Last Updated on January 23, 2026 11:42 am by Anthony Rome
The New England Patriots (14–3) travel to face the Denver Broncos (14–3) for the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX. Both teams finished with the NFL’s best records and survived tough Divisional Round tests — New England beating the Texans 28–16 and Denver taking down the Bills 33–30 in overtime. This marks the third meeting between these franchises in the AFC Championship Game, with Denver historically dominating at home in the playoffs.
New England enters as the slight road favorite thanks to a high-powered offense and balanced team attack, while Denver will lean on its elite pass rush and defense to disrupt rookie QB Drake Maye.
Patriots vs. Broncos Game Day Information
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📅 Game Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
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📍 Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
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📺 TV: CBS
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⏰ Kickoff: ~3:00 p.m. ET
Opening line: Patriots -5.5/Broncos +5.5
📊 Team Records & 2025 Season Snapshot
Patriots (14–3)
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AFC East Champions
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Led NFL in completion percentage (71.9%) and catch rate (74.9%) during the regular season.
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Strong +170 point differential.
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Perfect 8–0 on the road in 2025.
Broncos (14–3)
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AFC West Champions
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Led NFL in sacks (68).
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Top-tier defense against both run and pass.
Public Betting Tickets
Numbers update frequently — check the latest on the NFL public betting chart and learn usage basics in our public betting guide.
🧠 Coaching & Leadership
Patriots: Mike Vrabel has engineered a dramatic turnaround in his first season in New England, transforming the Patriots into one of the league’s most consistent units and earning PFWA Coach of the Year honors.
Broncos: Sean Payton’s experience and offensive creativity have Denver atop the AFC, even after losing rookie standout Bo Nix to a season-ending ankle injury.
📍 Quarterback Matchups
New England — Drake Maye:
Second-year QB and early MVP contender Drake Maye has passed for over 4,300 yards with 31 TDs this season, blending poise and playmaking. While Maye has shown flashes of inconsistency under pressure in the postseason, he’s thriving in an offense built around rhythm and timing.
Denver — Jarrett Stidham:
With Bo Nix out, veteran backup Jarrett Stidham gets the start in the biggest game of his career. Stidham’s limited career starting experience puts pressure on Denver’s playmakers and defense to carry the load.
🔥 Key Storylines
➤ Patriots’ Balanced Attack:
New England’s potent passing game and physical run attack, led by RB TreVeyon Henderson and playmakers like Hunter Henry, challenges Denver’s stout front.
➤ Broncos’ Defensive Identity:
Denver’s pass rush — one of the league’s best — can dictate this game. If the Broncos force turnovers and disrupt rhythm, they could flip expectations at Mile High.
➤ History at Mile High:
Despite playing well all season, the Patriots face a historical hurdle: Denver is 4–0 all-time in home playoff games vs. New England.
➤ Backup Quarterback Spotlight:
Stidham’s chance to shine on the biggest AFC stage adds intrigue, especially against a Patriots defense known for turnovers.
🩹 Injury & Availability Watch
The Patriots have several players listed as questionable or limited in practice, including RB J.K. Dobbins, WR Troy Franklin, and early-week concussion-tracked CB Carlton Davis III — though Davis has returned to limited practice.
Denver’s health report is relatively clean beyond Nix’s absence, but as always in January games, key snaps will be won or lost on who’s freshest late in the fourth quarter.
🧠 What to Watch
Patriots Must:
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Protect Maye from relentless pressure
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Sustain drives to control possession
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Take advantage of mismatches in the intermediate passing game
Broncos Must:
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Win the turnover battle
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Establish physicality upfront even with backup QB
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Turn crowd energy into momentum swings
🏆 Final Thoughts
This AFC Championship Game pits New England’s balanced offense, innovative coaching, and breakout season trajectory against Denver’s fierce defense, home-field advantage, and deep playoff experience. Expect a physical, strategic battle with swing drives and pressure-packed moments defining the winner — and a possible trip to Super Bowl LX.
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