AFC Championship Preview: Broncos, Patriots Prepare for a Deep Freeze Showdown in Denver
The AFC Championship Game is already packed with intrigue, but Mother Nature might be the biggest wildcard when the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots at Empower Field this Sunday. With forecasts calling for brutally cold conditions, this matchup could turn into a test of grit as much as game plan.
Cold weather football is a different beast. Passing attacks can lose their rhythm, receivers struggle with their footing, and quarterbacks have to grip a rock-hard football like it’s mid-September.
Timing routes? Forget about it.
In games like this, it’s often less about finesse and more about who can grind it out in the trenches.
But don’t expect Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron to be fazed. He summed it up with a no-nonsense take: “It’s okay.
We get paid a lot of money for it, so it’s fine to go play in the cold. It’d be one thing if you’re doing it for free.”
That’s the kind of mindset Denver will need if they want to outlast a Patriots team that’s no stranger to cold-weather warfare.
New England, of course, has built its identity on thriving in these elements. From Foxborough snowstorms to icy playoff runs, the Patriots have made a habit of embracing the freeze.
But don’t expect Denver to back down. The Broncos are playing with house money, and they’ve shown all season they’re built tougher than they’re often given credit for.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating the challenge ahead for Denver. They’ll be heading into this one without Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the divisional round.
That’s a massive blow. Nix had been growing into the role and giving this offense a new dimension.
Now, it’s on Jarrett Stidham to step in and steer the ship with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Stidham isn’t a stranger to pressure, but this is a different stage. The Patriots’ defense is opportunistic and disciplined, and in frigid conditions, ball security becomes even more critical. One bad snap, one mistimed handoff, one frozen-fingered interception-those are the kind of plays that can swing a game like this.
The Broncos will need to lean heavily on their run game and defense. If they can control the clock, limit turnovers, and make the Patriots uncomfortable, they’ve got a real shot. But it’s going to take a full-team effort-and a whole lot of mental toughness.
Sunday’s game won’t just be about Xs and Os. It’ll be about who can dig deep, embrace the elements, and find a way to win when comfort goes out the window.
I asked #Broncos rookie CB Jahdae Barron about it being very cold for Sunday’s AFC title game: “It’s OK. We get paid a lot of money for it, so it’s fine to go play in the cold. It’d be one thing if you’re doing it for free.”
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 23, 2026
Broncos vs. Patriots, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line-and the thermometer dropping by the hour.
Buckle up.