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Stidham's Playoff Leap: Hostetler's Advice
23 Jan
Summary
- Jarrett Stidham will make his first start this season in the AFC championship game.
- Jeff Hostetler shared advice based on his own playoff starting experience.
- Nick Foles offered encouragement regarding backup QB performance in championship games.
Jarrett Stidham is slated to make his first start of the season this Sunday in the AFC championship game, stepping into a critical role for the Broncos. The opportunity arises after starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury during the divisional round. This situation echoes that of Jeff Hostetler, who became the Giants' starting quarterback over three decades ago due to a season-ending injury to Phil Simms.
Despite limited prior starting experience, Hostetler guided the Giants through the playoffs and ultimately to a Super Bowl victory. Hostetler's advice to Stidham emphasizes blocking out distractions and treating the game like any other. He shared that external belief in his abilities was scarce during his playoff run.
Adding to the encouragement, Nick Foles, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win after Carson Wentz's injury, noted that championship-game backups have historically performed well against certain opponents. Stidham will aim to channel the experiences of Foles and Hostetler when the Broncos face the Patriots.
