On Saturday, the Denver Broncos celebrated a thrilling overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills to reach the AFC Championship. However, just an hour after their celebration, disaster struck.
Coach Sean Payton announced that starting quarterback Bo Nix had suffered a broken ankle and would be sidelined for the rest of the postseason.
Football fans across the country immediately wrote off the Broncos as Denver fans mourned the loss of their star quarterback. Payton further announced that, with Nix out, backup Jarrett Stidham would get the nod.
Once the mourning period ended, Broncos fans started rallying behind Stidham. While some supported him out of love for their team, others really jumped on the hype train.
Who Is Jarrett Stidham?
The New England Patriots picked Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He served as Tom Brady’s backup for three seasons before joining the Raiders. In Las Vegas, he started his first two career games, throwing for 365 yards and two touchdowns in his first one. The next season, he joined the Broncos, where he started two more games at the end of 2023.
Simply put, Stidham has started only 4 games over 7 seasons. However, throughout his career, he has been learning from the best.
He spent three years learning from Brady and Coach Bill Belichick. Then, he spent a season with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who helped lead the Patriots to their upcoming matchup with Denver this weekend.
Now, he has spent the last few seasons with legendary coach Sean Payton and future offensive coordinator and current QB coach, Davis Webb.
Why Stidham Will Succeed
Clearly, it is tough for any backup quarterback to step in late in the postseason. Stidham, however, is as prepared as anyone in such a situation can be.
Most backup quarterbacks move from team to team, but Stidham has spent three years learning the system with the same coaches. Coach Payton even said he believes Stidham is capable of being a starter on several teams.
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Speaking of Sean Payton, he has repeatedly demonstrated to Broncos fans over the past few years how capable and talented he is. During his years in New Orleans following Drew Brees, he relied on a variety of backup quarterbacks. These included Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, and Ian Book, yet the Saints still finished 9-8. Furthermore, in 2019, when Brees missed five games due to injury, Payton went 5-0 with Teddy Bridgewater leading the team.
Yet a major reason that backups succeed with Payton is probably due to the system he uses.
His offensive scheme doesn’t rely heavily on deep passes or elaborate plays from the quarterback. Payton prefers to use the running game, quick passes like curls and screens, and some shallow digs and crossing routes. If J.K. Dobbins can return, Stidham and the offense can depend more on him. Additionally, weapons like Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Evan Engram, and others should help make the game easier for him.
Not to mention, Denver’s defense will be a major advantage. The Patriots haven’t looked particularly impressive in their playoff run so far, so expect the Broncos’ defense to provide Stidham with plenty of opportunities.
Game Preview
The Patriots are rightly favored to win, but many are dismissing the Broncos too early.
Drake Maye is a great quarterback, but both he and many of his offensive teammates lack experience. Add in Denver’s tough defense that caused five turnovers against Buffalo, and suddenly the story changes.
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The Broncos will probably generate a few key takeaways. With Payton’s coaching, Denver’s playmakers, and their excellent offensive line, they should stay competitive. The outcome will likely hinge on whether Stidham can perform in crucial moments.
Many fans believe this logic influenced their choice to pick the Patriots, although in Stidham’s relatively small sample size, he has demonstrated that ability.
He has the arm strength, confidence, and decision-making ability. However, no one truly knows how he will handle the pressure of this situation.
Come Sunday, though, if he plays the way Payton believes he can and if Payton leads his team the way Denver fans know he can, Jarrett Stidham could help the Broncos shock the world.
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