New England (16-3) at Denver (15-3)
Sunday, 3 p.m. EST, CBS/Paramount+
BetMGM NFL odds: Patriots by 5.
Against the spread: Patriots 13-5-1; Broncos 8-9-1.
Series record: Broncos lead 31-24.
Last meeting: Patriots won 26-23 in Denver on Dec. 24, 2023.
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham warms up before an NFL divisional round playoff football video game versus the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Recently: Patriots beat Texans 28-16; Broncos beat Bills 33-30 in overtime.
Patriots offense: total (3 ), rush (6 ), pass (4 ), scoring (2 ).
Patriots defense: total (8 ), rush (6 ), pass (9 ), scoring (4 ).
Broncos offense: overall (10 ), rush (16 ), pass (11 ), scoring (14 ).
Broncos defense: overall (2 ), rush (2 ), pass (7 ), scoring (3 ).
Turnover differential: Patriots plus-3; Broncos plus-1.
Drake Maye. The MVP finalist had 3 touchdown passes in the Patriots ´ divisional round win over Houston. It marked the 13th time in group history that a quarterback had actually tossed at least 3 TD passes in a playoff video game. It was likewise the most given that Tom Brady had three in Super Bowl 52 versus Philadelphia.
Jarrett Stidham. Bo Nix's backup hasn't tossed a pass in two seasons and the only breeze he played this season came on a kneel-down at the end of a blowout over the Dallas Cowboys. Stidham has appeared in 20 video games with four starts in his six-year NFL profession and the Patriots attempted to sign him last spring before he re-signed with Denver for $12 million over two years.
Maye versus Denver's defense. The Broncos led the league with a franchise-record 68 sacks this season and sacked Josh Allen three times. They also required Allen to turn the ball over four times after he had gone six straight playoff video games without a turnover. Allen had two fumbles and 2 interceptions, including one in overtime. In the playoffs, Maye has been sacked 10 times, thrown 2 interceptions and fumbled 6 times, losing three of them.
Patriots: LB Harold Landry III (knee) has actually been dismissed. CB Carlton Davis (concussion procedure) and LB Marte Mapu (hip) are both doubtful. ... WR Mack Hollins, who has actually been on hurt reserve given that Dec. 27 with an abdomen injury, was activated on Saturday. He played in the very first 15 video games of the season prior to going on IR, capturing 46 passes for 550 yards and two goals.
Broncos: RB J.K. Dobbins, who went back to practice today for the very first time because foot surgical treatment in mid-November, was ruled out. ... WRs Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) both got involved in practice this week. Center Luke Wattenberg was triggered off injured reserve. He went on IR with a shoulder injury last month. He took the roster spot of Nix (ankle surgical treatment), who went on IR on Saturday, ending his season. The Broncos likewise promoted WRs Michael Bandy and Elijah Moore from their practice squad.
The Broncos have a 4-1 edge in the playoff matchups in between the teams, winning all four video games in Denver. The two latest conferences were in the AFC championship games throughout the 2013 and 2015 seasons, and were both won by the Broncos. Denver's 20-18 win in the 2015 AFC title game on Jan. 24, 2016, was the last meeting between quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
This will be the Patriots ´ 13th appearance in the AFC title video game in the past 25 seasons. ... The Patriots (Mike Vrabel) and San Francisco 49ers (George Seifert 1989, won the Super Bowl) are the only teams in the Super Bowl age to go unbeaten on the roadway with a brand-new head coach. ... Vrabel is attempting to end up being the eighth coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in his first season with a group. ... Maye has finished 3 of 10 deep passes (20 or more lawns) through his first 2 championship game. The Broncos didn ´ t allow Buffalo ´ s Josh Allen a completion and obstructed him twice on 9 deep pass attempts in the divisional round. ... With a win, Maye would end up being the first quarterback to win three championship game against top-five defenses in the very same postseason: the Chargers got in the playoffs ranked fifth, the Texans ranked initially, and the Broncos ranked second. ... Maye has been strip-sacked 11 times this season, consisting of the playoffs. The Patriots have recuperated 6 of Maye ´ s fumbles on sacks, with three healings by LT Will Campbell. The only other quarterbacks strip-sacked 10 or more times given that 2020 are Matt Ryan (11 in 2022), Derek Carr (10 in 2021) and Kirk Cousins (10 in 2021). ... Maye is among three quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era with five or more turnovers and 10 or more sacks. He joins Russell Wilson (2014, lost in the Super Bowl) and Roger Staubach (1973, lost in the NFC national championship). ... WR Stefon Diggs has actually played in 16 postseason games and has 75 receptions for 965 backyards and five touchdowns. He requires 35 lawns to become the 18th NFL player to reach 1,000, and the 3rd Patriots gamer. Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are the only Patriots gamers to eclipse the mark. ... Diggs has played in the most postseason games amongst all Patriots players with 16. CB Carlton Davis III is second with 11 postseason video games. ... LB K ´ Lavon Chaisson has three sacks this postseason. With another he ´ ll joint Willie McGinest (5 in 2003 and 4 1/2 in 2005) and Garin Veris (4 in 1985) as the only Patriots with a minimum of four in a single postseason. ... The Broncos are 18-5 perpetuity in home championship game given that their very first one in 1977 throughout the "Orange Crush" age. ... This is Denver's 11th appearance in the AFC national championship. ... Stidham is 1-3 in his four NFL begins with his only success coming versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 31, 2023. ... K Wil Lutz made all four of his field-goal efforts and all 3 of his additional points versus Buffalo last week. His four basket are one shy of the franchise playoff record of five set by Brandon McManus in the playoffs following the 2015 season. ... Recently OLB Nik Bonitto became the 3rd player in Broncos history to force two fumbles in a championship game. By removing the ball from Josh Allen twice, Bonitto signed up with Von Miller (against Carolina in Super Bowl 50) and Tom Jackson (against Dallas in Super Bowl 12). ... ILB Alex Singleton's 14 takes on last week, including 11 solo, were the most by a Denver protector in a playoff game this century. ... DE Malcolm Roach is coming off a big game versus Buffalo. He had 1 1/2 sacks and recuperated a fumble.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye fires a pass throughout an NFL football practice Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe by means of AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) strolls off the field after an NFL divisional playoff football video game versus the Houston Texans, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham reacts to concerns after an NFL football practice at the team's headquarters Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye speaks at a press conference after an NFL divisional playoff football video game versus the Houston Texans, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)