DENVER — The AFC Divisional Round kicks off Saturday with a matchup that feels more like a heavyweight title fight than a football game. The 14-win Denver Broncos are hosting their first home playoff game in a decade, but the headlines aren’t just about the quarterbacks. In a rare special teams twist, the “Battle of the Boot” features two Australians—Mitch Wishnowsky and Jeremy Crawshaw—going toe-to-toe in the thin air of Mile High.
The Punting Masterclass: Wishnowsky vs. Crawshaw
Field position will be the silent killer in this contest. Denver rookie Jeremy Crawshaw has been a revelation, punting 75 times this season with a booming 47.6-yard average. His leg strength is terrifying; he uncorked a 76-yard bomb earlier this year and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 30 times. On the other side, Buffalo’s Mitch Wishnowsky brings veteran precision. Since joining the Bills in September, the former Ray Guy Award winner has dropped 18 punts inside the 20, effectively neutralizing return threats with his signature hang time.
The thin Denver air usually adds 5 to 10 yards of distance, making every fourth down a scoring opportunity for the defense. If Crawshaw can flip the field, he forces a banged-up Josh Allen to drive 90 yards against the league’s most aggressive pass rush. Allen is currently dealing with foot, knee, and right finger injuries, meaning the Bills cannot afford long, sustained drives that expose their star to more hits.
Denver’s Defensive Wall
The Broncos aren’t just resting on their #1 seed status. They finished the regular season at the top of the mountain in almost every defensive category, including a league-high 68 sacks and 149 quarterback hurries. Linebacker Nik Bonitto leads the charge with 14 sacks, and he’ll be hunting an Allen who took 40 sacks this season—a massive jump from his 2024 numbers. Buffalo’s offensive line must hold firm, especially with safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Maxwell Hairston already ruled out for the Bills’ defense.
Locker Room Talk
“He’s a warrior. Allen is certainly sore, and as you know, he’s going to do whatever it takes to play. But we have to play better than we did this past weekend to win in this environment.” — Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills Head Coach
Championship Stakes: A Rematch with Meaning
This is a revenge game for Sean Payton’s squad. Buffalo embarrassed Denver 31-7 in last year’s Wild Card round, but the Broncos are a different animal at home. With 13 wins in their last 14 games, Denver is the hottest team in the AFC. The winner advances to the AFC Championship on January 25, moving one step closer to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara. For the Bills, a win would mark their first consecutive playoff victories over the Broncos in franchise history.
