AFC Championship Game: Difference between revisions

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	The (former version of the) Lamar Hunt Trophy on display at a press conference at the Westin Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images. January 20, 2006.

AFC Championship Game
First played	January 3, 1971 (1970 season)
Trophy	Lamar Hunt Trophy
2023 season
	M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Maryland; January 28, 2024; Kansas City Chiefs 17,; Baltimore Ravens 10

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The AFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the American Football Conference (AFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the AFC postseason's first two rounds. The AFC champion then advances to face the winner of the NFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl.

The game was established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League (AFL), with the merged league realigning into two conferences. Since 1984,^[1] each winner of the AFC Championship Game has also received the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt.

History

The first AFC Championship Game was played following the 1970 regular season after the merger between the NFL and the AFL. The game is considered the successor to the former AFL Championship, and its game results are listed with that of its predecessor in the annual NFL Record and Fact Book.^[2] Since the pre-merger NFL consisted of six more teams than the AFL (16 teams for the NFL and 10 for the AFL), a realignment was required as part of the merger to create two conferences with an equal number of teams: The NFL's Baltimore Colts, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the ten former AFL teams to form the AFC; while the remaining 13 pre-merger NFL clubs formed the NFC.

Every current AFC team except the Houston Texans has played in an AFC Championship Game at least once. The Seattle Seahawks, who have been members in both the AFC and the NFC, hold the distinction of appearing in both conference title games, a loss in the AFC conference title game to the Los Angeles Raiders for Super Bowl XVIII and, in their first appearance in a NFC conference title game, a win over the Carolina Panthers for Super Bowl XL. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most appearances in the AFC Championship Game at 16, with 11 of those games being in Pittsburgh, the most for either conference. The New England Patriots have won the most AFC Championships at 11, and played in a record eight straight AFC title games (2011–2018). At least one of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger played in every championship game between the 2003 and the 2018 seasons, except for the 2009 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have hosted the AFC Championship a record five consecutive times, between the 2018–2022 seasons.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

The Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only two AFC teams to appear in at least one AFC Championship game in every decade since 1970.

Playoff structure

The structure of the NFL playoffs has changed several times since 1970. At the end of each regular season, the top teams in the AFC qualify for the postseason, including all division champions (three division winners from the 1970–71 to 2001–02 seasons; four since the 2002–03 season) and a set number of "wild card" teams that possess the best win–loss records after the regular season yet fail to win their division (one wild card team from the 1970–71 to 1977–78 seasons; two wild cards from 1978–79 to 1989–90, and from 2002–03 to 2019–20; three from 1990–91 to 2001–02, and since 2020–21). The two teams remaining following the wild-card round (first round) and the divisional round (second round) play in the AFC Championship Game, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.

Initially, the site of the AFC Championship Game was determined on a rotating basis. Since the 1975–76 season, the site of the game has been based on playoff seeding based on the regular season won-loss record, with the highest surviving seed hosting the game. A wild card team can only host the game if both participants are wild cards; such an instance has yet to occur in the NFL.^[8]

For the 2022–23 season, NFL owners passed a temporary modification to accommodate for a Buffalo Bills–Cincinnati Bengals regular season game that was eventually canceled after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in the first quarter of that contest. (See also Damar Hamlin § In-game collapse.) The league decided neither to resume nor replay the game, and therefore both Buffalo and Cincinnati finished the regular season with one less game than the other NFL teams.^[9] Because both the Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs ended with the same number of regular season losses, it was decided that a Buffalo–Kansas City AFC Championship Game would be played at a neutral site, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, if both teams advanced that far.^[10]^[11] This never came to fruition, as the Bengals defeated the Bills in the divisional round.

Lamar Hunt Trophy

Beginning with the 1984–85 NFL playoffs,^[1] the winner of the AFC Championship Game has received the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of the Kansas City Chiefs. The original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted AFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back.

For the 2010–11 NFL playoffs, the Lamar Hunt Trophy and the George Halas Trophy, which is awarded to the NFC Champion, were redesigned by Tiffany & Co. at the request of the NFL in an attempt to make both awards more significant.^[12] The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a small base to more closely resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl.^[13]

In recent years Conference championship rings are also awarded to members of the team who wins the AFC or NFC championship since they are the winners of the conference, even though they may not necessarily follow it up with a win in the Super Bowl.^[14]^[15]

List of AFC Championship Games

Numbers in parentheses in the table are AFC Championships. Bold indicates team won Super Bowl that year.

Numbers in parentheses in the city and stadium column is the number of times that metropolitan area and stadium has hosted an AFC Championship, respectively.

