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Predictions: Broncos host Patriots for AFC title

January 24, 2016

It’s finally here. With the AFC Championship game on the docket today, we gathered up our staff to get their thoughts on how the big game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots will play out this afternoon.

Adam Kinney

Patriots 23, Broncos 17

These are not the New England Patriots that Brock Osweiler took down in the regular season, these Patriots are coming in as healthy as they’ve been all year. Tom Brady has his full compliment of weapons on the outside with Julian Edelman back in the mix, on top of the health of Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola. The playoff-tested pedigrees of Brady and Belichick are too much and the Pats make just enough plays to derail Peyton Manning’s fairytale carriage.

Ken Pomponio

Broncos 27, Patriots 24

Most of the stats, trends, matchups — and national media — point toward the visiting Patriots today. But the numbers don’t always add up to victory, and the favorites don’t always prevail. If it were that easy, the Las Vegas lights wouldn’t be nearly as bright. Sometimes it’s about grit, resolve and want-to. Sometimes, the pieces come together at the right place, the right time. While logic says the defending NFL champs will find a way to win today, it’s really starting to feel like Orange & Blue’s year. Call it a hunch. Call it a homer pick. Call it Destiny over Dynasty.

Ryan Koenigsberg

Patriots 27, Broncos 20

This game has given me fits all week, on one hand there’s the feeling that the Broncos could be a team of destiny, all of those late wins and plays made at the opportune time being a part of the larger picture, the story of Peyton Manning knocking out his arch nemesis on his way to one final Super Bowl being too good for it not to happen. Unfortunately for Broncos Country, I think the playoff juggernaut that is Tom Brady and Bill Belichick is too much for all of that fluffy stuff to overcome. The villains of the NFL don’t care much about a story.

The Broncos offensive woes finally come back to bite, with a fully-loaded Brady offense being too much for the Denver “D” to stave off all day. A late, desperate, Denver charge falls just short and the Patriots head back to another Super Bowl.

Dennis Best

Denver 27, New England 17

The time has finally come: Manning v Brady XVII.
Denver hosts the AFC Championship game in what might, very well, be the last home game for one of the greatest to ever play the game, Peyton Manning. Playing in Denver has always been the kryptonite to the golden boy, Tom Brady, and history will repeat itself. The Orange and Blue are the healthiest they have been all season and Brady is 0-2 lifetime in the playoffs in the thin mountain air. Denver will need to play a whole 60 minutes and win the turnover battle, if they can accomplish that, you will see the Mile High crew in two weeks. Look for big plays from the special teams as well.