AFC Championship Game Capsule

AFC Championship Game Preview Capsule

New England Patriots (16-3) at Denver Broncos (15-3)

Sunday, 2 p.m. ET

Denver, Colorado, Empower Field at Mile High

AFC Championship Game appearances: Patriots 16 (11-4), Broncos 11 (8-2)

Series History: Broncos are 4-1 against the Patriots in the playoffs. Denver beat New England twice in the AFC Championship Game; 20-18 during the 2015 season and 26-16 in the 2013 campaign.

FanDuel Odds: Patriots -4.5, Total 42.5

Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham can't make it rain or snow in the Rockies, but Denver's sub for the injured Bo Nix might help his own cause by generating some thunder out of the gates.

The Patriots haven't lost on the road this season, a perfect 8-0, but second-year quarterback Bo Nix knows New England is walking into a brand-new environment Sunday afternoon. Empower Field was designed to let the players feel the fans when it gets rocking, and the situation calls for all the help the Broncos can get.

"The magnitude of the noise is something we probably haven't seen yet," Drake Maye said of heading to Mile High. "Playing on the road is one of the coolest things. Coming off the field with their screaming fans, coming out with a win. It's pretty cool to celebrate in an away locker room, that's different. Coach is always saying ‘road warriors,' and we're trying to find that one more time."

Broncos coach Sean Payton talked up Stidham in the aftermath of the season-ending ankle injury to Nix. Players and coaches learned the second-year starter was hurt only after beating the Bills in a thriller, 33-30, in Denver last week. Nix called it the most devastating football news he's ever received. For Stidham, it's a chance to prove at 29 he's worthy of another opportunity.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was playing linebacker with New England when a backup named Tom Brady emerged to lead the Patriots to victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX. And there's no need for the Broncos to issue a book on Stidham to the Patriots. They can get it from one of their coaches first-hand.

Stidham started his career as Brady's backup in 2019 as a fourth-round pick under Bill Belichick and spent three seasons in New England as part of meetings facilitated by Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels -- previously head coach of the Broncos from 2009-2010.

Stidham was acquired from the Patriots by the Raiders in a trade after Las Vegas hired McDaniels in 2022. He signed with the Broncos as a free agent in 2023. When the Broncos drafted Nix, head coach Sean Payton had already signed Stidham based on what he knew about his experiences with McDaniels. Stidham expected to compete and become the starter and declared he would again be "a starter in this league."

He'll be backed by one of the best defenses in the league. Getting heat to the pocket is already a strength of the Broncos. Denver has four players with seven-plus sacks. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks with 68 in 2025 and got to Josh Allen three times last week.

"(Maye is) fast. He can run. We had that challenge a week ago," said Payton, who can tie Parcells and others on the NFL all-time list with his 11th playoff win Sunday.

There are numerous mines for Maye to avoid in the Denver defense.

Outside linebackers Nik Bonitto -- fifth in the NFL with 14 sacks this season -- and Jonathon Cooper (eight sacks) are backed by lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. They could be sensing blood in the water after Maye had five turnovers in the first two playoff games.

A glimmer of hope for more help in the Broncos emerged this week, but Denver ruled out running back J.K. Dobbins (foot) on Friday along with Nix (ankle) and linebacker Drew Sanders (ankle).

New England cornerback Carlton Davis III cleared concussion protocol, but the Patriots ruled out sacks leader Harold Landry (8.5) due to a knee injury.