A decade ago, the NFL’s two most storied rivals met in Denver for an AFC Championship defined by the legendary duel between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. On Sunday, the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos return to that same stage to settle the score once again.
But while the uniforms remain the same, the faces have changed. This time, the "next generation" takes center stage as MVP candidate Drake Maye leads a resurgent New England squad into Mile High to face a Broncos team looking for backup magic from Jarrett Stidham, the former Patriot now tasked with stopping his old team from reaching Super Bowl 60.
With the NFL playoff field down to four, the winner on Sunday afternoon will advance to Santa Clara -- where Denver won Super Bowl 50 a decade ago -- for Super Bowl 60.
Here's everything you need to know about the AFC Championship Game.
Where to watch Broncos vs. Patriots in Australia
- TV channel: Seven, 7Mate, ESPN
- Live stream: NFL Game Pass via DAZN
NFL fans residing in Australia can watch playoff games on 7Mate and ESPN, with the Super Bowl set to air on Seven and ESPN. Every playoff game is available to stream live on NFL Game Pass via DAZN. See the full fixture list below.
Gridiron fans will be able to stream every game with NFL Game Pass International, including preseason games, the regular season, and the Super Bowl, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, NFL Originals, and more.
Broncos vs. Patriots kickoff time
- Date: Monday, 26 January
- Time: 7 a.m. AEST
The Broncos vs. Patriots game will kick off at 7 am AEST on Monday, 26 January from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
NFL playoff fixtures, results 2026
Wild-card round
Sunday 11 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Rams 34, Panthers 31 | — | — |
| Bears 31, Packers 27 | — | — |
Monday 12 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Bills 27, Jaguars 24 | — | — |
| 49ers 23, Eagles 19 | — | — |
| Patriots 16, Chargers 3 | — | — |
Tuesday 13 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Texans 30, Steelers 6 | — | — |
Divisional round
Sunday 18 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Broncos 33, Bills 30 (OT) | — | — |
| Seahawks 41, 49ers 6 | — | — |
Monday 19 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots 28, Texans 16 | — | — |
| Rams 20, Bears 17 (OT) | — | — |
Conference championships
Monday 26 January
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Broncos vs. Patriots | 7 a.m. | 7mate, ESPN, NFL Game Pass |
| Seahawks vs. Rams | 10:30 a.m. | 7mate, ESPN, NFL Game Pass |
Super Bowl 60
Monday 9 February
| Matchup | Time (AEST) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| AFC winner vs. NFC winner | 10:30 a.m. | Seven, ESPN, NFL Game Pass |