The New England Patriots take their perfect 8-0 road record to the Mile High City to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Denver has been tough on opponents, with the Broncos winning 15 of their past 18 home games. The Pats have particularly struggled in Colorado in the postseason, going 0-4 against the Broncos in Denver, with their last postseason meeting a 20-18 Broncos win in the 2015 AFC Championship Game.
New England coach Mike Vrabel noted Monday that altitude plays a role, but quipped that, aside from “going out there last Thursday,” it’s something the Patriots will just have to deal with on Sunday.
“I think just physiologically you have to be at altitude for longer than a day or two or three,” Vrabel said. “It takes time to do that. So, we’ll do what we’ve always done. We’ll travel, be in condition and be ready to play. That’s kind of about what it is.”
Added Vrabel: “No tricks. Just play well, try to be prepared and the better condition that you are, the less of an impact that that’s going to make. There’s no tricks.”
The Pats were sterling on the road in 2025, but just one of their eight travel victories came against a team that finished the season with a winning record (at Buffalo in Week 5).
Players enter Sunday’s game confident in their ability to continue the road perfection.
“Shoot, our record says it. We’re 8-0 on the road, so I don’t think there’s anything that we really need to change up,” rookie safety Craig Woodson said, via the Boston Globe. “I mean, we’ve had success on the road. We’re going to continue to have success. So, I don’t think we need to change anything. We just prepare like we usually do, and we’ll be ready to go.”
On Sunday, New England will face a Broncos team with quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriots fourth-round pick, making his first start since 2023.
New England is 1-4 against Denver in the postseason, with the home squad winning all five games. The Pats have 11 wins in conference championship games, the most all-time. Denver has eight wins in conference title games, tied for second-most all-time (Steelers, Cowboys, 49ers).
The playoffs are here and you won't want to miss a moment. Now you don't have to! With NFL+ Premium, watch every playoff game live on mobile, get NFL RedZone during the regular season, stream game replays, and more! And for a limited time, get 40% off an NFL+ annual plan. Offer ends 2/16/26. Sign up today!