Ahead of the AFC wild-card round, four of the NFL.com’s five editors chose the New England Patriots to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before New England’s AFC Divisional Round contest against the Houston Texans, three of the quintet sided with the Patriots.
This time, it’s unanimous.
The group made their AFC Championship Game picks on Thursday and all five took New England to down the Denver Broncos on the road.
Notably though, each of the five members of the panel see the Patriots winning a one-score game.
“But clearly, in the wake of Bo Nix’s gutting ankle injury, Denver is fighting an uphill battle, facing a sudden switch at the game’s most important position. Jarrett Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in a real game in two years, and now he’s tasked with punching the Broncos’ ticket to the Super Bowl. It’s a daunting development, to say the least,” Gennaro Filice, who was the lone member to pick Los Angeles over New England, said. “With an 8-0 mark outside of Foxborough this season, New England’s the only team in the league that hasn’t lost a game in the unfriendly confines. The altitude is indeed an additional factor that’s unique to Denver, but generally speaking, these Pats don’t cower in hostile environments.”
The biggest storyline ahead of Sunday afternoon’s battle is former New England quarterback Jarrett Stidham getting his chance at revenge as he takes over for the injured Bo Nix.
Stidham is looking to become just the second quarterback since 1950 to make his first start of the season in the playoffs and win. Frank Reich is the only other signal-caller to accomplish the feat.
