ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Finally, all that pressure paid off for pass rusher Nik Bonitto and the Denver defense. Finally, the Broncos produced what's been missing much of the season — takeaways.
It's been a long time coming for a defense that's been one of the best in the NFL. The Broncos forced five turnovers last weekend against the Buffalo Bills, four from Josh Allen, who hadn't coughed up the ball in his previous six playoff games.
They may be under pressure to turn in a similar sort of turnover-fest against Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game Sunday. That way, they can take the pressure off backup Jarrett Stidham, who's taking over at QB with Bo Nix out with a broken ankle.
The Broncos led the league with 68 sacks but had only 14 takeaways.
“Everyone’s been saying it for the whole season, that it would eventually flip,” linebacker Alex Singleton said.
It did, and they needed every one of them to beat the Bills 33-30 in overtime on a field goal set up by Ja'Quan McMillian's interception on a deep throw to Brandin Cooks.
The Broncos were one of the best teams at applying pressure in the regular season, but they only had 10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries to show for it.
“I just feel like the emphasis that we put on these last couple of weeks, on creating turnovers and just knowing that we have the guys to go do it, I feel like it’s been real good,” Bonitto said. “We’ve been seeing the turnovers and more attempts at the ball and stuff like that. It’s been real crucial.”
Bonitto forced two fumbles from Allen, in part because of something defensive coordinator Vance Joseph told him.
“He's like, 'You know, if you get the ball, you can still get a sack,” cracked Bonitto, who finished fifth in the league with 14 sacks. “We’ve been working on it.”
It's a talented defense led by All-Pro defensive lineman Zach Allen, Bonitto and star cornerback Pat Surtain II. They ranked in the top 10 in total yards (second), yards rushing (second) and yards passing (seventh).
The Broncos finally started taking the ball away when they got to the postseason.
“It’s playoff football and turnovers are very critical,” Surtain explained. “I think turnovers are the key element to wins and losses, especially this time of the year. So, to be able to accumulate that many turnovers, it definitely helps us to win games.”
So far in the playoffs, Maye has thrown two picks and lost three fumbles but has still beaten the Texans and Chargers handily.
"We’ve got to find a way to eliminate the explosives on their side and find a way to contain them,” Surtain said. "Looking forward to the matchup.”
It was a big day of honors for the defense with Bonitto named a finalist for the AP defensive player of the year award and Joseph a finalist for AP's coordinator of the year. Joseph also won the Professional Football Writers of America's Assistant Coach of the Year honor.
Bonitto is in contention with Will Anderson Jr., Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award that went to Surtain last year. Garrett is a big favorite following a record-setting 23-sack season.
“I would not be mad at all. You break the record, I mean, you definitely deserve it,” Bonitto said. “Just the thought of me being up there is pretty cool.”
Joseph, who's up for several head coaching vacancies this cycle, burnished his resume. He gave credit to his players and staff.
“When you win games in this league, more coaches get rewards, players obviously get rewards,” Joseph said. "It speaks to our team winning.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs the ball during overtime of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs for a first down during the second half an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) fumbles the ball while being tackled by Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
DALLAS (AP) — Freezing rain fell in parts of Texas on Friday as a huge, dayslong winter storm began a trek that threatened to bring snow, sleet, ice, bone-chilling temperatures and extensive power outages to about half the U.S. population. Forecasters warned that catastrophic damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane.
Schools in Chicago and other Midwestern cities called off classes, airlines canceled thousands of weekend flights, churches moved Sunday services online and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Carnival parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled.
At least 182 million people were under watches or warnings for ice and snow, and more than 210 million were under cold weather advisories or warnings. In many places those overlapped.
Utility companies braced for power outages because ice-coated trees and power lines can keep falling long after a storm has passed.
“It’s going to be a big storm,” Maricela Resendiz said as she picked up chicken, eggs and pizzas at a Dallas store to get her, her 5-year-old son and her boyfriend through the weekend. Her plans: “Staying in, just being out of the way.”
Freezing rain slickened roads in Lubbock, Texas, in the afternoon as temperatures dropped.