Season	Playoffs	Winning team	Score	Losing team	Score	Date	Location	Stadium
1970	1970–71	Baltimore Colts (1)	27	Oakland Raiders	17	January 3, 1971	Baltimore, Maryland^{[fn 1]}	Memorial Stadium^[16]
1971	1971–72	Miami Dolphins (1)	21	Baltimore Colts	0	January 2, 1972	Miami, Florida^{[fn 2]}	Miami Orange Bowl^[17]
1972	1972–73	Miami Dolphins (2)	21	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	December 31, 1972	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Three Rivers Stadium^[18]
1973	1973–74	Miami Dolphins (3)	27	Oakland Raiders	10	December 30, 1973	Miami, Florida (2)^{[fn 2]}	Miami Orange Bowl (2)^[19]
1974	1974–75	Pittsburgh Steelers (1)	24	Oakland Raiders	13	December 29, 1974	Oakland, California	Oakland Coliseum^{[fn 3]}^[20]
1975	1975–76	Pittsburgh Steelers (2)	16	Oakland Raiders	10	January 4, 1976	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2)	Three Rivers Stadium (2)^[21]
1976	1976–77	Oakland Raiders (1)	24	Pittsburgh Steelers	7	December 26, 1976	Oakland, California (2)	Oakland Coliseum (2)^{[fn 3]}^[22]
1977	1977–78	Denver Broncos (1)	20	Oakland Raiders	17	January 1, 1978	Denver, Colorado	Mile High Stadium^[23]
1978	1978–79	Pittsburgh Steelers (3)	34	Houston Oilers	5	January 7, 1979	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (3)	Three Rivers Stadium (3)^[24]
1979	1979–80	Pittsburgh Steelers (4)	27	Houston Oilers	13	January 6, 1980	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (4)	Three Rivers Stadium (4)^[25]
1980	1980–81	Oakland Raiders (2)	34	San Diego Chargers	27	January 11, 1981	San Diego, California	Jack Murphy Stadium^[26]
1981	1981–82	Cincinnati Bengals (1)	27	San Diego Chargers	7	January 10, 1982	Cincinnati, Ohio	Riverfront Stadium^[27]
1982	1982–83	Miami Dolphins (4)	14	New York Jets	0	January 23, 1983	Miami, Florida (3)^{[fn 2]}	Miami Orange Bowl (3)^[28]
1983	1983–84	Los Angeles Raiders (3)	30	Seattle Seahawks	14	January 8, 1984	Los Angeles, California	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum^[29]
1984	1984–85	Miami Dolphins (5)	45	Pittsburgh Steelers	28	January 6, 1985	Miami, Florida (4)^{[fn 2]}	Miami Orange Bowl (4)^[30]
1985	1985–86	New England Patriots (1)	31	Miami Dolphins	14	January 12, 1986	Miami, Florida (5)^{[fn 2]}	Miami Orange Bowl (5)^[31]
1986	1986–87	Denver Broncos (2)	23^{[fn 4]}	Cleveland Browns	20	January 11, 1987	Cleveland, Ohio	Cleveland Municipal Stadium^[32]
1987	1987–88	Denver Broncos (3)	38	Cleveland Browns	33	January 17, 1988	Denver, Colorado (2)	Mile High Stadium (2)^[33]
1988	1988–89	Cincinnati Bengals (2)	21	Buffalo Bills	10	January 8, 1989	Cincinnati, Ohio (2)	Riverfront Stadium (2)^[34]
1989	1989–90	Denver Broncos (4)	37	Cleveland Browns	21	January 14, 1990	Denver, Colorado (3)	Mile High Stadium (3)^[35]
1990	1990–91	Buffalo Bills (1)	51	Los Angeles Raiders	3	January 20, 1991	Orchard Park, New York	Rich Stadium^[36]
1991	1991–92	Buffalo Bills (2)	10	Denver Broncos	7	January 12, 1992	Orchard Park, New York (2)	Rich Stadium (2)^[37]
1992	1992–93	Buffalo Bills (3)	29	Miami Dolphins	10	January 17, 1993	Miami, Florida (6)^{[fn 2]}	Joe Robbie Stadium^[38]
1993	1993–94	Buffalo Bills (4)	30	Kansas City Chiefs	13	January 23, 1994	Orchard Park, New York (3)	Rich Stadium (3)^[39]
1994	1994–95	San Diego Chargers (1)	17	Pittsburgh Steelers	13	January 15, 1995	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (5)	Three Rivers Stadium (5)^[40]
1995	1995–96	Pittsburgh Steelers (5)	20	Indianapolis Colts	16	January 14, 1996	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (6)	Three Rivers Stadium (6)^[41]
1996	1996–97	New England Patriots (2)	20	Jacksonville Jaguars	6	January 12, 1997	Foxborough, Massachusetts	Foxboro Stadium^[42]
