Patriots Urged To Stay Wary Of Broncos Despite Bo Nix Injury

The New England Patriots’ road to the Super Bowl may look smoother after Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle fracture, but a former All-Pro defender is warning New England not to fall into a dangerous trap.

Nix, a leading candidate in early Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations and a key piece in Sean Payton’s resurgent Broncos offense, broke his ankle in the closing moments of Denver’s AFC Divisional win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He underwent immediate evaluation, and multiple reports now confirm he will miss the remainder of the postseason, leaving veteran backup Jarrett Stidham in line to start the AFC Championship Game in Denver on Jan. 25.

‘I’ve got two words for you: Nick Foles’

Speaking on NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay,” former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy reminded viewers — and especially the Patriots — that facing a backup quarterback in the playoffs is no reason for complacency.

“I’ve got two words for you: Nick Foles,” McCoy said, referencing the Philadelphia Eagles backup who stunned Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl LII after taking over for injured MVP candidate Carson Wentz. “This is the best of the best. This is the NFL. You don’t go into somebody’s house thinking, ‘Oh, he’s the backup quarterback.’”

McCoy stressed that New England, coached by Mike Vrabel after the franchise’s major overhaul last offseason, must avoid looking past Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round clash with the Houston Texans — or assuming the Broncos will be weakened enough to make the AFC title game a formality.

“They need to worry about tonight,” McCoy said. “Forget next week. Don’t worry about next week. But if you go into next week thinking it’s going to be sweet, you got another thing coming. Because this is the best of the best, and Sean Payton will have them ready.”

Patriots focused on Texans, not Broncos

Before New England can even think about traveling to Mile High, it has to solve one of the NFL’s hottest teams. The Texans ride a 10-game winning streak into Foxborough, powered by a balanced attack and a rapidly improving defense under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.

The Patriots, who reinvented themselves this season around a physical defense and efficient, run-first offense, are trying to reach their first AFC Championship Game of the post-Tom Brady era. They enter Sunday with several key injury updates that could tilt the matchup.

• Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who exited the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion, has cleared protocol and is expected to start. The second-year defensive back has emerged as a lockdown presence and could be tasked with neutralizing Houston’s top remaining receiver.
• Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, sidelined since Week 16 with a foot injury, is optimistic about playing, giving the Patriots extra bulk and depth on the interior defensive line — vital against a Texans offense that leans on play-action and inside zone looks.

The Patriots defense, which finished near the top of the league in several advanced metrics, has been a major reason for their late-season surge. New England has allowed fewer explosive plays over the last month and tightened up in the red zone, an area that will be crucial against Houston’s creative passing game.

Texans shorthanded without Nico Collins

The Texans, meanwhile, enter bruised. Star wide receiver Nico Collins, who emerged as a true No. 1 target this season, did not practice all week and has been ruled out after suffering a concussion late in the third quarter of last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Collins’ absence forces Houston to lean more heavily on its depth chart at receiver and tight end, including emerging young pass catchers and a greater emphasis on running backs in the passing game. Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik have shown a willingness all season to adjust their scheme, using motion, stacked formations and quick-game concepts to help their quarterback stay ahead of pressure.

Even without Collins, Houston’s offense has remained explosive and efficient, with strong pass protection and a diversified run game that challenges linebackers and safeties in space. That puts extra pressure on New England’s front seven and its improving, but still young, secondary.

Bo Nix out, Jarrett Stidham in

If the Patriots handle business against Houston, they will head to Denver to face a Broncos team that just lost its offensive centerpiece but still boasts one of the league’s better defenses and a proven play-caller in Payton.

Nix’s injury — a broken ankle confirmed after Saturday’s game — abruptly ends what had been a standout debut campaign. The rookie showed poise, mobility and accuracy in Payton’s system, helping the Broncos secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. His loss is a significant blow, but Stidham is not an unknown commodity in Foxborough.

The 29-year-old Stidham spent the early part of his career with the Patriots, learning under Brady and in the New England system before short stints in Las Vegas and Denver. While he lacks Nix’s upside, Stidham has a quick release, familiarity with pro-style concepts and enough mobility to extend plays — exactly the kind of competent backup who can thrive if a defense underestimates him.

History provides plenty of cautionary tales: Foles with the Eagles, Case Keenum’s run with the Vikings, even earlier playoff stretches from Jeff Hostetler and others remind teams that postseason football often becomes about who executes better on the day, not who has the bigger name at quarterback.

Patriots warned against complacency

That is the heart of McCoy’s warning. With Nix sidelined and the Broncos turning to Stidham, the narrative quickly shifted to New England having a “clearer path” to the Super Bowl. But inside the Patriots’ building, the tone has reportedly been much different: one game at a time, starting with a Texans team that has been one of the league’s toughest outs since midseason.

The winner of Sunday’s Patriots–Texans Divisional Round matchup will visit Denver for the AFC Championship on Jan. 25. The Broncos will be without Nix, but they will not be without home-field advantage, a top-tier defense and an experienced coach.

For New England, that’s why voices like McCoy’s are resonating: the margin for error in January is thin, and counting out a backup quarterback — especially one you know well — might be the biggest mistake of all.