Broncos Vs. Patriots Matchup Set In Stone For Afc Championship Game

The AFC Championship Game is set. The Denver Broncos will big nan New England Patriots connected Sunday astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High.

Alas, alternatively of what was judge to beryllium nan epic first head-to-head matchup betwixt 2024 draught classmates — Bo Nix and Drake Maye — it'll beryllium Jarrett Stidham astatine backmost for nan Broncos. Nix fractured his correct ankle connected 1 of nan past plays of overtime successful nan Broncos' 33-30 triumph complete nan Buffalo Bills connected Saturday, and will acquisition season-ending room connected Tuesday successful Birmingham, Alabama.

Stidham vs. Maye

It's not arsenic sexy arsenic Nix vs. May, but connected apical of nan tremendous Super Bowl stakes, this matchup comes pinch immoderate unsocial storylines. Not only will Stidham beryllium quiet to capitalize connected his exceedingly uncommon opportunity to return complete arsenic a team's starting backmost successful nan convention title game, but he'll besides beryllium looking to beryllium to nan Patriots that they were incorrect to springiness up connected him.

The Patriots drafted Stidham successful nan 4th information retired of Auburn backmost successful 2019. Instead of getting nan chance to win Tom Brady, Stidham dealt pinch unusual backmost authorities and was yet traded to nan Las Vegas Raiders successful 2022 aft Josh McDaniels became caput coach.

Broncos caput coach Sean Payton expressed his confidence successful Stidham connected Saturday aft he announced nan Nix wounded from nan podium post-game. On Monday, Payton doubled down connected nan Stidham praise during his convention call, explaining really nan erstwhile Auburn Tiger first popped up connected his radar backmost erstwhile he was still caput coach of nan New Orleans Saints.

“It started pinch our information successful New Orleans of him. He was a target for america successful nan draft. That doesn’t really mean thing different than we liked this subordinate coming out," Payton said of Stidham. "I cognize really he was coached successful New England. I cognize precisely really he was coached successful New England. Then I cognize really [Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh] McDaniels felt astir him erstwhile he brought him from New England to Vegas. Then I cognize reports connected really he played, and past we saw him play existent time. But ultimately... it’s our 3 years here. In our 3 years, watching him time successful and time retired that you guys don’t person entree to. He will beryllium fresh to spell and fresh for nan moment.”

What happens adjacent for nan Broncos? Don't miss retired connected immoderate news and analysis! Take a second, motion up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Backup QB Playoff Magic: Time to Get Conjuring

The Broncos are hoping to conjure immoderate backup backmost magic successful nan playoffs, overmuch for illustration nan 2017 Philadelphia Eagles pinch Nick Foles. There are respective awesome examples passim NFL history of a backup taking nan reins and starring a squad to a Super Bowl, but fewer person been asked to measurement successful for nan first clip successful nan convention title game. And nary backmost has ever done truthful without throwing a walk successful nan season, arsenic will beryllium nan lawsuit pinch Stidham.

Foles is nan astir caller illustration of NFL backup magic, but don't foget astir Jeff Hostetler and nan 1991 New York Giants. Payton moreover knowledgeable a akin business successful New Orleans, though it wasn't successful nan playoffs, and Drew Brees returned aft Teddy Bridgewater stepped successful and won each 5 of his starts.

Look astatine nan 2025 season. Again, not a playoff example, but Payton moreover pointed to nan occurrence that Houston Texans backup backmost Davis Mills had successful alleviation of a concussed C.J. Stroud during nan regular season.

"Historically speaking, each bets weren’t disconnected pinch Hostetler. They weren’t disconnected successful Philly [with Foles]. We mislaid Brees midseason against nan Rams, and Bridgewater won 5 successful a row," Payton said. "All bets tin beryllium off. They weren’t disconnected for Houston this twelvemonth erstwhile Mills came in. I don’t cognize if he mislaid a game."

Obviously, nan respective accomplishment sets of Nix and Stidham are akin successful immoderate ways, and very different successful others. The Broncos will statesman readying for Stidham and his strengths and weaknesses correct distant to get him fresh for Sunday's title tilt vs. nan Patriots.

"The scheme ever has to beryllium built astir nan type and nan accomplishment group of nan players you’re playing with," Payton said. "So are location definite things that Bo does otherwise than ‘Stiddy?' Absolutely. That’s wherever nan activity originates tonight.”

The Broncos now cognize who they're facing adjacent week. The Patriots conscionable logged nan first playoff triumph of nan Maye era against a reliable Texans defense.

The shot fates whitethorn person robbed america of a highly-anticipated Nix vs. Maye matchup, but this AFC Championship Game still has each nan aforesaid stakes for these 2 storied NFL franchises.

More Must-Read Broncos-Patriots Coverage