The AFC Championship Game between these teams was anything but an artful affair, with Bo Nix getting hurt late in the game the week prior and being unable to play. As a result, the Patriots went into Denver and came out with a 10-7 win that had the Broncos feeling bottomed out.
Their chance for revenge comes in the game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots were better on the road, going 9-0 including the playoffs last season, than they were at home, where they were 8-3. The Broncos, meanwhile, won six straight on the road to close out last season and have to feel that they missed a golden chance to make the Super Bowl.
Nix also has unfinished business, missing the AFC title game with the injury and somewhat overlooked amid Denver’s success last season. He and Drake Maye are fellow members of the draft class of 2024, and this will be the first time they’ll face off in the NFL.
Will the Patriots and Broncos be prime contenders again? This contest could tell us a lot about whether that’s the case. Both teams were in their fair share of close games, too, especially the fourth-quarter Broncos, so the chances of a tight, tense game here feel high.
