In the AFC title game, the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Denver won its divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills in dramatic fashion, prevailing 33-30 in overtime. Despite the Bills having a poor run defense, the Broncos opted for a pass-heavy game, sending Bo Nix back over 50 times while they ran the ball with RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin only 10 times combined. The Broncos return to the conference title game for the first time since 2015 when they won the Super Bowl, greatly reliant on their defense after losing their quarterback to injury.
Meanwhile, New England comes off a comfortable 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans last week, showcasing a defense that forced five turnovers and minimized C.J. Stroud and his team to just 241 total yards. The Patriots aim to revisit their Super Bowl glory days, which ended with the departure of Tom Brady.
Where to watch Broncos vs. Patriots live
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 25 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
- TV: CBS | Streaming: Paramount+
- Odds: Off the board via DraftKings Sportsbook
Key Storylines
- Bo Nix’s injury: Denver’s initial starting quarterback is sidelined with a fractured ankle, handing the reins to backup Jarrett Stidham. Stidham boasts four career starts but struggled previously.
- Drake Maye vs. the blitz: Highly effective against blitzes during the regular season, he faces the league’s most aggressive blitzing team.
- Broncos’ pass rush: Denver’s defense prides itself on generating pressure, ranking highly in both sack and pressure rates.
- Rhamondre Stevenson’s breakout performance: Since Week 14, he has shown exceptional prowess, becoming a dual-threat in both regular and playoff games.
Prediction: Patriots 21, Broncos 10
