The AFC Championship Game turned into a gritty battle at Mile High, where the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10–7 in snowy conditions.

After going from worst to first in the AFC, do the Patriots finally deserve respect as legitimate contenders? And for Denver, was this season a missed opportunity, or is this just the beginning with Bo Nix under center?

We break down the game, the narratives surrounding both teams, and what this result means heading into next season.