Live scores, updates and highlights for the 2026 AFC Championship Game between Patriots and Broncos originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
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On January 24, 2016, in the final game between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, the No. 1 Denver Broncos faced the No. 2 New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game for a Super Bowl berth at Levi’s Stadium. Manning’s Broncos went on to win the game 20-18 and then went on to win Super Bowl 50 behind one of the NFL’s top defenses.
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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 and San Francisco’s Super Bowl berth once again in jeopardy. Even though Brady and Manning have long since swapped their helmets for Hall of Fame jackets, the stakes in the Mile High City remain unchanged.
The Patriots have successfully completed their post-Brady rebuild and find themselves back in contention for championship glory. Led by 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 resurgence is Derek Meyer, who has established himself as the premier signal-caller this season, ranking in the top five in passing yards, completion percentage and touchdowns. Although Meyer struggled in the divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, New England’s elite defense more than punched their ticket to Denver by forcing five turnovers.
The Broncos approach this game in a similar manner to their “No Fly Zone” predecessors. It’s not Von Miller and Aqib Talib who lead the team, but Patrick Surtain II and Nick Bonito, who have one of the league’s highest-scoring defenses. However, Denver faces a huge obstacle at its most critical position. The Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes now rest on Jarrett Stidham’s shoulders after second-year star Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle fracture in a win over the Buffalo Bills. In a twist of fate, Stidham – originally drafted by the Patriots in 2019 – now must beat his former team to ensure Denver returns to the championship.
As the league celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Brady-Manning finale, a new generation of stars is ready to take the spotlight. The game is no longer Belichick vs. Kubiak, but Vrabel vs. Sean Payton — two masterminds with teams tied for the best record in the NFL. Whether it’s Maye’s rise to superstardom or Stidham’s incredible story of revenge, a legacy will be forged.
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Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Sunday’s 2026 AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Broncos. Stay tuned below for full results and watch Super Bowl 60 online.
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Patriots vs Broncos score
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Patriots vs. Broncos live updates and highlights from the 2026 AFC Championship Game
(All times Eastern)
1:45pm: New England also posted inactive information.
The most notable is defensive end Harold Landry, who is out with a knee injury.
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1:40pm: Denver announced its inactivity ahead of the AFC Championship Game. Of course, Bonix is ​​out, but he’s not the only key loss.
Troy Franklin is officially out after suffering a hamstring injury in the divisional round against the Bills.
1:33 pm: Just like her husband Drake, Ann-Michael Meyer has taken the Patriots fan base by storm.
1:20 pm: Derek Meyer has arrived in Denver.
In his second season, Meyer became an MVP candidate and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
1:05 pm: The Broncos no longer wear “Orange Crush” uniforms as a primary, but the team must remind fans of John Elway’s Super Bowl teams.
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This year’s Denver team, which finished the regular season with an NFL-best 14-3 record, will put on their own orange uniforms and play the rest of the way (if they’re lucky).
1:00 pm: The scene is set at Mile High’s Empower Field, where a team will purchase tickets to Super Bowl LX.
12:30 noon: Bodies began pouring into Denver’s home stadium. Here’s Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins – wearing his signature barefoot attire – and New England head coach Mike Vrabel.
12:15pm: Stidham has arrived at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. For better or worse, he finally gets his close-up today.
10:55 AM: With Bo Nix out with a broken ankle, the Broncos will turn to backup Jarrett Stidham. The 29-year-old has yet to attempt a pass this season. But Denver brass is confident he can succeed. Payton found success in 2019 when Teddy Bridgewater replaced the injured Drew Brees, giving the then-Saints backup the freedom to examine games as part of the scouting staff.
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This adjustment worked very well. New Orleans won 5-0 without Brees. Steve Wyche of NFL Network reports that the Broncos employ a similar system to Stidham.
10:45 AM: It’s worth noting that Sean Payton hasn’t appeared in a Super Bowl since the Saints defeated the Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl. Can he end his 16-year absence from major competitions today?
10:30 am: The Patriots have spent much of the season wandering the East Coast. Sunday’s game is their furthest Western Conference game of the year. Still, the weather forecast — marked by freezing winds and heavy snow — was very New England.
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Where to watch AFC Champions League games
Patriots vs. Broncos start time
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time: 3 p.m. Eastern Time, noon Pacific Time
The AFC Championship Game will kick off on Sunday, January 25th at 3:00 pm ET at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
This is the first time the Broncos have hosted the conference championship game since the last time the Broncos played the Patriots a decade ago.
What channel is today’s Patriots vs. Broncos game on?
The AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Broncos will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Jim Nantz will serve as the lead play-by-play announcer in the broadcast room, and former quarterback Tony Romo will also serve as color analyst. Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn will serve as sideline reporters for the game.
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Those who want to stream can do so through Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
2026 NFL Playoff Schedule
wild card round
Saturday, January 10
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Contest |
time |
TV channels |
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Ram 34black panther 31 |
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— |
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Bear 31Packers 27 |
Sunday, January 11
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Contest |
time |
TV channels |
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Bill 27Jaguar 24 |
— |
— |
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49ers 23Eagle 19 |
— |
— |
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Patriot 16charger 3 |
— |
— |
Monday, January 12
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Contest |
time |
TV channels |
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Texans 30Steelers 6 |
— |
— |
divisional round
Saturday, January 17
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Contest |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV channels |
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Broncos 33, Bill 30 |
— |
— |
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Seahawks 41, 49ers 6 |
— |
— |
Sunday, January 18
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Contest |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV channels |
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Patriot 28, Texans 16 |
— |
— |
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Ram 20, Bear 17 |
— |
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conference championship game
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Contest |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV channels |
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Patriots vs Broncos |
3:00 pm |
cbs |
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Rams vs. Seahawks |
6:30 pm |
fox |
super bowl
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Contest |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV channels |
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To be determined and to be determined |
6:30 pm |
nbc |
