Buffalo Bills Await Possible NFL Punishment After Bo Nix Incident
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Buffalo Bills left Saturday night with a tough loss and new tension. The NFL is reviewing a late hit by defensive end Joey Bosa on Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. The decision could lead to punishment for Buffalo after its playoff run ended.
Denver beat Buffalo 33-30 in overtime in the divisional round. The win sent the Broncos to the conference championship. The game stayed tight from start to finish, but one call in overtime changed everything.
Bo Nix played with poise all night. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran the ball 12 times for 29 yards. The rookie stayed calm under pressure and made big plays late.
The turning point came late in overtime. With 6:09 left, Nix threw an incomplete pass to Courtland Sutton. Joey Bosa hit him after the throw, and officials called roughing the passer.
NFL Reviews Bosa Hit As Bills Season Ends
The NFL rulebook explains the call clearly. It says, “any physical acts against a player who is in a passing posture (i.e. before, during, or after attempting a pass) which, in the game official’s judgment, are unwarranted by the circumstances of the play will be called as fouls.” Officials applied that standard on the play.
Bills flagged for pass interference and roughing the passer pic.twitter.com/Ktf57EX8m8
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 18, 2026
The league will now decide if the hit deserves a fine. Under league rules, a first roughing the passer offense brings a $17,389 fine. A second offense raises the amount to $23,186. Bosa already faced a fine earlier this season. The league fined him $17,389 in Week 11 for a hit on Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. Moreover, Bosa was clearly upset after the loss. Cameras showed the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end slamming his helmet into a wall as he walked into the locker room.
Denver declined the 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer. Two fouls occurred on the play. Officials also flagged Bills cornerback Taron Johnson for pass interference on Sutton. Denver accepted that penalty instead. The call gave the Broncos an automatic first down.
The choice worked. Denver finished the drive with a 23-yard field goal by Wil Lutz. The kick ended the game and the Bills season.
Now the Bills wait for the league’s decision on this Bosa incident. Another playoff run ended without a Super Bowl appearance. Denver moves on with confidence and will host the conference championship Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
