No one is giving the Denver Broncos much of a chance in the AFC Championship Game, and understandably so. After all, they will be without their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, against a New England Patriots squad that has only lost three games all year.
However, Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes he has a backup signal-caller that would sit atop other teams' depth charts in Jarrett Stidham. And by the sound of it, Patriots inside linebackers coach/de facto defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr agrees.
Kuhr addressed the media ahead of New England's massive showdown with the Broncos. Naturally, the first question a reporter asked was about the "challenge" of facing Stidham, who hasn't taken a regular-season snap since 2023.
The response felt like an unmistakable message to the Patriots' stop unit: don't play with your food.
Zak Kuhr urges Patriots' defense not to take Jarrett Stidham-led Broncos lightly
The betting lines vary depending on which sportsbook you use. Nevertheless, oddsmakers are currently giving the Patriots a 70-plus percent implied win probability. But none of that matters to Kuhr, who isn't overlooking the Stidham-led Broncos offense.
"[Stidham's] very capable of being a starting quarterback," Kuhr said. "He could be a start for a number of teams — very talented, athletic, smart. ... He can run better than what most people think. Strong arm, very accurate when you watch his film."
Time will tell if Kuhr's assessment proves true (Broncos fans are certainly hoping so). He's bracing as if there will be no drop-off between the Stidham and Nix. Denver finished in the top half of the league in scoring and yards in 2025, setting a high bar to clear.
Regardless, Kuhr wants his group not take their foot off the gas and maintain the intensity that got them to the NFL's final four. The Patriots have been disruptive throughout the playoffs, recording nine sacks and six turnovers across two games. Now is the time to take it up another notch and make the Broncos feel Nix's absence.
There isn't much to go off when evaluating Stidham. Yet, in a single-game elimination setting, the element of surprise could work in Denver's favor. That's what Kuhr is ostensibly preaching and trying to avoid.
For what it's worth, Stidham completed 30 of 38 passing attempts for 376 yards and four touchdowns in two appearances this preseason.