Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist

That drop in the end zone was Bo Nix's first incompletion of the game so a decent start by the Denver quarterback.

That opening drive also kept Josh Allen off the field for half the first quarter, which is exactly what the Broncos want. But they'll have to take their chances when they get back into the red zone.

Josh Allen has played in every NFL stadium apart from one, and that just so happens to be San Francisco 49ers home Levi's Stadium - home of Super Bowl 60!

Allen has won more play-off games than any other quarterback without making a Super Bowl - will both of those stats finally change in a big way this year?

Field goal - Broncospublished at 21:50 GMT 17 January

21:50 GMT 17 January

Buffalo Bills 0-3 Denver Broncos - first quarter

As the drive stalls Denver have to send out Wil Lutz to boot a 28-yard field goal to give the hosts the lead - but they really should have had seven not three.

Broncos receiver Pat Bryant wasn't on the field after being shaken up following an earlier hit - you'd think he may have been the target had he been. No doubt he'd have caught that.

Sean Payton will be frustrated as he's scripted that opening drive perfectly and spoke in the week about how important it was to score touchdowns not field goals in the red zone.

Oh no! Perfectly thrown ball by Bo Nix to Lil'Jordan Humphrey in the end zone and it's an easy touchdown catch - but he's dropped it!

Lovely play design and that really has to be taken. It's right in the bread basket for Humphrey but it goes straight through his hands.

Big drop from Lil'Jordan.

Jaleel McLaughlin fumbles the ball on a run and Buffalo recover, but there's a yellow flag of doom on the field.

That's an offside against the Bills that not only negates the turnover but moves Denver five yards closer to the end zone.

Bo Nix lines up in the shotgun with an empty set, no running back and receivers spread wide - but he keeps it and runs it himself for the first down.

Denver deep in the red zone now, and they were 13th in red zone touchdowns this season.

Bo Nix sneaks on third and one, and according to the new virtual measurement system he's a couple of inches short!

Denver go for it on fourth down...

Image source, Getty Images

No head coach in NFL history has ever won the Super Bowl with two different teams, can Sean Payton become the first this year?

He won the Lombardi Trophy with the New Orleans Saints 16 years ago and is building quite a team up in Denver, but can he go all the way?

Payton's certainly made a decent start drawing up plays in this game after an extra week off...

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback on Sky Sports

The homecourt advantage is real out there. This is going to be an amazing game, I can't wait to watch this.

Fast start for Denver, Jaleel McLaughlin breaks a few tackles for a decent gain either side of rookie receiver Pat Bryant taking two great catches - both for first downs.

A reminder this is Denver's first home play-off game in a decade. The team's last play-off win was Super Bowl 50 back in 2016, which was played at Levi's Stadium which also hosts this year's big game.

Coincidence?

We're off in Denver - the Broncos will have the ball first at Mile High, where there's some atmosphere.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Why do we go on about this being Josh Allen's best chance at a Super Bowl? Well of his 8-6 play-off record he's 0-4 against the Kansas City Chiefs and 8-2 against the rest of the NFL!

Well, there's no Patrick Mahomes and no Chiefs this year - plus Lamar Jackson's Ravens aren't in, so you can bet Allen believes this is his greatest chance at a ring.

Can he deliver?

Last week's win at Jacksonville saw Buffalo make it six straight years with a play-off win, all with Josh Allen at quarterback.

Meanwhile, Denver's second-year quarterback Bo Nix has played in just one play-off game, a 31-7 defeat in Buffalo during week one of last year's play-offs.

The Bills' win last week means Allen has now won eight of his 14 play-off games, but is yet to make it all the way to the Super Bowl.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Allen won his first road play-off game last week, can he add another one at Mile High against the top-seeded Denver Broncos?

The Buffalo Bills beat the Broncos is last year's play-offs, but this is a different Denver side, plus they're now at home and Sean Payton's side have had a week off to prepare.

Bo Nix may not be as experienced as Allen, but there are similarities in their games and one thing Nix knows all about is winning tight games - Denver are 11-2 in one-score games this season.

So who wins this one?

Image source, Getty Images

Denver had 68 sacks this season, 11 more than anyone else in the NFL and the fifth highest single season tally in the Super Bowl era.

Their 'Orange Rush' has seen them bring pressure from everywhere, with the Broncos the only team in the league to have four players record seven sacks or more - Nik Bonitto (14.0), Jonathan Cooper (8.0), John Franklin-Myers (7.5) and Zach Allen (7.0).

Josh Allen was sacked a career-high 40 times this season and whether the Bills offensive line can protect him, or whether the big man can escape that pressure himself will be a key factor in the game tonight.

The top seed in each conference joins the post-season party tonight, but both of their quarterbacks are yet to claim a play-off win.

Sam Darnold and Bo Nix both lost during last year's Wildcard Weekend, although that was year seven for the much-travelled Darnold while it was Nix's rookie season with Denver.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

You can see a little bit of Josh Allen in Bo Nix, he's not quite the bulldozing rusher but he can run the ball. He also threw for more yards in the regular season.

Allen is a veteran of course and has gone 8-6 in the play-offs, while Nix lost his play-off debut last season against these Buffalo Bills, so will be looking to turn the tables.

Nix has kept his cool this season, coming out on top in most close games and that composure will be tested againt tonight.

Allen is down some more receivers so hopefully he's brought his Superman cape as he'll be asked to do almost everything again tonight - especially if Denver's second-best run defence can bottle up James Cook.

And what could be crucial is Nix's running ability - as Buffalo allowed the most yards per carry to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Josh Allen did it all last week to help Buffalo win in Jacksonville, despite getting thoroughly beat-up by the Jags defence.

See how he did it...

Ndamukong Suh
Former NFL defensive tackle and 2021 Super Bowl winner on Sky Sports

The key for every team will be defence. Defence wins championships.

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback on Sky Sports

I can't wait to see what happens tonight. Two games away from the Superbowl, it's time to lock in!