ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — For weeks, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been confident that a long connection with receiver Troy Franklin, his college teammate at Oregon, would be made.
It happened on the fifth play of the Broncos’ first playoff game since the franchise’s Super Bowl 50 win to close out the 2015 season. On a second-and-4 from the Bills’ 43-yard line, Nix hit Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown.
The rookie-to-rookie score was Franklin’s longest reception of the season and only his third touchdown of the season. It gave the Broncos an early 7-0 lead in the AFC wild-card game at Highmark Stadium.
Nix was 2-of-2 for 62 yards on the Broncos’ opening drive.
T AS IN TOUCHDOWN.
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/1UZYcSS7aZ
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 12, 2025
The Broncos got tricky on their third possession, using the passing skills of punter Riley Dixon. On a fourth-and-8 at the Broncos’ 43-yard line, Dixon lined up as if it were going to be a routine punt.
Instead, he took the snap and tossed a 15-yard pass to leaping receiver Marvin Mims Jr., moving the ball to the Buffalo 42-yard line.
Getting tricky.
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/78GsdsSCCH
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 12, 2025
The Broncos were not able to turn the risk into a reward, as the drive stalled at the Bills’ 39-yard line. But Dixon did pin the Bills deep on the ensuing punt, as Buffalo had to start its next drive at its own 1-yard line.