1997	1997–98	Denver Broncos (5)	24	Pittsburgh Steelers	21	January 11, 1998	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (7)	Three Rivers Stadium (7)^[43]
1998	1998–99	Denver Broncos (6)	23	New York Jets	10	January 17, 1999	Denver, Colorado (4)	Mile High Stadium (4)^[44]
1999	1999–00	Tennessee Titans (1)	33	Jacksonville Jaguars	14	January 23, 2000	Jacksonville, Florida	Alltel Stadium^[45]
2000	2000–01	Baltimore Ravens (1)	16	Oakland Raiders	3	January 14, 2001	Oakland, California (3)	Oakland Coliseum (3)^{[fn 3]}^[46]
2001	2001–02	New England Patriots (3)	24	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	January 27, 2002	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (8)	Heinz Field^{[fn 5]}^[47]
2002	2002–03	Oakland Raiders (4)	41	Tennessee Titans	24	January 19, 2003	Oakland, California (4)	Network Associates Coliseum (4)^{[fn 3]}^[48]
2003	2003–04	New England Patriots (4)	24	Indianapolis Colts	14	January 18, 2004	Foxborough, Massachusetts (2)	Gillette Stadium^[49]
2004	2004–05	New England Patriots (5)	41	Pittsburgh Steelers	27	January 23, 2005	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (9)	Heinz Field (2)^{[fn 5]}^[50]
2005	2005–06	Pittsburgh Steelers (6)	34	Denver Broncos	17	January 22, 2006	Denver, Colorado (5)	Invesco Field at Mile High^{[fn 6]}^[51]
2006	2006–07	Indianapolis Colts (2)	38	New England Patriots	34	January 21, 2007	Indianapolis, Indiana	RCA Dome^[52]
2007	2007–08	New England Patriots (6)	21	San Diego Chargers	12	January 20, 2008	Foxborough, Massachusetts (3)	Gillette Stadium (2)^[53]
2008	2008–09	Pittsburgh Steelers (7)	23	Baltimore Ravens	14	January 18, 2009	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10)	Heinz Field (3)^{[fn 5]}^[54]
2009	2009–10	Indianapolis Colts (3)	30	New York Jets	17	January 24, 2010	Indianapolis, Indiana (2)	Lucas Oil Stadium^[55]
2010	2010–11	Pittsburgh Steelers (8)	24	New York Jets	19	January 23, 2011	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (11)	Heinz Field (4)^{[fn 5]}^[56]
2011	2011–12	New England Patriots (7)	23	Baltimore Ravens	20	January 22, 2012	Foxborough, Massachusetts (4)	Gillette Stadium (3)^[57]
2012	2012–13	Baltimore Ravens (2)	28	New England Patriots	13	January 20, 2013	Foxborough, Massachusetts (5)	Gillette Stadium (4)^[58]
2013	2013–14	Denver Broncos (7)	26	New England Patriots	16	January 19, 2014	Denver, Colorado (6)	Sports Authority Field at Mile High (2)^{[fn 6]}^[59]
2014	2014–15	New England Patriots (8)	45	Indianapolis Colts	7	January 18, 2015	Foxborough, Massachusetts (6)	Gillette Stadium (5)^[60]
2015	2015–16	Denver Broncos (8)	20	New England Patriots	18	January 24, 2016	Denver, Colorado (7)	Sports Authority Field at Mile High (3)^{[fn 6]}^[61]
2016	2016–17	New England Patriots (9)	36	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	January 22, 2017	Foxborough, Massachusetts (7)	Gillette Stadium (6)^[62]
2017	2017–18	New England Patriots (10)	24	Jacksonville Jaguars	20	January 21, 2018	Foxborough, Massachusetts (8)	Gillette Stadium (7)^[63]
2018	2018–19	New England Patriots (11)	37^{[fn 4]}	Kansas City Chiefs	31	January 20, 2019	Kansas City, Missouri	Arrowhead Stadium^[64]
2019	2019–20	Kansas City Chiefs (1)	35	Tennessee Titans	24	January 19, 2020	Kansas City, Missouri (2)	Arrowhead Stadium (2)^[65]
2020	2020–21	Kansas City Chiefs (2)	38	Buffalo Bills	24	January 24, 2021	Kansas City, Missouri (3)	Arrowhead Stadium (3)^[66]
2021	2021–22	Cincinnati Bengals (3)	27^{[fn 4]}	Kansas City Chiefs	24	January 30, 2022	Kansas City, Missouri (4)	Arrowhead Stadium (4)^[67]
2022	2022–23	Kansas City Chiefs (3)	23	Cincinnati Bengals	20	January 29, 2023	Kansas City, Missouri (5)	Arrowhead Stadium (5)^[68]
2023	2023–24	Kansas City Chiefs (4)	17	Baltimore Ravens	10	January 28, 2024	Baltimore, Maryland (2)^{[fn 1]}	M&T Bank Stadium^[69]

