How have the Denver Broncos historically performed in the playoffs when forced to replace a starting quarterback late in the postseason?
Executive summary
The immediate answer: there is no documented history in the provided reporting that the Denver Broncos have repeatedly been forced to replace a starting quarterback late in the postseason and then produced a clear pattern of success or failure; the current 2026 example—Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle fracture and Jarrett Stidham’s sudden elevation—serves as the primary case study available in these sources [1] [2] [3]. League-wide precedent shows that backup-led playoff runs can happen but are rare, and the Broncos’ outcome will hinge less on franchise folklore and more on coaching, matchup, and the specific backup’s experience [4] [5] [6].
1. The immediate historical context: what the reporting actually documents
Reporting across multiple outlets documents only the present episode: Bo Nix fractured his right ankle late in overtime of Denver’s divisional-round win and will miss the remainder of the postseason, with veteran Jarrett Stidham named the starter for the AFC Championship Game [1] [2] [3]; there are no prior Broncos playoff instances in these sources that establish a multi-case franchise trend of replacing starters late in the postseason.
2. League precedent and how rare this situation is
National coverage places Denver’s dilemma in a broader NFL context and stresses rarity: only six quarterbacks since 1950 have made their first start of a season in the playoffs, and Frank Reich is the lone one cited who produced playoff wins after stepping into a postseason start under those conditions [6] [4]. Reporters and analysts thus frame Stidham’s potential first playoff start of the season as an uncommon event with limited historical assurance [4].
3. The Broncos’ concrete variables in 2026 that matter more than history
Sources point to specific, actionable factors that will determine the Broncos’ fortunes: Sean Payton’s public confidence and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust the game plan to Stidham’s skill set [5] [1], the defense’s ability to recreate turnovers and limit opponent scoring (Denver forced two fumbles and two interceptions in the Bills game, a decisive factor in that win; p1_s2), and the depth chart moves—adding Ben DiNucci to the practice squad and naming Sam Ehlinger as the backup—affect roster resilience [7] [2]. These are the concrete levers that reporters emphasize more than vague historical narratives [5].
4. The backup quarterback profile: Stidham’s experience and limitations
Coverage sketches Stidham as a journeyman with limited playoff resume—he has started only a handful of regular-season games, has not previously started a playoff game this season, and would be among the very small group of quarterbacks to make a first seasonal start in the postseason [3] [8] [4]. Outlets stress both his familiarity with Payton’s system and the statistical coldness of the historical record, producing both a case for optimism and a warning about risk [5] [4].
5. Competing narratives in the press and what they reveal about bias
Local outlets and fan-focused sites advance a bullish view—victory-as-identity and “this team can win without its starter” talk—pointing to Denver’s resilient win over Buffalo and the team’s overall depth [9] [10]. National outlets emphasize rarity and precedent, often citing Jeff Hostetler, Nick Foles, or Frank Reich as isolated examples of successful handoffs but warning these are exceptions, not blueprints [4] [11]. The contrast reveals an implicit agenda: local coverage leans toward morale and unity while national coverage centers risk and statistical caution.
6. Bottom line: what history tells—and what it doesn’t—about Denver’s chances
History in the supplied reporting provides only limited, league-level context: backup-led playoff success exists but is exceptional and not predictive [4] [6]. For the Broncos, the best predictor going forward—based on what journalists cite—is the coaching staff’s ability to tailor the game plan, the defense’s capacity to replicate turnover generation, and Stidham’s readiness in live-game conditions [5] [1] [2]. The sources do not offer a multi-case Broncos postseason record of late-quarterback changes that would allow a definitive franchise-level verdict; therefore, the 2026 outcome will create the clearest single historical data point for Denver going forward [1] [3].