Despite the bitter cold, fans were fired up Saturday as New England Patriots players and coaches boarded buses in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to travel to the airport ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.Next stop: Denver, Colorado.A city where the Patriots have never won in the playoffs.Denver provides a unique advantage to the home team in that the city itself is a mile above sea level.Air is thinner at higher altitudes and contains less oxygen, so athletes’ bodies must work harder.Although the Broncos will be without their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, don’t expect New England to take the game lightly.”Tough to defend for, tough to defend against … I think you have to prepare for a lot,” head coach Mike Vrabel said at his weekly news conference.In place of Nix will be former New England fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, who will be making his first start since 2023.On the opposite side of the ball, Denver boasts the league’s second-best defense, led by perennial Pro-Bowler Patrick Surtain.The Broncos’ pass rush also led the league in sacks during the 2025 regular season with 68.The Patriots will be without defensive captain Harold Landry III, who is battling a knee injury. He led the team in sacks during the regular season.Cornerback Carlton Davis, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and linebacker Marte Mapu have all been listed as questionable heading into Denver.Kickoff is on Sunday at 3 p.m. The winner will advance to the Super Bowl to play either the Seattle Seahawks or the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite the bitter cold, fans were fired up Saturday as New England Patriots players and coaches boarded buses in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to travel to the airport ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Next stop: Denver, Colorado.
A city where the Patriots have never won in the playoffs.
Denver provides a unique advantage to the home team in that the city itself is a mile above sea level.
Air is thinner at higher altitudes and contains less oxygen, so athletes’ bodies must work harder.
Although the Broncos will be without their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, don’t expect New England to take the game lightly.
“Tough to defend for, tough to defend against … I think you have to prepare for a lot,” head coach Mike Vrabel said at his weekly news conference.
In place of Nix will be former New England fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, who will be making his first start since 2023.
On the opposite side of the ball, Denver boasts the league’s second-best defense, led by perennial Pro-Bowler Patrick Surtain.
The Broncos’ pass rush also led the league in sacks during the 2025 regular season with 68.
The Patriots will be without defensive captain Harold Landry III, who is battling a knee injury. He led the team in sacks during the regular season.
Cornerback Carlton Davis, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and linebacker Marte Mapu have all been listed as questionable heading into Denver.
Kickoff is on Sunday at 3 p.m. The winner will advance to the Super Bowl to play either the Seattle Seahawks or the Los Angeles Rams.
