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Who do the Broncos play next? Explaining potential AFC Championship Game opponents in 2026 NFL playoff bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL playoffs are onto the Divisional Round, and the Denver Broncos provided a thrilling start to the weekend.
Denver Broncos took down the Buffalo Bills, 33-30, in overtime of the first AFC Divisional Round matchup. The Broncos came into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and they're now locked into hosting the AFC Championship Game after coming out on top of a back-and-forth game against Buffalo.
Home-field advantage will be key for the Broncos regardless of their opponent. But who will Denver face with a trip to Super Bowl 60 on the line?
Here is more on who the Broncos could play next in the 2026 NFL playoffs.
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- Ja'Quan McMillian wrestles ball from Brandin Cooks for key OT interception
- Bills face familiar disappointment as season comes to end
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- Inside Bills hook-and-ladder play that helped set up overtime
Who will the Broncos play next?
The Broncos have advanced to the AFC Championship Game, where they could play one of two teams. It will come down to Sunday's Patriots-Texans game. Regardless of who wins, Denver will be hosting the next playoff matchup as the No. 1 seed.
The Broncos learned Saturday that they will have to play without QB Bo Nix, who suffered a fractured bone in his ankle near the end of the team's overtime win over the Bills.
No. 2 Patriots
The Patriots went 14-3 in the regular season to earn the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The pairing of new head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye has already paid dividends as Maye had his name firmly in the MVP conversation just his second season in the league. He played in all 17 games and threw for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
New England hosted the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round. The Patriots emerged victorious from an ugly game with a 16-3 win. Denver did not face New England in the regular season.
No. 5 Texans
The Texans boast one of the best defenses in the NFL. While the New York Jets made history as the first team to not have any interceptions over the course of a season, the Texans had four players with four interceptions apiece. Add in Danielle Hunter with 15 sacks, and Will Anderson Jr. with 12, and Houston has been terrorizing offenses all season.
The Texans had to go on the road in the wild card round, and they took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was 10-6 in Houston's favor with 11:23 left. The Texans' defense had a scoop and score touchdown, the offense scored a touchdown, and the defense had a pick-six to finish the game 30-6.
The Broncos faced the Texans in Week 9, coming out on top with an 18-15 victory.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Bills | Broncos of all time
NFL playoff bracket 2026
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MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:
- Full NFL playoff schedule
- NFL divisional round picks, predictions
- Updated NFL playoff bracket
- Ranking eight teams remaining in 2026 NFL playoffs
- NFL divisional round picks against the spread
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