The Denver Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship Game for the 11th time in team history. Only the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have been there more.
The Broncos have made the Super Bowl eight times, meaning they have won the AFC Championship Game eight times. When they have gotten there, they have almost always won. The Broncos have only been defeated in the conference championship game twice in their history, giving them an 8-2 record in the game. That is a.800 winning percentage, which is the best in history.
Looking back at every AFC Championship Game the team has played in, here are the results.
Denver Broncos AFC Championship Game history
January 1, 1978: Broncos 20, Raiders 17
This was the first year the Broncos, who were founded in 1960 back in the old AFL, even made the playoffs. They took it all the way to Super Bowl XII after beating their hated rival Oakland Raiders, 20-17.
Haven Moses had 168 yards through the air and caught two touchdown passes from Craig Morton to lead the Broncos to victory.
January 11, 1987: Broncos 23, Browns 20 OT
One of the most memorable games in NFL history and the game that put John Elway on the map as a bonafide superstar, this was the game that featured "The Drive".
"THE DRIVE"
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 11, 2026
First-&-98
Trailing the #Browns by seven late in regulation, #Broncos quarterback John Elway orchestrates an epic 15-play, 98-yard drive — capped by a touchdown pass to Mark Jackson — to force overtime in the 1986 AFC Championship #BroncosCountry
January 11, 1987 pic.twitter.com/eutU8OCe78
January 17, 1988: Broncos 38, Browns 33
Another incredible game between two great teams, this game was known for "The Fumble". The Browns were ready to win the rematch and head to the Super Bowl when Earnest Byner took a handoff from the Broncos' 8-yard line on 2nd-and-5 with around four minutes left to play. He was hit and the ball popped free, being recovered by the Broncos' Jeremiah Castille.
The Broncos were able to hold on for the win on the strength of what might be the most memorable fumble in NFL history.
January 14, 1990: Broncos 37, Browns 21
Three times in a row? The Broncos dashed the Browns' Super Bowl dreams for a third time following the 1989 regular season, though this victory was not as close as the other two and didn't require a historical play like the two games before it.
January 12, 1992: Bills 10, Broncos 7
This was the first time the Broncos lost in the AFC Championship Game and it came while the Bills were building a dynasty. Still, it took three missed field goals from David Treadwell and Elway having to leave the game in the fourth quarter with an injury for them to win.
January 11, 1998: Broncos 24, Steelers 21
The Broncos made an incredible run as a Wild Card in 1997 after suffering a devastating upset loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round the year prior.
Terrell Davis rushed for 139 yards and the Broncos forced Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart into three interceptions to pull off the road win, leading to the team's first Super Bowl victory two weeks later.
January 17, 1999: Broncos 23, Jets 10
In what is still the Broncos' best season to this day, the Jets threatened to derail the team's plans of winning back-to-back Super Bowls.
The Broncos actually trailed 10-0 in this game before exploding for 20 points in the third quarter to break the game open. Vinny Testaverde passed for 356 yards in the game, but the Broncos used the legs of Terrell Davis to churn out 167 yards on the ground.
January 22, 2006: Steelers 34, Broncos 17
This is the only time the Broncos ever lost an AFC Championship Game at home, and no one saw it coming. After becoming the first team to ever beat Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in the postseason the week prior, the Broncos were able to host the championship game when the Steelers got an upset win over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
The Steelers, led by a young Ben Roethlisberger, came into Denver and humbled the Broncos, leaving them with one of the most disappointing defeats in franchise history.
January 19, 2014: Broncos 26, Patriots 16
The Broncos had one of the best offenses in NFL history in 2013 and looked like they would steamroll their way to a Super Bowl victory. They took out Brady and the Patriots in this one.
Two weeks later, they were shellacked by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, 43-8.
January 24, 2016: Broncos 20, Patriots 18
Ten years ago, the Broncos played in their most recent conference championship game. The 2015 Broncos were arguably the weakest team that Denver had during the Peyton Manning era, but the team held off Brady and his Patriots in this one before heading to Santa Clara and defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
READ: Patriots or Texans? Who should Jarrett Stidham, Broncos be hoping to play in AFC Championship?
More Broncos Content
Broncos' huge win over Bills clouded by controversy, but one play proves it all wrong
Sean Payton hypes up Jarrett Stidham with Broncos booked for AFC Championship Game
Broncos will rally around Jarrett Stidham and Broncos Country should not be panicked
Bo Nix broke ankle on play before controversial pass interference on Tre'Davious White
Did Bo Nix get injured during Broncos' playoff win over Bills?