The Denver Broncos will strive to overcome the absence of quarterback Bo Nix (ankle injury) as they face the New England Patriots in the 2026 AFC Championship Game this Sunday. The victor will progress to Super Bowl LX.

New England secured a 28-16 victory over Houston, while Denver triumphed over Buffalo 33-30 in overtime. With both teams holding a 14-3 record, the Patriots emerge as the AFC’s second seed while the Broncos are the top seed, boasting a 9-1 home record this postseason.

Kickoff from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. The Patriots currently hold a 4.5-point advantage in the latest betting odds, down from an opening of 5.5 points. The total points over/under is set at 42.5 according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Before finalizing any bets on the Broncos vs. Patriots, check out the NFL predictions from SportsLine’s model. This model generates extensive simulations of every NFL game and has profited significantly for $100 bettors on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

This matchup highlights MVP candidate Drake Maye, who completed 72% of his passes this season for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, backed by superstar receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards.

For the Broncos, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is set to lead the team in light of Nix’s injury. He previously gained experience leading the team against the Las Vegas Raiders. Veteran Courtland Sutton is an essential target for Stidham, showcasing solid performance metrics through the season.

The model also projects a total below the set over/under, predicting the combined score to be around 40 points, also indicating that one side of the spread will hit in nearly 60% of simulations. Stay updated by following the SportsLine for expert insights and predictions.