Appearances, 1970–present

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of appearances, then by number of wins, and finally by year of first appearance.

#	Team	W	L	Win %	PF	PA	Last game	Last win	Home games	Home wins	Home losses	Home win %	Away games	Away wins	Away losses	Away win %
16	Pittsburgh Steelers	8	8	.500	332	303	2016	2010	11	6	5	.545	5	2	3	.400
15	New England Patriots	11	4	.733	371	280	2018	2018	8	7	1	.875	7	4	3	.571
11	Las Vegas Raiders^{[fn 7]}	4	7	.364	202	253	2002	2002	5	3	2	.600	6	1	5	.167
10	Denver Broncos	8	2	.800	235	200	2015	2015	7	6	1	.857	3	2	1	.667
7	Miami Dolphins	5	2	.714	152	115	1992	1984	6	4	2	.667	1	1	0	1.000
7	Kansas City Chiefs	4	3	.571	181	172	2023	2023	5	3	2	.600	2	1	1	.500
7	Indianapolis Colts^{[fn 8]}	3	4	.429	132	178	2014	2009	3	3	0	1.000	4	0	4	.000
6	Buffalo Bills	4	2	.667	158	92	2020	1993	3	3	0	1.000	3	1	2	.333
5	Baltimore Ravens	2	3	.400	88	79	2023	2012	1	0	1	.000	4	2	2	.500
5	Tennessee Titans^{[fn 9]}	1	4	.200	99	151	2019	1999	0	0	0	—	5	1	4	.200
4	Cincinnati Bengals	3	1	.750	95	64	2022	2021	2	2	0	1.000	2	1	1	.500
4	Los Angeles Chargers	1	3	.250	63	95	2007	1994	1	0	1	.000	3	1	2	.333
4	New York Jets	0	4	.000	46	91	2010	N/A	0	0	0	—	4	0	4	.000
3	Cleveland Browns	0	3	.000	74	98	1989	N/A	1	0	1	.000	2	0	2	.000
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	0	3	.000	40	77	2017	N/A	1	0	1	.000	2	0	2	.000
1	Seattle Seahawks^{[fn 10]}	0	1	.000	14	30	1983	N/A^[b]	0	0	0	—	1	0	1	.000

Appearances by year

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of appearances, then by number of wins, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning Conference Championship appearances.

Apps	Team	Wins	Losses	Win %	Season(s)
16	Pittsburgh Steelers	8	8	.500	1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2016
15	New England Patriots	11	4	.733	1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
11	Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders^{[fn 7]}	4	7	.364	1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1990, 2000, 2002
10	Denver Broncos	8	2	.800	1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2015
7	Kansas City Chiefs	4	3	.571	1993, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
7	Miami Dolphins	5	2	.714	1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1992
7	Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts^{[fn 8]}	3	4	.429	1970, 1971, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2014
6	Buffalo Bills	4	2	.667	1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2020
5	Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans^{[fn 9]}	1	4	.200	1978, 1979, 1999, 2002, 2019
5	Baltimore Ravens	2	3	.400	2000, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2023
4	Cincinnati Bengals	3	1	.750	1981, 1988, 2021, 2022
4	San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers	1	3	.250	1980, 1981, 1994, 2007
4	New York Jets	0	4	.000	1982, 1998, 2009, 2010
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	0	3	.000	1996, 1999, 2017
3	Cleveland Browns	0	3	.000	1986, 1987, 1989
1	Seattle Seahawks^{[fn 10]}	0	1	.000	1983
0	Houston Texans^{[fn 11]}	0	0	–
0	Tampa Bay Buccaneers^{[fn 12]}	0	0	–

Records by division

The table below shows AFC Championship Game records by division, based on the division the franchise was in during the season the championship game was played. The NFL realigned divisions prior to the 2002 season, renaming the AFC Central as the AFC North, creating the AFC South, and shifting several teams among the divisions.

Division	Total				1970-2001				2002-present
Division	Apps	Wins	Losses	Win %	Apps	Wins	Losses	Win %	Apps	Wins	Losses	Win %
AFC East	35	21	14	.600	20	13^{[fn 13]}	7^{[fn 14]}	.650	15	8^{[fn 13]}	7^{[fn 14]}	.533
AFC North	33	14	19	.424	22	9^{[fn 15]}	13^{[fn 16]}	.429	11	5^{[fn 15]}	6^{[fn 16]}	.455
AFC South	7	2	5	.286	—				7	2^{[fn 17]}	5^{[fn 18]}	.286
AFC West	33	17	16	.515	22	10^{[fn 19]}	12^{[fn 20]}	.455	11	7^{[fn 19]}	4^{[fn 20]}	.636

