The New England Patriots have no fond memories of playing in Denver in the NFL playoff, losing all four of their previous road games against the Broncos. This week’s AFC Championship Game, however, will give them a prime opportunity to exorcise some demons and advance to the Super Bowl via a trip to the Mile High City.
The team of head coach Mike Vrabel, after all, is entering the conference title game as clear favorites as a look at the numbers provided by FanDuel Sportsbook shows.
Odds for Patriots vs. Broncos in AFC Championship Game
- Spread: Patriots -5.5
- Moneyline: Patriots -26 | Broncos +215
- Over/under: 40.5
Under normal circumstances,
the top-seeded Broncos would probably be regarded as a favorite at home. They finished with a better regular season record and won their divisional round game 33-30 over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Most importantly, their home field advantage cannot be underestimated either.
However, these circumstances are very much not normal. Quarterback Bo Nix, after all, suffered a season-ending ankle injury on the final drive versus the Bills and will be replaced by backup and former Patriots fourth-round draft choice Jarrett Stidham. For Stidham, this will mark his fifth career start in seven seasons as a pro.
Beating the Patriots, who beat the Houston Texans 28-16 behind another strong defensive performance, will be a challenge for Stidham and his team. And while the Denver defense is no joke, and New England facing all kinds of issues on offense versus Houston, it is ultimately no surprise the second seed is favored on the road.
The Patriots’ game against the Broncos will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25.
