Published on: January 18, 2026, at 12:53h.
Updated on: January 18, 2026, at 01:00h.
- Broncos QB Nix sustains ankle fracture during thrilling victory over the Bills
- Houston Texans head to New England as underdogs against the Patriots
- Rams favored to win against the Bears tonight amid frigid temperatures in Chicago
In a heart-pounding AFC Divisional Round matchup yesterday, the Denver Broncos triumphed over the Buffalo Bills with a final score of 33-30 in overtime. However, their victory came at a great cost as quarterback Bo Nix fractured his ankle on the game’s penultimate play, leaving him sidelined for the rest of the season.
Nix is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama, to address the injury. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will take over as the starter. Stidham has seen limited action this season, participating in just one game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, where he only took four snaps, including one kneel-down to conclude the match in a 44-24 victory.
Details on the Fractured Ankle
In the game, Nix completed 26 of 46 passes for a total of 279 yards, along with three touchdown throws and one interception. Despite any attempts to soften the blow, this injury is a significant blow to the Broncos. We recall insights from Ethan Useloff, a Sports Trader at Fanatics Sportsbook, who warned of the betting repercussions if Bills QB Josh Allen were to become injured and replaced by backup Mitch Trubisky.
“If Mitch Trubisky steps in, it could swing the betting line significantly,” Useloff noted. “Allen is essential to the team, and losing him could ruin their chances.”
Rethinking Patriots’ Super Bowl Chances
Celebrations are underway in Houston and New England today, as the winner of the Texans vs. Patriots matchup won’t face Nix.
In the aftermath of last night’s thrilling win, the Broncos’ Super Bowl odds plummeted from +325 to as low as +1100 following the injury news about Bo Nix, now sitting at +1000.
Even though the Patriots still need to play their divisional round today, they have garnered 28.5% of the total Super Bowl betting handle since the Bills-Broncos game. This puts them just behind the Seahawks, who hold 35% during this period thanks to their stellar performance against the 49ers.
No. 5 Houston Texans vs. No. 2 New England Patriots, Today at 3 p.m. EST
This afternoon’s game presents the toughest challenge yet for the Patriots. While their QB Drake Maye is a front-runner for the MVP award, he endured five sacks last week against the Chargers. Keep an eye on the Texans’ defensive strength—players like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter stand out, with defensive tackle Tommy Togiai making an impact during the Texans’ victory over the Steelers.
Useloff noted that there is some undue hype around this matchup impacting the betting landscape. He remarked that the Seahawks and Rams appear to be superior compared to other NFC teams, while the AFC Divisional Round teams are closely matched regarding their Super Bowl odds. Late last week, he indicated that any of these four teams involved could feasibly make the Super Bowl.
The betting lines for the Patriots-Texans game were fluctuating when we spoke with him.
Changing Betting Lines
“I’m surprised this line isn’t closer, like within a field goal,” he expressed. “The Houston defense is one of the most intimidating units I’ve seen in a while. It should really be a tighter game than just a few points apart. The Patriots are currently third in outright betting at Fanatics in terms of total bets for the Super Bowl.
While it’s understandable that the Patriots are drawing a crowd of supporters, the Texans’ defense is historic in its capability. They had an outstanding performance against Pittsburgh last Monday. Discussions around New England’s schedule are somewhat overstated as well.
“The Texans’ defense will certainly put pressure on Drake Maye. I’ve noticed some weakness on the left side of their line with Will Campbell in New England. I anticipate Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. leading the charge to make Maye uncomfortable. If the Patriots secure a win, it will likely be a low-scoring affair, reliant on their defense.”
Current Betting Lines for Today’s Matchup
At DraftKings: ML Texans +145, Patriots -175; Spread Texans +3 (+102), Patriots -3 (-122); Over 40.5 (-115), Under 40.5 (-105).
At FanDuel: ML Texans +142, Patriots -168; Spread Texans +3.5 (-122), Patriots -3.5 (+100); Over 40.5 (-114), Under 40.5 (-106).
And at BetMGM: ML Texans +145, Patriots -175; Spread Texans +3 (+100), Patriots -3 (-110); Over 40.5 (-115), Under 40.5 (-105).
No. 5 L.A. Rams vs. No. 2 Chicago Bears, Today at 6:30 p.m. EST
Cold weather is a significant theme for this game, with forecasts indicating temperatures in the teens and wind chill near zero come game time in Chicago. This is certainly not the typical weather conditions faced by players from sunny California.
Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that Rams QB Matthew Stafford has extensive experience playing in challenging weather from his years with the Detroit Lions, who regularly faced tough conditions in Green Bay and Chicago during the late season.
According to theScore Bet, 59.9% of the betting action is leaning towards the Bears (+4, opened at +4), while 52.7% of bets are backing the Rams on the moneyline (-200). Additionally, 62.7% of total bets are on the Over for points (48.5, opened at 50.5). The most common Anytime TD Scorers include: Puka Nacua -110, D’Andre Swift +145, Colston Loveland +200, Kyren Williams +105, and Davante Adams -110.
Latest Betting Lines for Today’s Game
At DraftKings: ML Rams -198, Bears +164; Spread Rams -3.5 (-118), Bears +3.5 (-102); Over 48.5 (-115), Under 48.5 (-105).
At FanDuel: ML Rams -198, Bears +166; Spread Rams -3.5 (-115), Bears +3.5 (-105); Over 48.5 (-112), Under 48.5 (-108).
And at BetMGM: ML Rams -200, Bears +165; Spread Rams -3.5 (-110), Bears +3.5 (+100); Over 49 (-110), Under 49 (-110).