Divisional Round Saturday Recap: Broncos win but lose Bo Nix, Seahawks rout 49ers

Summary of Divisional Round Saturday Recap: Broncos win but lose Bo Nix, Seahawks rout 49ers

by The Athletic

56m•January 18, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Divisional Round Saturday Recap: Broncos win but lose Bo Nix, Seahawks rout 49ers

This episode of The Athletic Football Show (hosts Robert Mays, Derek Lassen and Dave Hellman) breaks down Saturday’s divisional-round slate: Seattle’s dominant win over San Francisco and Denver’s dramatic overtime victory over Buffalo — a win overshadowed by a season‑ending ankle injury to Broncos QB Bo Nix. The hosts analyze X’s-and-O’s, big plays, officiating controversies, statistical context, and the short‑ and long‑term implications for the four teams.

Key takeaways

  • Seattle dismantled the 49ers on all three phases (offense, defense, special teams). The game never really got close after Seattle’s opening kickoff return TD.
  • The Seahawks’ defense suffocated San Francisco — holding the 49ers without a touchdown and producing an historically bad EPA per play for San Francisco (about -0.43 EPA/play; one of the worst playoff defensive performances since 2010).
  • Denver beat Buffalo 33–30 in OT, but lost starter Bo Nix to a broken ankle on the penultimate play of overtime. Nix had an excellent game and the injury is a major blow heading into the AFC Championship.
  • Buffalo turned the ball over multiple times (five turnovers), which directly cost them the game despite solid rushing success early. Josh Allen had efficient short throws but 0-for-9 on 20+ yard attempts.
  • Several officiating/review moments (notably the Cook catch/fumble sequence and late flags in OT) drew scrutiny — the hosts called for more transparency and review-process improvements.

Game recaps

Seahawks 30-ish — 49ers (one‑sided rout)

  • What happened
    • Seattle returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown (Rashid Shaheed), which immediately swung momentum and the crowd.
    • Seattle defense dominated — playing heavy quarters/cover‑6 looks early, generating pressure while mostly bringing four rushers, and making every high‑leverage play.
    • The Seahawks leaned on the run (Kenneth Walker, Chris Charbonnet situationally) and timely explosive plays to keep simplification for the defense.
  • Why it mattered
    • The 49ers couldn’t sustain drives, struggled to protect Brock Purdy (longest time‑to‑throw in Next Gen tracking era for Purdy ~4.24s in the game), and failed to establish a consistent pass or run attack.
    • Seattle’s defensive structure (additions like Demarcus Lawrence, Nick Emmanwori, plus emergent play from Byron Murphy) and special teams made this a complete performance reminiscent of Seahawks’ peak eras.
  • Notable stats & context
    • San Francisco averaged roughly -0.43 EPA/play — historically poor for a playoff team and especially for a Kyle Shanahan/Brock Purdy offense.
    • Seattle rushed 23 for 141 (Next Gen tracking), with strong success on outside runs (10 of 17 on outside runs noted).

Broncos 33 — Bills 30 (OT)

  • What happened
    • Bo Nix played one of his best games: high completion plays, deep shots, mobility, and key third‑down conversions (reported ~279 yards and 3 TDs in the discussion).
    • Buffalo committed multiple costly turnovers (including a James Cook fumble near the goal line and two Josh Allen turnovers) and couldn’t convert big downfield throws late.
    • The game ended in controversy and heartbreak for Denver: Nix suffered a broken ankle on a late play in overtime, reportedly on a designed run/keeper — season ending.
  • Why it mattered
    • Denver advances to host the AFC Championship but must now do so likely with backup Jared Stidham under center. That dramatically changes the Broncos’ path.
    • Buffalo’s offense did many things right schematically (run game early, protection at points), but turnovers and a lack of explosive deep success (Allen 0‑for‑9 on 20+ yards) cost them.
  • Notable moments & decisions
    • The Broncos’ situational play‑calling (moving pocket, boots, attacking backup DBs) got positive marks; Sean Payton’s game plan put Nix in positions to win.
    • Conservative moments (e.g., kicking a field goal on 4th-and-3 in the second half) were debated; hosts noted Denver could’ve pushed to seize a larger lead.
    • Officiating: the Cook sequence (interception vs. incomplete) and late flags in OT (including a DPI that set up the deciding kick) sparked debate about replay and review transparency.

Injury and roster implications

  • Broncos
    • Bo Nix: season‑ending broken ankle is a massive blow after a breakout playoff performance. Jared Stidham is the likely next starter for the AFC Championship; hosts believe Stidham can give Denver a chance but noted the Super Bowl ceiling is far less certain.
  • 49ers
    • Multiple injuries (George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk/Pearsall/Tonjes mentions) compounded an already limited offensive front and depth issues. The team will need a health and personnel review in the offseason.
  • Bills
    • Turnovers and receiver room questions (injuries/missed WR impact) will push Buffalo to reassess their pass‑catching depth in the offseason despite having Josh Allen and a strong run game/infrastructure.

Officiating and review notes

  • The hosts largely agreed the Cook interception call (where the ball was ripped while going to ground) was correctly ruled an interception under the rules, but criticized the speed/transparency of the review process on a season‑deciding play.
  • Late OT DPI/holding flags (including one on Treylon Johnson) were controversial; the panel decried “hunting flags” as an undesirable way for a playoff to end but noted the refs didn’t decide the game — turnovers did.
  • Recommendation from hosts: improve replay transparency and the challenge/review process for crucial postseason plays.

Notable quotes and insights (paraphrased)

  • “Seahawks felt like the best team in the league — top to bottom.” — on Seattle’s completeness.
  • Seattle’s game was “a throwback Lumen Field night” — loud, hostile environment and a defense that suffocated an elite offense.
  • Broncos win was “one of the best games” for Bo Nix as a proof point that Denver’s offensive structure can be Super Bowl‑caliber — until the injury.
  • “Playoff football is so cruel” — small, quiet moments (missed tackles, slight miscommunications) changed the outcome.

What to watch next / implications for upcoming coverage

  • Broncos: how Seattle’s home‑field atmosphere aside, Denver must prepare for the AFC Championship with Stidham — schematic adjustments and simplified protections will matter.
  • Bills: offseason questions around wide receiver personnel and playmakers; turnover control and situational decisions will be top priorities.
  • 49ers: evaluate offensive line, depth and health in the offseason; Shanahan’s play‑calling still respected but personnel shortfalls were exposed.
  • Seahawks: emerge as a real NFC favorite — their combination of defensive structure, special teams, and run game balance makes them very difficult to handle in a short series.
  • The Athletic will run postmortems and hangover shows Monday/Tuesday to dig deeper into roster decisions, injuries, and next‑steps for the losing teams.

If you want, the hosts promised deeper Monday follow‑ups: postmortems on Niners/Bills and a look at how these losses shape offseason decisions.