Most common matchups

Count	Matchup	Record	Years Played
3	Oakland / Los Angeles / Las Vegas Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers, 2–1	1974, 1975, 1976
3	Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns	Broncos, 3–0	1986, 1987, 1989
3	New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	Patriots, 3–0	2001, 2004, 2016
3	Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots	Patriots, 2–1	2003, 2006, 2014
2	Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs	Tie, 1–1	1993, 2020
2	Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	Dolphins, 2–0	1972, 1984
2	Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers, 2–0	1978, 1979
2	Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots	Patriots, 2–0	1996, 2017
2	Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	Tie, 1–1	1997, 2005
2	Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots	Tie, 1–1	2011, 2012
2	Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots	Broncos, 2–0	2013, 2015
2	Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs	Tie, 1–1	2021, 2022

AFC Championship Game records

Most victories: 11**; New England Patriots (1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Most losses: 8; Pittsburgh Steelers, (1972, 1976, 1984, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2016)
Most appearances: 16; Pittsburgh Steelers (1972, 1974–1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2016)
Most consecutive appearances: 8**; New England Patriots (2011–2018)
Most consecutive victories: 4**; Buffalo Bills (1990–1993)
Most appearances without a win: 4; New York Jets (1982, 1998, 2009, 2010)
Most consecutive losses before first win: 4; Oakland Raiders (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975)
Most consecutive appearances without a win: 4; (tie) Oakland Raiders (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975), New York Jets (1982, 1998, 2009, 2010)
Most shutouts: 2**; Miami Dolphins (1971, 21–0 vs Colts and 1982, 14–0 vs Jets)
Most consecutive losses: 3; Oakland Raiders (1973–1975)
Most games hosted: 11*; Pittsburgh Steelers (1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010)
Most consecutive games hosted: 5**; Kansas City Chiefs (2018–2022)
Most numerous matchups: 3 (tie)
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Oakland Raiders (1974, 1975, 1976)
- Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos (1986, 1987, 1989)
- New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2001, 2004, 2016)
- New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (2003, 2006, 2014)
Most points scored: 51**; January 20, 1991 (1990) – Buffalo Bills (51) vs. Los Angeles Raiders (3)
Largest margin of victory: 48 points**; January 20, 1991 (1990) – Buffalo Bills (51) vs. Los Angeles Raiders (3)
Fewest points scored, winning team: 10; January 12, 1992 (1991) – Buffalo Bills (10) vs. Denver Broncos (7)
Fewest points scored: 0*; (tie) Jan 2, 1972 (1971) Baltimore Colts 0 vs Dolphins 21, Jan 23, 1983 (1982) NY Jets (0) vs Dolphins (14)
Most points scored, losing team: 34**; January 21, 2007 (2006) – New England Patriots (34) vs. Indianapolis Colts (38)
Most combined points scored: 73**; January 6, 1985 (1984) – Miami Dolphins (45) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (28)
Fewest combined points scored: 14; January 23, 1983 (1982) – Miami Dolphins (14) vs. New York Jets (0)
Current AFC teams which have never appeared in a Conference Championship Game: Houston Texans^{[fn 11]}
Current AFC teams which have never hosted a Conference Championship Game: Houston Texans,^{[fn 11]} New York Jets,^{[fn 21]} Tennessee Titans^{[fn 22]}
Current AFC teams which have never won a Conference Championship: Cleveland Browns (0–3), Houston Texans (0–0), Jacksonville Jaguars (0–3) and New York Jets (0–4)
Longest drought without appearing in an AFC Championship Game: Cleveland Browns (last appearance – 1989)
Longest drought without an AFC Championship: New York Jets^{[fn 23]}
Highest attendance: 91,445**; Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 8, 1984 (1983)
Largest comeback: 18 points** (tie)
- Indianapolis Colts (trailed 21–3; won 38–34) 2006
- Cincinnati Bengals (trailed 21–3; won 27–24), 2021
Overtime games:
- 1986 Denver Broncos 23 Cleveland Browns 20
- 2018 New England Patriots 37 Kansas City Chiefs 31
- 2021 Cincinnati Bengals 27 Kansas City Chiefs 24

Notes:

*Tied for Conference Championship record
**Conference Championship record

TV ratings

1982: 51.6 million viewers^[70]
2003: 41.5 million
2005: 44.3 million
2006: 39 million viewers^[71]
2007: 46.7 million viewers^[72]
2009: 42 million viewers^[73]
2010: 42.3 million viewers
2011: 54.9 million viewers^[74]
2012: 48.7 million viewers^[75]^[76]
2013: 47.7 million viewers^[77]
2014: 51.3 million viewers^[78]
2015: 42.1 million viewers^[79]
2016: 53.3 million viewers^[80]
2017: 41.2 million viewers^[81]
2018: 53.9 million viewers^[82]
2019: 41.1 million viewers^[82]
2020: 41.8 million viewers^[83]
2021: 47.8 million viewers^[84]
2022: 53.1 million viewers^[85]
2023: 55.5 million viewers^[86]

