Next Sunday will be 15th straight AFC Championship Game with the Patriots or Chiefs involved

The New England Patriots have advanced to the AFC Championship Game after defeating the Houston Texans, continuing a trend of dominance in the conference that has included either the Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs for the last 15 seasons. The upcoming game in Denver marks the 15th consecutive AFC title game featuring one of these two teams. The Patriots' presence has been notably marked by Tom Brady's leadership from 2011 to 2018, culminating in a victory over the Chiefs in their last appearance together. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, have been prominent in recent years until their playoff miss this season. The Patriots' current success is attributed to the rapid rise of Drake Maye, their 2024 first-round draft pick, who is now a contender for the MVP award.