The Denver Broncos will host the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round on Saturday. It will be a compelling matchup, as the No. 6 seed Bills knocked the Jacksonville Jaguars out of the playoffs last week in the wild-card round. The game will likely come down to who plays better defense and controls the tempo.
Being the No. 1 seed and having a first-round bye is a big deal, especially considering what these circumstances mean for Denver’s expectations. Historically, the Broncos have been successful in reaching the Super Bowl when they have not only a week of rest but also home-field advantage.
The Broncos also have five players who could impact the outcome of their game against the Bills, depending on how much they play. Even though each of these players may not be the first to come to mind for many fans, they will play just as important a role in this game as the so-called “stars” and “leaders.”
Jaleel McLaughlin — Speed That Changes Game Flow
Even though he hasn’t been the Broncos’ first option at running back this season, Denver deployed McLaughlin as a running back who can do it all, whether it’s through inside or outside runs or catching the ball out of the backfield.
McLaughlin is an explosive back, averaging 5.1 yards per carry this season on only 37 attempts for 187 rushing yards. His speed is essential, but he is also elusive, able to make defenders miss, which the Broncos will need if they want to move the ball downfield efficiently.
The Broncos can also control the tempo of this game if they use McLaughlin to his full potential. Wearing down Buffalo’s defense with McLaughlin can help take time off the clock and keep Josh Allen off the field, which would give the Broncos’ defense more than enough rest.
Denver’s aggressiveness in the run game can be a concern for the Bills if they can properly utilize McLaughlin. Jacksonville running backs Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on 14 total carries against Buffalo.
The Broncos need to run the ball as much as they can and keep running, which could force Buffalo to change personnel. At the same time, it could open up more opportunities in the pass game if they later decide to load the box.
Evan Engram — The Mismatch Buffalo Can’t Ignore
Engram is another player the Broncos will need to use. Even though he isn’t known for his blocking skills as a tight end, he can help Bo Nix in the pass game, as he has caught 50 passes for 461 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per catch this season.
Buffalo may initially assign its linebackers to cover Engram. Still, given how he can be a threat when going deep, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bills’ linebackers struggle in coverage early, forcing the safeties to step in and cover Engram.
In his career, Engram has been a problem for defenses on third down, recording 155 receptions for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns, the second most among all current tight ends in the NFL, behind only Travis Kelce.
The Broncos can sustain their drives if they prioritize using him as a top target, especially when converting on third downs. He’s averaged almost 10 yards per reception on third downs. Engram can also draw flags to help the Broncos keep moving downfield if the secondary’s unable to stop him.
Jonathan Cooper — Denver’s Relentless Edge Presence
As an outside linebacker who plays alongside Nik Bonitto, Cooper’s role in the Broncos’ pass-rush rotation is just as crucial as Bonitto’s, as he ended the regular season with 8 sacks, the second-most by any Broncos defender this season.
Cooper’s motor and pressure rate matter against a quarterback like Allen because Denver is going to need all of its defenders at their best, and the more pressure they put on Allen, the harder it will be for him to deliver the ball to his wide receivers and tight ends.
Allen’s passing abilities aren’t the only thing Cooper will need to stop, as Buffalo’s quarterback can tear apart defenses with his running skills. Allen isn’t afraid to run the ball if needed. Cooper can affect the game in another way by staying in his outside containment and trying his best to limit Allen’s big runs, especially in the red zone.
Denver should use Cooper by balancing how often he rushes Allen, as he will likely be bound to make a breakaway run if Vance Joseph becomes too predictable by rushing him too often. The defense should also emphasize forcing every run back inside, as James Cook will be another player Cooper will need to contain from running outside the edge.
Riley Moss — Tested Early, Trusted Now
Moss’s role since earlier this season has changed, showing fans that Pat Surtain II isn’t the only cornerback for the Broncos who can give offenses trouble. Moss has been one of the best cornerbacks this season, not allowing an open target, as he’s only allowed 20 open targets, which is the fifth-fewest in the 2025 NFL season, according to NextGenStats.
The Bills’ wide receiver corps is pretty beat up as Gabe Davis, Tyrell Shavers, Josh Palmer, and Curtis Samuel are all injured. Moss is most likely to matchup against Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks, and Keon Coleman come Saturday.
As strange as it is, Buffalo hasn’t had a dominant wide receiver this season to accompany Allen. Given how often opposing teams target Moss, especially this season, fans should expect the Bills to pick on him a lot.
Shakir is their leading receiver, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they try to pit him or even Cooks against a young corner such as Moss if they can’t work any magic against a lockdown corner such as Surtain II.
Even if Moss holds his own, best believe Allen and his receivers will try to draw pass interference calls every time the ball comes his way. Trust matters in playoff coverage schemes because, no matter what flaws Moss had in the past, his ability to have discipline and play soundly will have a significant impact on how the defense performs in the postseason.
Marvin Mims Jr. — The Game-Changer in the Third Phase
Special teams are essential in a playoff game like this because Denver has one of the best return specialists in the league in Mims Jr., who has a chance to be a game-changer despite not having as much spotlight this season.
Mims Jr. is dangerous as a returner, averaging 26.3 yards per kickoff return and 15.6 yards per punt return this season. So far in his career, Mims Jr. has returned 74 punts for 1,172 yards, and he also has the highest punt return average in team history.
One significant return from Mims Jr. can help swing momentum for the Broncos because it can help put the Broncos in better field position to score, help them add to a lead if they’re already dominating, or even light a fire in the team if they’re trying to come back from behind.
Though Mims Jr’s role as a wide receiver hasn’t been as significant as it was in previous seasons, he is more than capable of contributing for the Broncos as more than just a special teams player. Mims Jr. has caught 37 receptions for 322 yards this season while averaging 8.7 yards per catch.
Sean Payton and the Broncos offense could have something up their sleeve with how they use Mims Jr. in the playoffs, whether it’s designing a trick play for him or throwing him the deep ball. Mims Jr. could potentially be the key to helping Denver’s offense reach a new level in the postseason.