The Denver Broncos are standing on the precipice of their first Super Bowl appearance in a decade, but the path just got significantly steeper. Following a grueling Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills, Bo Nix broke his ankle and will miss the rest of the Broncos' post-season. With the New England Patriots looming in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, the keys to the offense have been handed to veteran Jarrett Stidham.
While the sudden shift at quarterback has sent shockwaves through the betting markets and sparked concern among the Broncos faithful, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick is urging everyone to take a deep breath. Riddick, known for his sharp evaluation of NFL rosters and quarterback play, remains steadfast in his belief that Denver is still a formidable contender. According to Riddick, if the Broncos fall short of a Super Bowl berth this Sunday, the blame shouldn't be pinned on the man under center.
Riddick's Vote of Confidence in Jarrett Stidham
The narrative surrounding the Broncos this week has focused almost entirely on what they lose without Nix, who led Denver to a stellar regular-season performance. However, Riddick argues that Jarrett Stidham is far from a liability. In his recent analysis, Riddick stated that if the Broncos lose the AFC Championship Game, it won't be because of Stidham's performance.
Riddick's faith stems from Stidham's familiarity with the system and his professional approach to the backup role. Stidham has spent the past two seasons in Denver and knows Sean Payton's offense. Riddick believes that Stidham's primary job is to be a point guard—distributing the ball to playmakers like Courtland Sutton—rather than trying to replicate the dynamic play that Nix provided.
The Sean Payton Factor and Offensive Stability
A major reason for Riddick's optimism is the man calling the plays. Sean Payton has built a career on tailoring offenses to the specific strengths of his quarterbacks. Whether it was Drew Brees in New Orleans or the various backups who stepped in during Brees' absences, Payton's system is designed to create easy reads and high-percentage completions.
Payton told reporters that Stidham is "going to rip it" and "has a calm demeanor that suits him well". In fact, Payton says he believes that Stidham is a starting-level NFL quarterback, stating "I felt like our two [QBs] were inside the best 32".
The Broncos' offensive infrastructure remains solid, featuring a capable offensive line and a receiving corps that has consistently won one-on-one matchups throughout the 2025 season. Riddick suggests that as long as Stidham operates within the structure of the offense and avoids catastrophic turnovers, the Broncos have more than enough talent to compete with the Patriots' defense.
Denver's Defense: The Real Engine of Success
Perhaps the strongest argument for Riddick's "don't blame Stidham" stance is the fact that Denver's success this season hasn't been solely dependent on the quarterback. The Broncos earned the AFC's No. 1 seed on the strength of a defense that finished second in yards allowed and third in points allowed (18.3 per game) this season.
The Broncos boast one of the most feared defensive units in the NFL, led by edge rusher Nik Bonitto and lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, the Broncos have specialized in suffocating opposing passing attacks and forcing timely turnovers. In the Divisional Round against Buffalo, it was the defense that stood tall in overtime to secure the win.
Against a Patriots team led by Drake Maye, the Denver defense will be expected to carry the heavy lifting, regardless of who is playing quarterback. Riddick's point is clear: The Broncos are a complete team. If those units fail to show up on Sunday, that is where the blame should lie—not on a backup quarterback thrust into a difficult situation.
The Stakes at Empower Field at Mile High
As the Denver Broncos prepare to host the AFC Championship, the pressure is undeniably on. The team of first-year head coach Mike Vrabel managed to punch its ticket to the AFC Championship Game, and both teams dominated the regular season, going 14-3. However, the Patriots opened as 5.5-point favorites following news of Nix's injury, making Denver the underdog at home.
Stidham will be the first quarterback since Joe Webb for the 2012 Minnesota Vikings to make his first start in the playoffs without throwing a pass during the regular season, and he'll be just the second quarterback to make his first start of the season in a conference championship game, joining Roger Staubach who did it with the 1972 Dallas Cowboys.
With the backing of a raucous home crowd and the public support of analysts like Louis Riddick, the Broncos are ready to prove they are more than just one player. Stidham has the opportunity of a lifetime to rewrite his career narrative. If he can manage the game and lead Denver to a victory, he will join the ranks of legendary replacement quarterbacks who saved a championship season. But even if the dream ends on Sunday, Riddick is making sure the perspective remains fair: This team wins and loses together.
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