Michigan High School Football Playoffs: Photos From State Semifinals

For six years, every season ended the same way for Courtland Sutton — in disappointment. The AFC championship banners hanging on the walls of the Broncos’ indoor practice field and the three Lombardi trophies sitting behind glass in the main lobby served as constant reminders of the franchise’s winning tradition. But, up until Sunday afternoon at Empower Field, Sutton said, “We haven’t held up our end of the bargain.” In his seventh season, one that began with low expectations, Sutton helped change that.

Bo Nix had just played the final snap of his rookie regular season when head coach Sean Payton found him on the sideline. They shared a couple of words and then a fist bump. There was no big celebration, no prolonged embrace. The meaning came through loud and clear. Sunday’s task: Complete. First real milestone for the Broncos’ duo: In the books. Satisfied with simply exceeding expectations in their first year together?

It’s been a Von time coming. “I love him dearly. I think the world of him,” Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles said with a grin Sunday after Denver’s playoff-clinching curb-stomping of the Kansas City Chiefs when asked about a reunion with Bills pass-rusher and Broncos legend Von Miller next Sunday. “I bet he was just as hyped as we were winning this game because he’s a Bronco for life.” Huge win.

The fans were yelling, the players were smiling, and the 1977-themed scoreboard numbers kept changing like lever pulls on a slot machine. Touchdown Marvin Mims Jr. Touchdown Courtland Sutton. Touchdown Devaughn Vele. Good Lord, how did he catch that one? Bo Nix stood at the fault line of this offensive earthquake. The stadium shook, and the man wearing the No.

OFFENSE — A Sean Payton had the Denver offense ready to roll from the start. He had a nifty fake reverse in his bag and deployed it perfectly as soon as the Broncos got solidly into Chiefs territory. Bo Nix started hot and stayed that way through the entire first half, plenty of time to build a comfortable lead against a Kansas City team that looked like it had turned its attention to divisional weekend before they even landed in Colorado.

A look at how the Broncos’ rookies played in their 38-0 win over the Chiefs on Sunday. Highlight: A game of hot potato in the back of the end zone led to Bo Nix’s third touchdown pass of the first half. His throw intended for tight end Adam Trautman was tipped three times before rookie wideout Devaughn Vele secured the catch to extend Denver’s lead to 21-0 with 11:05 to go in the second quarter.