Footnotes

^ ^a ^b Baltimore has hosted 2 total AFC Championship Games: 1 Colts home game and 1 Ravens home game.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Miami Orange Bowl was in Miami proper. Joe Robbie Stadium, now Hard Rock Stadium, opened in 1987 in an unincorporated area with a Miami address; the area was then incorporated as Miami Gardens in 2003.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Oakland Coliseum was also known as Network Associates Coliseum.
^ ^a ^b ^c Overtime
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Acrisure Stadium was previously known as Heinz Field
^ ^a ^b ^c Empower Field at Mile High was also known as Invesco Field at Mile High, then Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
^ ^a ^b Includes appearances during the Raiders' first tenure in Oakland (the 1970 merger until 1981), where they went 2–5 in AFC Championship Games; their period as the Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1994), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games; and their second tenure in Oakland (1995–2019), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2020, the Raiders are 0–0 in AFC Championship Games.
^ ^a ^b Includes appearances as the Baltimore Colts (the 1970 merger to 1983), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, the Colts are 2–3 in AFC Championship Games.
^ ^a ^b Includes appearances as the Houston Oilers (the 1970 merger to 1996), where they went 0–2 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Tennessee in 1997, they are 1–2 in AFC Championship Games.
^ ^a ^b The Seahawks were members of the NFC in 1976 and then members of the AFC from 1977 to 2001, before rejoining the NFC in 2002. Including their appearances in the NFC Championship Game (3–0), they hold a combined 3–1 record between both Conference Championship Games.
^ ^a ^b ^c The Houston Texans were founded in 2002.
^ The Buccaneers were members of the AFC in 1976 before moving to the NFC in 1977.
^ ^a ^b AFC East conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001. Since 2002: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018.
^ ^a ^b AFC East conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1971, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998. Since 2002: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020.
^ ^a ^b AFC North conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2021.
^ ^a ^b AFC North conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1972, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001. Since 2002: 2004, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2023.
^ AFC South conference championship game victories: 2006, 2009.
^ AFC South conference championship game losses: 2002, 2003, 2014, 2017, 2019.
^ ^a ^b AFC West conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023.
^ ^a ^b AFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021
^ The Jets last hosted the 1968 AFL Championship Game during the pre-AFL-NFL merger era.
^ The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise last hosted the 1962 AFL Championship Game.
^ The Jets won Super Bowl III as the 1968 AFL Champion.

