Healthy Josh Allen says Bills prep’d for altitude, rematch with Broncos

Josh Allen says he’s feeling good. Better, actually, than he has in weeks.

That’s concerning news for a Denver Broncos defense that will welcome the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills to Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday for an AFC Divisional Round showdown.

“I feel better than I have in the last few weeks on a — now it’s a Tuesday for us — but on a Wednesday type mindset,” Allen said Tuesday, referencing each team’s approaching Saturday’s game like a normal NFL Sunday. “So feel good.”

Despite what he said, Allen was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice with three separate injuries.

The No. 1 seed Broncos (14-3) are getting 13 days off after earning a first-round bye — their first home playoff game since the 2015 season. The Bills (13-5) are turning around in six days after Allen delivered a game-winning touchdown run with 64 seconds left to beat Jacksonville 27-24 on Sunday.

It’s a rematch of last year’s Wild Card Round, when Allen and the Bills throttled Denver 31-7 at Highmark Stadium.

The former Wyoming quarterback was asked on Tuesday about the challenge of playing it in Denver this time, at altitude.

“Physically, it’s going to challenge you,” Allen said. “I think the best thing that we can do, though, is not really talk about it and not really think about it, and not make it a problem. Just go out there and do our job, then get on the sideline and get some oxygen if you need it. I know from firsthand experience that it is an advantage. But to have that mindset of understanding that it’s gonna be tough — yeah, we gotta fight through.”

The Bills’ toughness and resilience are being tested big time this week with two wide receivers, Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis, each tearing their ACLs in the game. Shavers played through the injury for more than a half — a detail Allen called “pretty remarkable.”

Allen, who threw for 273 yards and rushed for two scores against the Jaguars, was asked what has made this Bills team so resilient after trailing in multiple games this season, including a 15-point deficit in the opener.

“It goes back to training camp and building our roster the way we did, and guys hanging with each other and really trusting each other off the field. And I do believe it pays dividends on the field,” Allen said. “To go out there and know that the 10 guys on the field have your back and you have their back — again, if we’ve got a chance and there’s time on the clock, we truly believe that we have a chance no matter what the game looks like.”

But the Bills quarterback knows what awaits him in Denver. He was asked about the Broncos’ defense, anchored by last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II. Denver ranked second in the NFL against the run this season, and Buffalo, the best rushing team in the league this year, managed a season-low 79 rushing yards against Jacksonville’s No. 1-ranked rush defense.

“They’ve got massive studs over there. Obviously, they rush the passer extremely well,” Allen said. “Interior, they’re, again, some big stout guys that can really push the pocket, and they can stop the run. And in the back end, too, a guy like Pat Surtain was Defensive Player of the Year last year. He’s an absolutely fantastic football player.

“We’re going to have our hands full just making sure that we’re putting in the right stuff, understanding the game plan, getting to the right checks, getting to the right calls, executing and playing for each other — because we can’t give them any help. That’s a good team over there.”

Buffalo is a 1.5-point favorite at most sportsbooks despite playing on the road. The winner will play in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 25.

The Broncos haven’t won a home playoff game since defeating the New England Patriots in the 2015 AFC Championship on their way to winning Super Bowl 50. Denver players have noted how excited they are to see what their home field looks like when Broncos Country is cheering for a do-or-die game.

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