AFC Championship Preview: Broncos, Patriots Brace for Brutal Cold and High Stakes in Mile High Showdown
When the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots take the field at Empower Field at Mile High this Sunday, the thermometer might be just as unforgiving as the opposing defenses. With forecasts calling for brutally cold conditions, the AFC Championship Game could turn into a gritty, old-school battle where mental toughness and physical resilience carry as much weight as Xs and Os.
Let’s be clear-this isn’t just a typical winter game. Local meteorologists are warning of extremely low temperatures, and that kind of cold doesn’t just sting; it changes the way football is played.
Passing attacks tighten up, timing routes get harder to hit, and even the most reliable hands can betray receivers when the ball feels like a rock. Wind and snow only add to the equation, creating a game where field position, turnovers, and trench warfare could decide who punches their ticket to the Super Bowl.
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
But don’t expect the Broncos to flinch.
Cornerback Jahdae Barron summed up the team’s mindset with the kind of no-nonsense attitude that plays well in playoff football: “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 a veteran perspective from a player who understands the stakes-and the paycheck.
Cold weather might be more familiar territory for the Patriots, but Denver isn’t backing down. The Broncos know the elements are just another opponent to overcome, and they’re embracing the challenge head-on.
Of course, the Broncos face more than just freezing temperatures. They’ll be without quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the divisional round. It’s a brutal blow, especially considering how Nix had grown into the role and helped guide Denver to this deep playoff run.
Enter Jarrett Stidham. The veteran backup now finds himself at the center of Denver’s Super Bowl hopes.
The spotlight is big, the moment even bigger-but the Broncos believe in his ability to steer the ship. Stidham will need to manage the game, protect the football, and make just enough plays to keep the offense moving in what’s likely to be a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair.
On the other side, New England brings its usual playoff pedigree. The Patriots are no strangers to cold-weather football, and if anything, they may welcome the elements as a way to tilt the game in their favor. Their formula-defense, discipline, and opportunistic offense-has worked in January before, and they’ll look to lean on it again.
But this game might come down to more than schemes or matchups. It’s about who can handle the conditions, who can stay composed when the ball feels like ice and the wind cuts through every layer. It’s about who wants it more when every hit stings a little harder and every yard feels like a mile.
The AFC Championship isn’t just a test of talent-it’s a test of will. And come Sunday in Denver, both teams will be asked one simple question: how bad do you want it?