NFL Championship Games Preview: How the Seahawks, Rams, Patriots & Broncos can make Super Bowl 60

Every AFC Championship game since the 2011 season has featured either the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots, but even during the Tom Brady days, the Pats had no joy at Mile High.

Is this breed of patriots being reborn?

There are a lot of parallels between life under Mike Vrabel and Drake May and Brady and Bill Belichick’s eventual dynasty — this playoff run that featured two brutal defensive clashes is one of them.

It’s been a huge turnaround for New England, winning 16 games this season after just eight wins the previous two seasons.

They were the biggest spenders in free agency but also acquired the second-most starters this season, so an overhaul that leaves just 16 players off the 2023 roster clearly has the right balance.

It’s true that the Pats had an easy regular season schedule, but they’ll have to win it the hard way — after facing the Chargers, Texans and now the Broncos — Maye will become the first quarterback to beat three of the top five defenses in a single postseason if he’s victorious.

If he does, there will be more evidence of a Pats comeback.

Can the Broncos win the Super Bowl with a backup QB?

It took head coach Sean Payton a little longer to turn things around, which is understandable given Denver’s salary cap issues. The biggest expense to their salary cap this season is the $32 million in dead money still remaining on Russell Wilson’s ill-fated contract.

Just two hours after defeating the Bills in a thrilling game, Denver was shocked when news emerged that quarterback Bo Nicks had broken his ankle.

The Knicks’ overall stats may not jump out at you, but leading his team to a 12-2 record in one-score games says it all.

The big question now is whether Payton can devise a way to win with backup Jarrett Stidham, who will be playing for a spot in the Super Bowl 749 days after his last NFL pass.

Ironically, the 29-year-old was drafted by New England and was viewed as Brady’s successor at one point, but although he made more appearances with the Pats (8) than the Broncos (7), his career then took off in Foxboro.

He’s started just four games, with one win, and hasn’t thrown a single pass the past two seasons — playing just one snap this season that was a kneeler.

He’s the first quarterback to start a conference championship game without throwing a pass that season, and although Payton insists he’s ready to go, that’s a major concern for the hosts.