References

^ ^a ^b "Patriots Blog: AFC Championship Trophy In The House". WBZ-TV. January 18, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014. The Lamar Hunt Trophy, given to the winners of the AFC Championship since 1984
^ "AFC Championship Game Results. Includes AFL Championship Games (1960-69)". 2023 NFL Record and Fact Book. National Football League. p. 498. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
^ Staff, KMBC 9 News (2022-01-24). "Chiefs to host record-setting fourth straight AFC Championship". KMBC. Retrieved 2024-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Palmer, Tod (2022-01-24). "Chiefs make history by hosting 4th straight AFC Championship Game". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^ Wawrow, John (2023-01-23). "Bengals return to AFC championship with 27-10 rout of Bills". AP News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^ Kerkhoff, Blair (January 27, 2023). "Five-timers club: This group has been here for Chiefs' full run of AFC-title home games". Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
^ "AFC Championship Game returns to Kansas City for record 5th straight year". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
^ Palmer, Pete; Pullis, Ken; Lahman, Sean; Maher, Tod; Silverman, Matthew; Gillette, Gary (2007). The ESPN pro football encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Sterling Pub. Co. p. 1207. ISBN 9781402752506.
^ Baby, Ben (January 5, 2023). "Bills-Bengals game will not resume amid Damar Hamlin's continued recovery". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
^ Around the NFL Staff (January 6, 2023). "Changes to AFC playoffs approved by NFL owners: What you need to know". NFL. NFL. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
^ "Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta selected as site for potential Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship Game". NFL. NFL. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
^ "NFC's Halas trophy has new look". Chicago Sun-Times.
^ Bell, Jarrett (January 25, 2011). "NFL Replay: Gritty Steelers aren't pretty, but they are Super". USA Today.
^ "First look at the Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship rings". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ "Brandin Cooks thanks Patriots for AFC Championship ring". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ "Championship - Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Colts - January 3rd, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Colts at Miami Dolphins - January 2nd, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 31st, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins - December 30th, 1973". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 29th, 1974". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 4th, 1976". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 26th, 1976". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos - January 1st, 1978". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 7th, 1979". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 6th, 1980". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers - January 11th, 1981". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals - January 10th, 1982". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Miami Dolphins - January 23rd, 1983". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Raiders - January 8th, 1984". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins - January 6th, 1985". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - January 12th, 1986". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns - January 11th, 1987". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1988". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals - January 8th, 1989". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 14th, 1990". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills - January 20th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills - January 12th, 1992". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins - January 17th, 1993". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 23rd, 1994". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 15th, 1995". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 14th, 1996". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 12th, 1997". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 11th, 1998". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1999". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 23rd, 2000". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders - January 14th, 2001". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 27th, 2002". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Oakland Raiders - January 19th, 2003". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2004". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2005". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 22nd, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts - January 21st, 2007". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2008". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 18th, 2009". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - January 24th, 2010". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 24th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 21st, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs - January 20th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs - January 19th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 30th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 29th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens - January 28th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
^ "Ratings - "The NFL on CBS" Scores with Second Highest Rating for AFC Championship Game in 27 Years". TheFutonCritic.com. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
^ "Ratings - CBS Sports' Coverage of the Afc Championship (Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos) Attracts 39 Million Viewers - the Number One Broadcast on Any Network This Season". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
^ "Ratings - CBS Wins the Week with the Best Viewer Delivery by Any Network This Season and Best by Any Network in Nearly a Year". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
^ "AFC Champ Highest rated telecast of 2008-09 TV season". 20 January 2009.
^ "NFL passes new records in TV ratings". USA Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ "NFL Ratings Spike: 48.7 Million Watch AFC Title Game, NFC Game Draws 57.6 Mil". Deadline Hollywood. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ "AFC Championship Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ "Astonishing Chart Shows How The NFL Dominates TV Ratings". Business Insider. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ "CBS Sports Earns Second Highest Viewer Average for AFC Championship Game in 32 Years - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^ Patten, Dominic (19 January 2015). "AFC Championship Game Ratings Stumble For CBS, 'Revenge' Rises". Deadline Hollywood.
^ Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2016). "AFC Title Game Ratings Score For CBS With 53.3 Million Viewers". Deadline Hollywood.
^ "NFL Conference Championships Overnight TV Ratings 2006-2016". sportstvratings.com. 23 January 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Without the Patriots, TV ratings for AFC championship game reportedly take a dip - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
^ "TV Ratings: NFL Conference Championships Grow". HollywoodReporter.com. 26 January 2021.
^ "TV Ratings: NFL Conference Championships Hit Multi-Year Highs". HollywoodReporter.com. February 2022.
^ "Local Bengals-Chiefs TV ratings top 2022 Super Bowl". WVXU. 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
^ Lewis, Jon (2024-01-30). "Over 55 million for Chiefs-Ravens AFC title game". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2024-01-30.

[Baltimore-16] Baltimore has hosted 2 total AFC Championship Games: 1 Colts home game and 1 Ravens home game.

[Greater_Miami-18] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Miami Orange Bowl was in Miami proper. Joe Robbie Stadium, now Hard Rock Stadium, opened in 1987 in an unincorporated area with a Miami address; the area was then incorporated as Miami Gardens in 2003.

[Oak_Coliseum-22] The Oakland Coliseum was also known as Network Associates Coliseum.

[OT-35] Overtime

[Acrisue_Stadium-51] Acrisure Stadium was previously known as Heinz Field

[Empower-56] Empower Field at Mile High was also known as Invesco Field at Mile High, then Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

[Raiders_appearances-76] Includes appearances during the Raiders' first tenure in Oakland (the 1970 merger until 1981), where they went 2–5 in AFC Championship Games; their period as the Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1994), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games; and their second tenure in Oakland (1995–2019), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2020, the Raiders are 0–0 in AFC Championship Games.

[Colts_appearances-77] Includes appearances as the Baltimore Colts (the 1970 merger to 1983), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, the Colts are 2–3 in AFC Championship Games.

[Titans_appearances-78] Includes appearances as the Houston Oilers (the 1970 merger to 1996), where they went 0–2 in AFC Championship Games. Since moving to Tennessee in 1997, they are 1–2 in AFC Championship Games.

[SEA_appearances-79] The Seahawks were members of the NFC in 1976 and then members of the AFC from 1977 to 2001, before rejoining the NFC in 2002. Including their appearances in the NFC Championship Game (3–0), they hold a combined 3–1 record between both Conference Championship Games.

[Hou2002-80] The Houston Texans were founded in 2002.

[TB_appearances-81] The Buccaneers were members of the AFC in 1976 before moving to the NFC in 1977.

[eastwins-82] AFC East conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001. Since 2002: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018.

