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After losing starting quarterback Bo Nix to a season-ending ankle injury, the Denver Broncos are turning to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. After being promoted to QB1, Stidham is set to start against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.
Stidham played well during preseason in August, but he hasn't started a regular season game since the end of the 2023 season. Amazingly, the Broncos were the only team in the NFL that did not have a backup quarterback attempt a pass during the 2025 regular season (and the same stat was also true in 2024).
Stidham is set to become the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first start of the season in a conference championship game after not attempting a single pass in the regular season, according to OptaSTATS. But he won't be the first QB to make his first start of the season in a conference title game.
Following the 1972 season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach started (and lost) the NFC Championship game after not starting any regular-season games. Fortunately for Stidham, there are examples of backup QBs leading their teams to titles.
Ten backup quarterbacks took over and led their teams to Super Bowl wins, with Nick Foles (2017) being the most recent example.
"What those guys have done and accomplished is incredible, but I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself or anything like that," Stidham said after practice last week. "Like I said, just focused on the day-to-day right now, and being prepared for Sunday and trying to go out there and win a ballgame."
Before dreaming about a trip to the Super Bowl, Stidham must first focus on upsetting the Patriots in the AFC title game on Sunday. When coach Sean Payton was asked about past backup QBs who have won it all, he deflected attention off Stidham and onto the team.
“It’s a team game, right?" Payton said last week. "[In past] cases, there were different scenarios. The key is how we as a team prepare this week for the team we’re getting ready to play Sunday. We’re playing a real good team. Both teams ended up with the same record [14-3]. That’s really the short answer.”
It's a daunting task for Stidham, but he won't face it alone. If Denver's going to pull off an upset, it will take a team effort with a productive run game, opportunistic defense and effective special teams play. But it's a QB-driven league, so all eyes will be on Stidham on Sunday afternoon.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL playoffs: Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham will make history today
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Stidham played well during preseason in August, but he hasn't started a regular season game since the end of the 2023 season. Amazingly, the Broncos were the only team in the NFL that did not have a backup quarterback attempt a pass during the 2025 regular season (and the same stat was also true in 2024).
Stidham is set to become the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first start of the season in a conference championship game after not attempting a single pass in the regular season, according to OptaSTATS. But he won't be the first QB to make his first start of the season in a conference title game.
Following the 1972 season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach started (and lost) the NFC Championship game after not starting any regular-season games. Fortunately for Stidham, there are examples of backup QBs leading their teams to titles.
Ten backup quarterbacks took over and led their teams to Super Bowl wins, with Nick Foles (2017) being the most recent example.
"What those guys have done and accomplished is incredible, but I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself or anything like that," Stidham said after practice last week. "Like I said, just focused on the day-to-day right now, and being prepared for Sunday and trying to go out there and win a ballgame."
Before dreaming about a trip to the Super Bowl, Stidham must first focus on upsetting the Patriots in the AFC title game on Sunday. When coach Sean Payton was asked about past backup QBs who have won it all, he deflected attention off Stidham and onto the team.
“It’s a team game, right?" Payton said last week. "[In past] cases, there were different scenarios. The key is how we as a team prepare this week for the team we’re getting ready to play Sunday. We’re playing a real good team. Both teams ended up with the same record [14-3]. That’s really the short answer.”
It's a daunting task for Stidham, but he won't face it alone. If Denver's going to pull off an upset, it will take a team effort with a productive run game, opportunistic defense and effective special teams play. But it's a QB-driven league, so all eyes will be on Stidham on Sunday afternoon.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL playoffs: Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham will make history today
Continue reading...
