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On Jan. 24, 2016, in the final rendition of the Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning rivalry, the No. 1 Denver Broncos hosted the No. 2 New England Patriots in the AFC championship game with a spot in the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium on the line. Manning's Broncos went on to win the game, 20-18, and then, behind one of the NFL's top defenses, went on to win Super Bowl 50.
Now, 3,654 days later, the scene is eerily similar, with the No. 1 Denver Broncos hosting the No. 2 New England Patriots in the AFC championship game, once again with a Super Bowl berth in San Francisco at stake. While Brady and Manning have long since traded their helmets for Hall of Fame jackets, the stakes in the Mile High City remain unchanged.
The Patriots, having successfully navigated their post-Brady rebuild, find themselves back in the hunt for championship glory. Under first-year head coach and former Patriot Mike Vrabel, New England is back in the NFL’s final four for the first time since 2019. The engine of this revival is Drake Maye, who established himself as a premier signal-caller this season, ranking top-five in passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns. Though Maye struggled in a gritty Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans, New England’s elite defense compensated by forcing five turnovers to punch their ticket to Denver.
The Broncos enter this matchup mirroring their "No Fly Zone" predecessors. Instead of Von Miller and Aqib Talib, it is Patrick Surtain II and Nik Bonitto leading a unit that was one of the league's top scoring defenses. However, Denver faces a massive hurdle at the most critical position. After second-year star Bo Nix suffered a season-ending broken ankle in their win over the Buffalo Bills, the Broncos' Super Bowl hopes now rest on the shoulders of Jarrett Stidham. In a twist of fate, Stidham —originally drafted by the Patriots in 2019 — must now defeat his former team to secure Denver’s championship return.
As the league celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Brady-Manning finale, a new generation of stars is ready to claim the spotlight. It is no longer Belichick vs. Kubiak, but Vrabel vs. Sean Payton — two masterminds leading squads that finished tied for the best record in the NFL. Whether it is Maye’s ascent to superstardom or Stidham’s improbable revenge story, one legacy will be forged.
AllSportsPeople is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Patriots vs. Broncos in the 2026 AFC championship game on Sunday. Follow below for complete results with a trip to Super Bowl 60 on the line.
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Patriots vs. Broncos score
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Patriots vs. Broncos live updates, highlights from 2026 AFC championship game
(All times Eastern)
10:55 a.m.: With Bo Nix out with a fractured ankle, the Broncos will be turning to backup Jarrett Stidham. The 29-year-old hasn't attempted a pass yet this season. But there's a quiet confidence among Denver's brass that he could find success. Payton found success in 2019 when Teddy Bridgewater filled in for an injured Drew Brees, giving the then-Saints backup freedom to check out of plays as a member of scout team.
The adjustment worked a treat. New Orleans went 5-0 in Brees' absence. NFL Network's Steve Wyche reported that the Broncos employed a similar system with Stidham.
Broncos coach Sean Payton has been through a similar QB situation as he is today with Jarrett Stidham back in 2019. I spoke to Teddy Bridgewater, who won 5 games filling in for Drew Brees in New Orleans, as to why Stidham could follow his route to success. Pic.twitter.com/rNSppHvrBn
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 25, 2026
10:45 a.m.: It's worth noting that Sean Payton hasn't appeared in a Super Bowl since the Saints bested the Colts in the 2010 iteration of the competition. Could he end his 16-year spell away from The Big Game today?
It's been a while since Sean Payton appeared in a Super Bowl 😲 pic.twitter.com/wDMUPOHCtW
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 25, 2026
10:30 a.m.: The Patriots have spent most of the season traipsing along the east coast. Sunday's matchup represents the furthest west they've traveled this year. The forecast -- marked by bitter winds and a dusting of snow -- is very New England-esque, though.
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:
- 3 reasons why every team remaining will (and won't) win Super Bowl
- Inside the Patriots vs. Broncos AFC championship matchup
- Predicting the Super Bowl 60 matchup
- Breaking down Seahawks vs. Rams NFC championship matchup
Where to watch AFC championship game
Patriots vs. Broncos start time
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
- Time: 3 p.m. ET, noon PT
The AFC Championship Game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25 from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
It's the Broncos' first time hosting the conference title game since the last Broncos-Patriots game 10 years ago.
What channel is Patriots vs. Broncos on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Fubo
The Patriots vs. Broncos AFC Championship Game will air nationally on CBS. Jim Nantz will be in the broadcast booth as the lead play-by-play announcer, joined by former quarterback Tony Romo as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn will serve as the sideline reporters for the contest.
Those looking to stream they can via Fubo, which offers new subscribers a free trial.
NFL playoff schedule 2026
Wild-card round
Saturday, January 10
| Matchup | Time | TV Channel |
| Rams 34, Panthers 31 | -- | -- |
| Bears 31, Packers 27 |
Sunday, January 11
| Matchup | Time | TV Channel |
| Bills 27, Jaguars 24 | -- | -- |
| 49ers 23, Eagles 19 | -- | -- |
| Patriots 16, Chargers 3 | -- | -- |
Monday, January 12
| Matchup | Time | TV Channel |
| Texans 30, Steelers 6 | -- | -- |
Divisional round
Saturday, January 17
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Broncos 33, Bills 30 | -- | -- |
| Seahawks 41, 49ers 6 | -- | -- |
Sunday, January 18
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Patriots 28, Texans 16 | -- | -- |
| Rams 20, Bears 17 | -- | -- |
Conference championship round
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Patriots vs. Broncos | 3:00 p.m. | CBS |
| Rams vs. Seahawks | 6:30 p.m. | Fox |
Super Bowl
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |