Patriots links 1/21/26: On to the Conference Championship vs. Denver

TEAM TALK

• AFC Championship Game Preview:Patriots at Broncos. Pats in the AFC Championship game history, Pats-Broncos history, Tale of the tape, What to watch for; More!
• Mike Dussault reports Patriots rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Andy Borregales made the PFWA's All-Rookie team, highlighting one of New England's strongest draft classes in recent memory.
• Alexandra Francisco has the story of Robert Kraft with some Patriots players surprising Massachusetts' oldest living WWII veteran for his 105th birthday. /Cool!
• Sights and Sounds: Patriots earn divisional round victory over the Houston Texans. (4 min. video)
• Vrabel X's and O's: Mike Vrabel breaks down film of the key moments from win vs. Texans. (5 min. video)
• Mic'd Up:Milton Williams and Rhamondre Stevenson. (14 min. video)
• Throwback:2018 Patriots vs. Chiefs AFC Championship game highlights. (4 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered:Texans recap, areas to improve, AFC Championship preview. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Nick Goss identifies seven intriguing storylines in Patriots-Broncos AFC Championship game. 1. Jarrett Stidham plays against team that drafted him.
• Mike Reiss addresses whether Drake Maye's turnovers are an issue for the Patriots.
• Andrew Callahan looks at how the Broncos will test Drake Maye, Patriots in the AFC title game.
• Jake Seymour talks about how the Patriots have arrived at AFC title game fueled by internal belief system.
• Mike D'Abate notes seven Patriots players have Conference Championship game experience.
• Nick Goss highlights Milton Williams on the Pats quick turnaround, disrespect to the defense; More.
• Ethan Hurwitz highlights Mike Vrabel, who said he hasn't made a decision yet whether WR Mack Hollins (abdomen) or DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring) will be ready to play Sunday.
• Ethan Hurwitz says the Patriots are not worried about elevation change in Denver. Just play well, try to be prepared and the better condition that you are, the less of an impact that that's going to make. There's no tricks."
• Karen Guregian hears from Devin McCourty sharing a scouting report on Jarrett Stidham. Stidham will not be a pushover; He can throw the football.
• Karen Guregian points out historically, the Patriots have never won a playoff game in Denver. They're 0-4.
• Doug Kyed's Patriots mailbag: Can Pats help rookie offensive starter Will Campbell?
• Alex Barth's Patriots Mailbag: Heading to the AFC Championship game.
• Adam 12 highlights 98.5 Sports Hub guest Christopher Price with Patriots-Broncos notes. The biggest X-factor, Price notes, is whether RBJ.K. Dobbinscan get healthy enough to give the Broncos a real running game and take pressure off Stidham. If the Pats jump out early, though, they can unleash the pass rush and possibly put the game out of reach.
• Matt Dolloff relays Robert Kraft (on 98.5 The Sports Hub) hinting at big future plans for the NFL schedule, including 18-game season and one international game per team each year; More.
• Zolak & Bertrand:Mike Reiss joins the show to talk Drake Maye, Pats-Broncos gameplan. (43 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Preview (NFL.com) AFC Championship Game: Patriots at Broncos. (15 min. video)
• John Breech (CBS Sports) 2026 NFL playoff schedule and bracket: Dates, times, TV, streaming for AFC, NFC title games and Super Bowl. Patriots at Broncos, Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
• Wyatt Grindley (NFLTR) AFC Notes: Sean McDermott, Pat Freiermuth, Bills, Patriots, Steelers.
• Brigid Kennedy (SI) NFL referees for Conference Championship games. Patriots-Broncos: Alex Kemp.
• Eva Geitheim (SI) Three tenets NFL teams can learn from this year's Conference Championship squads. 1. Invest in defense.
• Eric Edholm (NFL.com) NFL Power Rankings. Pats No. 2. /Click for commentary.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Ranking every possible 2026 Super Bowl matchup. No. 1 Rams-Patriots.
• Multiple Contributors (ESPN) 2026 NFL offseason: Free agents, draft notes, predictions for eliminated teams. No Pats.
• Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) NFL exec predictions: Lamar Jackson, A.J. Brown trades.
• Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN) 2026 NFL mock draft: Pick predictions for Round 1. Pats pick 31st. : /
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL title game picks. Patriots win 20-17. /Click for commentary.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Championship Sunday picks: Jarrett Stidham does enough for Denver. Broncos win 23, Patriots 21. /Click for commentary.
• Staff (SI) NFL straight-up Moneyline picks in Conference Championship round. 6 of 8 pick Pats to win.