FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 01: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots reacts after a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
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The Denver Broncos head into the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots on Sunday without the services of their starting quarterback Bo Nix. The 25-year-old suffered a season-ending broken bone injury in his right ankle during last weekend’s thrilling victory
More Details On The AFC Championship Game
To reach the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos beat the Bills 33-30 in overtime in the Divisional Round, leading to the surprising firing of Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. He joined the organization ahead of the 2017 NFL season, tallying a 98-50 regular season record with an 8-8 postseason mark.
The Patriots, who had the No. 2 seed in the AFC after finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record, defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 to clinch a berth in the conference championship. New England quarterback Drake Maye, who is in his second year with the organization, recorded 179 yards through the air, three touchdowns, and one interception.
The Patriots, which sit among the NFL’s top 5 most valuable franchises per Forbes, are searching for their first Super Bowl appearance since 2019 when quarterback Tom Brady led the organization to its sixth championship in two decades — New England beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. Meanwhile, Denver’s last appearance in the Big Game came in 2016 when the Peyton Manning-led Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.
AFC Championship Game: Here’s Kickoff Time
Kickoff at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The game will air on CBS and Paramount+. Play by play caller Jim Nantz and analyst Tony Romo, who has received some criticism in recent days for his on-air performance throughout the current season, will be in the broadcast booth in Denver. Both Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn will be the sideline reporters.
Ahead of the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots are 4.5-point favorites against the Broncos, according to the most updated betting odds at the FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 42.5 total points. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives New England almost a 60% chance of advance to the Super Bowl. The winner will face the NFC Champion — either the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams — in the Big Game on Sun., Feb. 8.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjburns/2026/01/23/what-time-is-the-afc-championship-game-heres-how-to-watch/
