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Winner of Texans-Patriots advances to face Broncos on road in AFC championship game

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud looks for a receiver during the first half of NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar, Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Behind a late charge and some controversial calls, the top-seeded Denver Broncos are headed to the AFC championship game.

Now, the road to the Super Bowl to be the AFC representative goes through Denver.

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The winner between the Texans and New England Patriots advances to face the Broncos next Sunday at 2 p.m. Central time. The victor earns a trip to the Super Bowl.

The fifth-seeded Texans lost to the Broncos in a narrow defeat, 18-15, at NRG Stadium as quarterback C.J. Stroud was knocked out of the game with a concussion that forced him to miss the next three games.

The Broncos beat the Texans in Houston behind an 11-point fourth quarter with kicker Will Lutz making the game-winning field goal from 34 yards out as the clock ran out. The key play on the drive: Broncos quarterback Will Lutz scrambling for 25 yards.

The Texans rebounded from a 3-5 start to the season after going 0-3 at the start to go on a 10-game winning streak.

Now, the Texans could face the Broncos again with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com


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