd down; 0 turnovers
Buffalo Bills — leaders
- Passing: Josh Allen — 20/26, 272 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Rushing: James Cook — 23 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Curtis Samuel — 3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD (55-yard strike); Khalil Shakir — 6 receptions, 61 yards
- Defense: Terrel Bernard — 6 tackles; Matt Milano — 1.0 sack
- Team totals: 471 yards; 8-of-15 on 3rd down; 0 turnovers
How the game flipped
Denver actually struck first — a 43-yard shot from Bo Nix to rookie Troy Franklin — but Buffalo answered with patience and explosives. Allen stayed inside structure, completed 20 of 26, and added keepers to steal cheap first downs. Cook wore down Denver’s front at 5.2 a carry. The turning point was tempo control: 72 Bills plays to the Broncos’ 42, which let Buffalo stack possessions and grind out the middle quarters.
Drive math that mattered
Buffalo controlled everything that stretches games out of reach. Third-down success (8-of-15) kept the call sheet balanced and the defense fresh. Red-zone finishing (1-for-5) was the one blemish, but explosives from Curtis Samuel and Dalton Kincaid made up the gap. Denver went 2-of-9 on third down, 0-for-1 in the red area, and never reclaimed field position after the opening salvo.
Broncos bright spots
Two levers still translate for Denver. Nix’s mobility bends fronts — four carries for 43 yards is a tell for future design. And Courtland Sutton again won the intermediate game, logging 5 for 75 with repeated separation at the break point. As the offense retools around Nix’s timing with Sutton and Franklin, early-down rhythm is the fix.
Buffalo’s balanced blueprint
This is Buffalo at its best: Allen spreading to eight pass catchers and Cook punishing light boxes. On defense, Matt Milano and Greg Rousseau created the handful of negative plays that forced Denver behind the chains. With that cushion, the Bills’ back seven squeezed vertical shots and kept everything ahead of the sticks — exactly how you protect a lead in January.
Previous meeting that frames it
It’s not all one-way traffic. In this same building on November 13, 2023, Denver nicked a 24–22 primetime win on a walk-off kick after a chaotic finish. That context explains why Buffalo emphasized ball security here — and delivered it clean: zero turnovers.
Complete stat lines (concise)
Broncos: Bo Nix 13/22–144–1 TD; rush 17–79; Sutton 5–75; Franklin 2–54–1; P.J. Locke 10 tackles. Bills: Josh Allen 20/26–272–2 TD (+ 8–46 rush); Cook 23–120–1; Samuel 3–68–1; Shakir 6–61; Milano 1.0 sack; team rush 44–210.
What carries forward
- For Denver: Keep the QB run threat alive and script Sutton/Franklin crossers early to stay ahead of the sticks. Contain explosives with better edge integrity.
- For Buffalo: This is the template — Cook volume, Allen efficiency, shot plays to the speed guys. If the run game stays this efficient, third-and-medium becomes routine.
More match player stats on TEH
- Our NFC reference point: Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Commanders match player stats.
- AFC comparison set: Washington Commanders vs Bengals match player stats.
- Browse more from the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos tags.