After sliding into the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the National Weather Service predicted.
Frigid air that spilled down from Canada prompted the cancellations of classes at schools throughout the Midwest. Wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 Celsius) meant that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for the bus.
In Bismarck, North Dakota, where the wind chill was minus 41 (minus 41 Celsius), Colin Cross cleaned out an empty unit for the apartment complex where he works.
“I’ve been here awhile and my brain stopped working,” said Cross, bundled up in long johns, two long-sleeve shirts, a jacket, hat, hood, gloves and boots.
Despite the bitter cold, a protest over an immigration crackdown went on as planned in Minnesota, with thousands demonstrating in downtown Minneapolis.
Nationwide, more than 1,000 flights were delayed or canceled Friday, with well over half of them in Dallas, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. About 2,300 were called off for Saturday.
In Oklahoma, Department of Transportation workers treated roads with salt brine, the Highway Patrol canceled troopers' days off and National Guard units were activated to help stranded drivers.
The federal government put nearly 30 search and rescue teams on standby. Officials had more than 7 million meals, 600,000 blankets and 300 generators placed throughout the area the storm was expected to cross, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Donald Trump said via social media that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.”
After the storm passes, it will take a while to thaw out. Ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially if it's windy.
In at least 11 Southern states from Texas to Virginia, a majority of homes are heated by electricity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
A severe cold snap five years ago took down much of the power grid in Texas, leaving millions without power for days and resulting in hundreds of deaths. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that will not happen again, and utility companies were bringing in thousands of employees to help keep the lights on.
In Atlanta, where temperatures could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) and stay below freezing for 36 hours, M. Cary & Daughters Plumbing co-owner Melissa Cary ordered all the pipe and repair supplies she could get. She predicted that her daily calls could go from about 40 to several hundred.
“We’re out there; we can’t feel our fingers, our toes; we’re soaking wet,” Cary said. “I keep the hot chocolate and soup coming.”
Boston declared a cold emergency through the weekend, and Connecticut was working with neighboring New York and Massachusetts in case travel restrictions are needed on major highways.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont urged people to go grocery shopping now and “stay home on Sunday.”
Philadelphia announced schools would be closed Monday. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. told students, “It’s also appropriate to have one or two very safe snowball fights.”
Whittni Slater, who has been sleeping in his car in Detroit, got scared when he saw the weather forecast and searched for a place to stay. On Thursday night he slept on one 80 cots set up in a gymnasium at the Pope Francis Center.
“It was very welcoming, very warm,” Slater said the next day.
But in Charleston, West Virginia, visitors and vendors at the three-day Hunting and Fishing Show were not too worried. Ron Blymire was focused on selling South Africa safari trips and not on navigating the roads back home to Columbus, Ohio.
“I have a four-wheel-drive truck, and as long as I’m patient and take my time, I’m not concerned about getting stranded or stuck or anything like that,” he said.
Some universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi's main campus in Oxford.
At the University of Georgia, in Athens, sophomore Eden England stayed on campus to ride things out with friends, even as the school encouraged students to leave dorms and go home because of concerns about losing power.
“I’d rather be with my friends,” England said, “kind of struggling together if anything happens.”
Megnien and Amy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers around the country contributed.
Work crews stage with de-icing materials in their trucks ahead of expected inclement weather in Plano, Texas, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
A person walks by a vehicle that was plowed in by snow in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Joel Bissell/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)
Work crews prepare trucks with de-icing materials ahead of expected inclement weather in Plano, Texas, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
A person walks on an ice covered beach along the shore of Lake Michigan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Strong winds kick up snow in Lowville, New York, on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
A person walks through the cold on the Campau Promenade in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Joel Bissell/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)
Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Doug Kunde watches as steam is seen over Lake Michigan as frigid temperatures for the day are not expected to reach zero degrees Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
People walk on an ice covered beach along the shore of Lake Michigan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Austin Felts of the Nashville Department of Transportation drives a truck deploying salt brine on roadways Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A pedestrian bundles up as she crosses a street during a cold weather day in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
