Have the Patriots beaten the Broncos in the AFC title game? History, records
The final four teams in the NFL playoffs are set. On Sunday, the conference championship round kicks off in the AFC with a battle of title game regulars: the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots.
These are two of the most familiar teams in the AFC championship game. This year marks the Patriots' record-tying 16th appearance, tying them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most. This is Denver's 11th, tying them with the Las Vegas Raiders for third-most.
They're somewhat familiar foes as well. It was a different era, but these teams met twice in the AFC championship game: 2013 and 2015.
Those games were battles between Hall of Fame quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
It's a new era for both franchises now, with different head coaches and quarterbacks at the helm compared to a decade ago. But the Broncos carry a specific distinction among teams the Patriots have faced in their long playoff history.
Here's a look at the Broncos vs. Patriots AFC championship game history:
Broncos vs. Patriots matchup historyThese teams have met twice in the AFC championship game. As it will be once again this weekend, both games took place in Denver.
It's a small sample size but the Broncos are the only team the Patriots are winless against in the AFC title game. Denver won 26-16 in 2013 and 20-18 in 2015. New England has at least one win against every other team it's played in the AFC championship game in its other 13 appearances.
Denver has just two losses in the AFC title game in franchise history; neither came against the Patriots.
Broncos AFC championship record, historyDenver's played in 10 AFC championship games in franchise history, the first back in 1977 and the most recent in 2015 prior to this season. In those 10 games, the Broncos are 8-2, giving them the best winning percentage in the AFC championship game.
Here are the results by year for Denver in the AFC championship game:
- 1977: Denver Broncos20-17 Oakland Raiders
- 1986: Denver Broncos 23-20 (OT)Cleveland Browns
- 1987: Denver Broncos 38-33 Cleveland Browns
- 1989: Denver Broncos 37-21 Cleveland Browns
- 1991: Buffalo Bills 10-7 Denver Broncos
- 1997: Denver Broncos 24-21 Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1998: Denver Broncos 23-10 New York Jets
- 2005: Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 Denver Broncos
- 2013: Denver Broncos 26-16 New England Patriots
- 2015: Denver Broncos 20-18 New England Patriots
New England's AFC title game berth in 2025 pulls the Patriots even with Pittsburgh for the most in conference history. Of their prior 15 appearances, only two came without Brady at quarterback. Their 11 wins in the AFC title game are the most in NFL history; the Broncos and Steelers are tied for the next-most at eight each.
Here are the results by year for New England in the AFC championship game:
- 1985: New England Patriots 31-14 Miami Dolphins
- 1996: New England Patriots 20-6 Jacksonville Jaguars
- 2001: New England Patriots 24-17 Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2003: New England Patriots 24-14 Indianapolis Colts
- 2004: New England Patriots 41-27 Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2006: Indianapolis Colts 38-34 New England Patriots
- 2007: New England Patriots 21-12 San Diego Chargers
- 2011: New England Patriots 23-20 Baltimore Ravens
- 2012: Baltimore Ravens 28-13 New England Patriots
- 2013: Denver Broncos 26-16 New England Patriots
- 2014: New England Patriots 45-7 Indianapolis Colts
- 2015: Denver Broncos 20-18 New England Patriots
- 2016: New England Patriots 36-17 Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2017: New England Patriots 24-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
- 2018: New England Patriots 37-31 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos vs. Patriots AFC championship game history