The Denver Broncos opened their scoring in the 2026 NFL Playoffs with an unexpected hero.
Early in the second quarter of their AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Denver’s first touchdown came not from a wide receiver or tight end, but from backup offensive tackle Frank Crum.
Quarterback Bo Nix, who threw 25 touchdown passes during the regular season, found the 315-pound lineman slipping into the flat for a short score that gave the Broncos a crucial boost. The touchdown capped a momentum-shifting sequence after Denver recovered a James Cook fumble deep in Broncos territory, stopping a Buffalo drive that threatened to extend the Bills’ early 7-3 lead.
On the play, Crum initially sold a blocking assignment before quietly leaking out into open space. Nix delivered an accurate pass, and Crum rumbled forward, lowering his shoulder and powering through defensive back Cam Lewis at the goal line to finish the play.
At 6-foot-8 and roughly 310 pounds, Crum is not the typical target in the passing game. However, his athleticism has long stood out. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 4.94-second 40-yard dash, a rare feat for a player of his size.
Crum entered the league as an undrafted free agent and the Divisional Round marked his first career playoff appearance. Scoring the Broncos’ first touchdown of the postseason made the moment even more memorable.
For Denver, the unexpected contribution highlighted both creativity in the game plan and the value of depth, while for Crum, it was a career-defining play on one of the NFL’s biggest stages.