For the Denver Broncos, an overwhelming sense of hope quickly turned into significant doubt.
The team will continue its quest in the AFC Championship Game, and possibly further, without starting quarterback Bo Nix. Following Denver’s 33-30 AFC divisional-round victory against the Buffalo Bills, it was revealed that Nix had broken his ankle during one of the game’s closing plays.
This injury means that backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will need to step up as the starter at home against the New England Patriots, with a Super Bowl appearance on the line. Denver entered the playoffs as the AFC’s top seed and boasts an impressive 8-1 home record this season. However, this sudden change at quarterback has shifted the odds, making the Patriots 5.5-point favorites and altering the outlook for the Broncos’ season.
Such late-season injuries to key players are not uncommon in sports and often significantly impact championship aspirations. In some instances, backups have miraculously risen to the occasion.
Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, 2019 Golden State Warriors
In the 2019 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors sustained a major setback. Trailing 3-1 in the series, Durant suffered an Achilles tear after just 12 minutes in Game 5. While Golden State managed to win that game, Klay Thompson then tore his ACL in Game 6. Unable to rely on their second- and third-leading scorers, the Warriors lost the finals 4-2 to the Toronto Raptors.
Kenyon Martin, 1999-2000 Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats had an impressive 28-2 record and boasted the national player of the year in Martin, who was anticipated to be the No. 1 NBA Draft pick. However, after breaking his fibula during the Conference USA Tournament, Cincinnati was seeded No. 2 and fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Tulsa, 69-61.
Kyrie Irving, 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers’ All-Star point guard suffered a kneecap fracture in Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals. Having already lost Kevin Love to a shoulder injury earlier in the playoffs, the Cavaliers struggled without their secondary scorers, resulting in a six-game loss to the Warriors, who earned their first title of four in the Steph Curry-Steve Kerr era.
Tyrese Haliburton, 2025 Indiana Pacers
Haliburton led the Pacers to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals but was playing on a strained calf suffered in Game 5. After a promising start, his calf gave out, resulting in an Achilles tear. As he left the court in tears, the Pacers were close before ultimately losing 103-91 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
