Could next week’s AFC title game be a case of history repeating?

Former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles put that suggestion into the universe Sunday when trying to lift the spirits of deflated Broncos fans, who lost quarterback Bo Nix for the remainder of the playoffs with a season-ending ankle injury.

 

 

 

With backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham now leading the Broncos, Foles offered a brief lesson about New England’s murky history with QB2s as Drake Maye and Co. visit Denver next week.

 

Nick Foles celebrates the Eagles' Super Bowl win in February 2018.

Nick Foles celebrates the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in February 2018.

 

 

 

 

“Note for the Broncos and their fans: I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery,” Foles began on X.

“A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”

 

 

 

 

Foles helped author Philadelphia’s first-ever Super Bowl triumph in February 2018 against Tom Brady and the Patriots, when he took over for injured starter Carson Wentz late in the regular season.

He powered the Eagles to a 41-33 win, finishing with 373 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception en route to a Super Bowl MVP.

The Broncos are hopeful Stidham can guide the team to its first Super Bowl berth since the 2015 season.
Broncos quarterbacks Bo Nix (10) and Jarrett Stidham (8).Broncos quarterbacks Bo Nix (10) and Jarrett Stidham (8).

Nix, who helped Denver clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, completed 26 of 46 pass attempts for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the team’s 33-30 overtime victory against the Bills.

The celebrations were short-lived when head coach Sean Payton revealed Nix suffered a fracture in his right ankle during the game’s extra minutes.

 

 

 

 

“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said of Nix. “I said [to him], ‘Listen, I believe you’re the second quarterback in Year 2 to take your team to a championship game. And the first is [Patrick] Mahomes.’ This team, all year, has lost key players. We’ll rise up for the next challenge, and we’ll go from there.”

Denver will next host New England, with the Patriots making their first trip to the AFC title game in seven years.

They topped the Texans on Sunday, 28-16.

Stidham has started four games in his NFL career and none in the playoffs.