The Denver Broncos ' biggest storyline going into the AFC championship lies squarely on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham preparing to start a conference championship with just a week of practice. Many pundits, former players and teammates across the NFL have commented about the unprecedented situation 'Stiddy' faces.

Steve Young 's warning to Broncos backup QB Jarrett Stidham: "He’s needs to be very, very careful that he’s not the reason they lose…'

Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos are in a tough situation, as the quarterback has to step in to replace the injured Bo Nix for Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Stidham, 29, will make his fifth career start and the first postseason start of his career on Sunday. Backed by 76,000 fans at Empower Field at Mile High, Stidham will attempt to help the Broncos return to the Super Bowl for the ninth time in franchise history.

From that point forward, Payton discussed Stidham as a starting-caliber No. 2 quarterback. Out of the gates, Stidham backed up Russell Wilson in 2023, and just like his 2022 season in Las Vegas, he closed it out as the Broncos' starter in the final two games.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has proven himself to be a capable backup here in Denver. Stidham was originally signed by the Broncos in 2023, to backup then-quarterback Russell Wilson. After the Broncos benched Wilson at the end of 2023 and drafted Bo Nix in 2024, Stidham found himself in a competition for the starting job.

The Denver Broncos were left in a precarious position after their QB1, Bo Nix, suffered a season-ending injury after the 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills. With Nix ruled out for the upcoming AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots,