ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the Broncos and Bills take the field at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, it will mark the first postseason matchup featuring a defense that has recorded 60-plus sacks and an offense that has allowed under 15 sacks in a season.
But for defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, the game plan for the battle up front on Sunday is simple.
"Sack 'em," Franklin-Myers said Wednesday. "We get a lot of sacks, so it's going to be one of [those] games. But [it's] exciting because [of] the opportunity."
Franklin-Myers — who spoke about his experience facing quarterback Josh Allen while he played for the divisional-rival Jets — said it will be important for the Broncos to be on the top of their game on Sunday as they attempt to slow down an explosive offense led by MVP candidate Allen.
"Relentlessness," Franklin-Myers said. "That's what it's going to take to win this game from a defensive line standpoint, but also from a team standpoint.
"... It's making sure you understand that [Allen's] going to scramble, he's going to make his plays. But just making sure that every play, he has to earn."
Denver's defense has shown its potential to be resilient and dominant all season, as the unit finished the regular season allowing the third-fewest points per game (18.3) and second-fewest yards per play (4.9) while also recording the most quarterback hits (134) and sacks (63).
The unit, though, will likely face one of its toughest tests during the Wild Card Weekend matchup. The Bills finished the 2024 season averaging 30.9 points per game, which was the second-highest total in the NFL, and the team also scored 30-plus points in 12 games, which was the most across the league.
And while a huge emphasis will be placed on applying pressure up front, cornerback Pat Surtain II noted that it will be equally as important for the team to stick their game plan when it comes to preventing big downfield plays and scoring opportunities. The Bills have seen 13 different players score a receiving touchdown in 2024, which tied the mark for the most in a single season in NFL history. Surtain said that it will be essential for the Broncos to continue "playing our brand of football" as they look to slow down the explosive offense.
"I think we have to really focus on plastering on the receivers," Surtain said. "There's always a second act. What I watched on film is guys are covered, but with [Allen's] scrambling ability and his second-play ability, I think it's key for us as a secondary and as a unit to plaster on to our matchups and the receivers. That's where he extends plays. That's where he becomes a playmaker in that area. We have to eliminate those key factors towards that."
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph also noted the unique challenge the unit will face this weekend, but he stressed that it will be important for his players to do what they have done all season: embrace the opportunity while sticking to the game plan.
"It's the same challenge every week," Joseph said Thursday. "It's having the best defenses stop what they do best. Obviously, having multiple targets, including the backs and tight ends, it's always difficult. But having a good plan each week is key."
Joseph — who commended his unit for its hard work and progress that he has seen throughout the year — believes his team has the necessary mindset and attitude to attack the challenge head-on this weekend.
"The guys every week have taken [on] challenges," he said. "It's a bunch of guys who are just trying to prove themselves. So, how we practice, how we prep, it's like Week 1 every week. So that's fun to watch. It's Week 18 [or] 19, [and] it's still a full-speed practice. So having a chance to improve with this young group has been important for us and practicing and how we practice has been important for us."
On Sunday in Buffalo, the Broncos will look to translate their practice performance to game action on a big-time stage.
