The Denver Broncos are headed back to the AFC Championship for the first time in ten years after beating the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime. It looked like the Bills might end it in overtime, but Ja’Quan McMillian made a critical interception on a Josh Allen deep ball. The Broncos took over at their own 20 and thanks in part to a pair of defensive pass interference penalties for a combined 47 yards, drove down the field for a game-winning field goal.
NFL playoff schedule: Who will the Denver Broncos play in the AFC Championship Game?
The Broncos outlasted the Bills in overtime. We break down who they’ll face in the AFC Championship Game.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
It looked like Denver was going to end it in regulation when Bo Nix connected with Marvin Mims, Jr. for a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown with 55 seconds left. But Buffalo was able to move down the field and get in position for Matt Prater to tie the game in the closing seconds of regulation and force overtime.
The game was back-and-forth but Buffalo repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. Josh Allen threw an interception and lost two turnovers, while James Cook lost one as well. If the Bills had avoided even one of those turnovers, it likely would have been a difference-maker in regulation. Instead, they’re headed home and the Broncos get to stay home to host the AFC Championship.
Denver Broncos’ next playoff opponent
Sunday update: The Patriots beat the Texans 28-16 in the Divisional Round. They will travel to face the Broncos in the AFC Championship.
The Broncos will host the winner of Sunday’s game between the Texans and Patriots. That game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. The AFC Championship will kick off at approximately 3 p.m. ET next Sunday. The Texans beat the Steelers on the road in the Wild Card round, while the Patriots beat the Chargers at home.
History vs. potential opponents
Record vs. Patriots: 27-23 regular season, 4-1 postseason
The Broncos and Patriots have been playing each other since their days in the AFL, but they haven’t faced off since Christmas Eve in 2023. Their last playoff game came all the way back in 2016 when Peyton Manning and Tom Brady were leading the respective teams. They met in the 2016 AFC Championship, with the Broncos winning 20-18 in the last matchup between the two legendary quarterbacks. Denver went on to win Super Bowl 50 that year at Levi’s Stadium — the same host site of this year’s Super Bowl.
Record vs. Texans: 7-4 regular season
Denver and Houston have a limited history and have never met in the playoffs. They did play this season, with the Broncos winning 18-15 in Week 9. denver won on a Wil Lutz field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Early AFC Championship odds
Broncos vs. Patriots
Spread: Patriots -4.5
Total: 40.5
Moneyline: Patriots -245, Broncos +200
Broncos vs. Texans
Spread: Texans -3.5
Total: 34.5
Moneyline: Texans -176, Broncos +148
Denver Broncos playoff history
The Broncos are headed back to the AFC Championship for the first time since 2016. That year they beat the Patriots to advance to Super Bowl 50, where they beat the Panthers to raise the Lombardi Trophy. Coincidentally enough, Denver was the No. 1 seed and won the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the host site of this year’s Super Bowl.
This is the 11th time the Broncos have reached the AFC Championship. They’ve won eight times and lost twice.
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