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In a game defined by relentless turnovers and a finish that defied logic, the Denver Broncos secured a gritty 24-22 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The contest culminated in a bizarre sequence where Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a potential game-winning field goal, only to be gifted a second attempt due to a “12 men on the field” penalty by Buffalo. On his second try, Lutz made no mistake, splitting the uprights as time expired and sending the Orchard Park crowd into a stunned silence.

A Season on the Brink

Entering this Week 10 clash, both teams were desperate to stabilize their seasons. The Bills, at 5-4, were looking to keep pace in a crowded AFC playoff race and maintain pressure on the Dolphins in the AFC East. For the Broncos, the stakes were even more dire. After a disastrous 1-5 start to the Sean Payton era, Denver arrived in Buffalo on a two-game winning streak. A loss would have likely extinguished their postseason hopes; a win would signal that the Broncos were a legitimate threat in the second half of the season.

The Momentum Pendulum

The game began in disastrous fashion for Buffalo. On the very first play from scrimmage, running back James Cook fumbled, setting a tone of instability that would haunt the Bills all night. Denver’s defense, rejuvenated under Vance Joseph, stayed aggressive, forcing three first-half turnovers including an interception by Justin Simmons.

Despite the defensive masterclass, the Broncos struggled to pull away, settling for Wil Lutz field goals and a spectacular, toe-tapping touchdown catch by Courtland Sutton that Next Gen Stats graded as having a mere 3.2% completion probability.

Buffalo finally found life in the second half. Josh Allen used his legs to cap a 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, giving the Bills their first lead, 22-21, with just 1:55 remaining. However, Russell Wilson—showing flashes of his former “dangeruss” self—orchestrated a methodical 10-play drive. The turning point came on a 3rd-and-10 from the Buffalo 45-yard line, where Wilson drew a 28-yard pass interference penalty on Taron Johnson. This set the stage for the final, chaotic special teams sequence that ultimately handed Denver the win.

Quick Game Facts

Final Score: Denver Broncos 24, Buffalo Bills 22
Date & Location: Nov 13, 2023 | Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, NY)
Weather: 45°F, Clear, Wind 8 mph
Attendance: 70,318
Time of Possession: Denver (37:21) | Buffalo (22:39)

The Statistical Core

Top Performers Comparison

Category	Denver Broncos	Buffalo Bills
Passer	Russell Wilson (193 Yds, 2 TD)	Josh Allen (177 Yds, 1 TD, 2 INT)
Rusher	Javonte Williams (79 Yds)	James Cook (109 Yds)
Receiver	Courtland Sutton (8 Rec, 53 Yds, 1 TD)	Gabriel Davis (2 Rec, 56 Yds)
Tackler	Alex Singleton (11 Total)	Terrel Bernard (9 Total)

Team Efficiency

Metric	Denver Broncos	Buffalo Bills
First Downs	19	18
Total Yards	300	369
Passing Yards	178	177
Rushing Yards	122	192
3rd Down Conv %	4/15 (26.7%)	4/9 (44.4%)
Red Zone Eff.	1/3	2/2
Turnovers	1	4

The Quarterback Masterclass

Russell Wilson: The Game Manager Reborn

Russell Wilson’s performance wasn’t flashy, but it was surgical. He completed 82.8% of his passes (24-of-29), the second-highest mark of his career. More importantly, he avoided the catastrophic mistakes that plagued his opponent. Wilson was elite under pressure, converting three crucial third downs on the final two scoring drives. His ability to extend plays allowed his receivers to find soft spots in the Bills’ zone, specifically Samaje Perine on late-game check-downs.

QB Stat	Russell Wilson (DEN)
Comp/Att	24/29
Passing Yards	193
TD/INT	2/0
Sacks Taken	4
Passer Rating	117.4
Rushing Yards	30

Josh Allen: High Variance Heartbreak

Josh Allen’s night was a microcosm of the 2023 Bills: immense talent undermined by mistakes. While Allen contributed two scores (one passing, one rushing), his three total turnovers (2 INT, 1 Fumble) gave Denver short fields and sapped Buffalo’s momentum. His interception streak reached six games, a career high. Despite a higher Yards Per Attempt (6.8) than Wilson, Allen’s inability to protect the ball proved fatal.

QB Stat	Josh Allen (BUF)
Comp/Att	15/26
Passing Yards	177
TD/INT	1/2
Sacks Taken	0
Passer Rating	59.3
Rushing Yards	13

Positional Deep Dives

The Ground War

Player	Carries	Yards	Avg	TD	Long
Javonte Williams (DEN)	21	79	3.8	0	11
James Cook (BUF)	12	109	9.1	0	42
Latavius Murray (BUF)	9	68	7.6	1	21

The Broncos’ offensive line played a “phone booth” style of football, grinding out 122 yards and allowing Denver to control the clock for over 37 minutes. Conversely, the Bills’ line opened massive holes for Cook and Murray (7.4 YPC as a team), but the lack of volume due to turnovers limited their impact.

The Aerial Attack

Player	Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	YPR
Courtland Sutton (DEN)	11	8	53	1	6.6
Gabriel Davis (BUF)	6	2	56	0	28.0
Dalton Kincaid (BUF)	6	5	51	1	10.2

Courtland Sutton remains Russell Wilson’s most trusted target. His body control on the sideline touchdown was the play of the game. For Buffalo, Gabe Davis struggled with consistency, as one of Allen’s interceptions glanced off his hands.

The Defensive Wall & Special Teams

Defensive Player of the Game: Justin Simmons (S, DEN). Simmons recorded a critical interception and recovered a fumble, continuing his trend of being a “Bills killer.”
Sacks: Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa was a menace, recording 1.5 sacks and 3 QB hits.
Special Teams Impact: Wil Lutz went 4-for-4 on field goals, including the 36-yard game-winner. Denver’s Marvin Mims Jr. provided excellent field position with a 27-yard punt return.

Advanced Metrics & “The Why”

The story of this game is told through Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability. Despite Buffalo outgaining Denver by 69 yards, their -4 turnover margin resulted in a massive swing in EPA.

The “Why”: Denver utilized 12-personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) on 42% of snaps to neutralize Buffalo’s pass rush and force them into base personnel, which Wilson then exploited with short, high-percentage passes.
Win Probability: When Josh Allen scored with 1:55 left, Buffalo’s win probability jumped to 88%. It plummeted to 0% after the “12 men” penalty on the final field goal attempt.

The Verdict

This victory propelled the Denver Broncos into the playoff conversation, proving their defensive resurgence was no fluke. For the Buffalo Bills, the loss was “inexcusable” (in the words of local media), leading to the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey the following morning.

FAQ

Who won the Broncos vs Bills game?

The Denver Broncos won 24-22 on a walk-off field goal.

What was the turning point of the game?

The turning point was the “12 men on the field” penalty against Buffalo on Denver’s missed field goal, which gave Wil Lutz a second chance to win the game.