[eastdefeats-83] AFC East conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1971, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998. Since 2002: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020.

[Northwins-84] AFC North conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2021.

[Northdefeats-85] AFC North conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1972, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001. Since 2002: 2004, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2023.

[86] AFC South conference championship game victories: 2006, 2009.

[87] AFC South conference championship game losses: 2002, 2003, 2014, 2017, 2019.

[WestWins-88] AFC West conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023.

[WestDefeats-89] AFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021

[90] The Jets last hosted the 1968 AFL Championship Game during the pre-AFL-NFL merger era.

[91] The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise last hosted the 1962 AFL Championship Game.

[92] The Jets won Super Bowl III as the 1968 AFL Champion.

[WBZ-1] "Patriots Blog: AFC Championship Trophy In The House". WBZ-TV. January 18, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014. The Lamar Hunt Trophy, given to the winners of the AFC Championship since 1984

[2] "AFC Championship Game Results. Includes AFL Championship Games (1960-69)". 2023 NFL Record and Fact Book. National Football League. p. 498. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

[3] Staff, KMBC 9 News (2022-01-24). "Chiefs to host record-setting fourth straight AFC Championship". KMBC. Retrieved 2024-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[4] Palmer, Tod (2022-01-24). "Chiefs make history by hosting 4th straight AFC Championship Game". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.

[5] Wawrow, John (2023-01-23). "Bengals return to AFC championship with 27-10 rout of Bills". AP News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.

[6] Kerkhoff, Blair (January 27, 2023). "Five-timers club: This group has been here for Chiefs' full run of AFC-title home games". Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 8, 2024.

[7] "AFC Championship Game returns to Kansas City for record 5th straight year". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2024-02-13.

[8] Palmer, Pete; Pullis, Ken; Lahman, Sean; Maher, Tod; Silverman, Matthew; Gillette, Gary (2007). The ESPN pro football encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Sterling Pub. Co. p. 1207. ISBN 9781402752506.

[9] Baby, Ben (January 5, 2023). "Bills-Bengals game will not resume amid Damar Hamlin's continued recovery". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

[10] Around the NFL Staff (January 6, 2023). "Changes to AFC playoffs approved by NFL owners: What you need to know". NFL. NFL. Retrieved January 15, 2023.

[ATL2023-11] "Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta selected as site for potential Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship Game". NFL. NFL. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.

[12] "NFC's Halas trophy has new look". Chicago Sun-Times.

[13] Bell, Jarrett (January 25, 2011). "NFL Replay: Gritty Steelers aren't pretty, but they are Super". USA Today.

[14] "First look at the Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship rings". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.

[15] "Brandin Cooks thanks Patriots for AFC Championship ring". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.

[17] "Championship - Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Colts - January 3rd, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[19] "AFC Championship - Baltimore Colts at Miami Dolphins - January 2nd, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[20] "AFC Championship - Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 31st, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[21] "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins - December 30th, 1973". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[23] "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 29th, 1974". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[24] "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 4th, 1976". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[25] "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 26th, 1976". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[26] "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos - January 1st, 1978". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[27] "AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 7th, 1979". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[28] "AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 6th, 1980". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[29] "AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers - January 11th, 1981". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[30] "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals - January 10th, 1982". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[31] "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Miami Dolphins - January 23rd, 1983". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[32] "AFC Championship - Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Raiders - January 8th, 1984". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[33] "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins - January 6th, 1985". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[34] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - January 12th, 1986". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[36] "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns - January 11th, 1987". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[37] "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1988". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[38] "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals - January 8th, 1989". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[39] "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 14th, 1990". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[40] "AFC Championship - Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills - January 20th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[41] "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills - January 12th, 1992". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[42] "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins - January 17th, 1993". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[43] "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 23rd, 1994". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[44] "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 15th, 1995". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[45] "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 14th, 1996". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[46] "AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 12th, 1997". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[47] "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 11th, 1998". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[48] "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1999". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[49] "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 23rd, 2000". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[50] "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders - January 14th, 2001". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[52] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 27th, 2002". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[53] "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Oakland Raiders - January 19th, 2003". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[54] "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2004". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[55] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2005". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[57] "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 22nd, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[58] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts - January 21st, 2007". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[59] "AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2008". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[60] "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 18th, 2009". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[61] "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - January 24th, 2010". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[62] "AFC Championship - New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[63] "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[64] "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[65] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[66] "AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[67] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 24th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[68] "AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[69] "AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 21st, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[70] "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs - January 20th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[71] "AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs - January 19th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[72] "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[73] "AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 30th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[74] "AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 29th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[75] "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens - January 28th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.

[93] "Ratings - "The NFL on CBS" Scores with Second Highest Rating for AFC Championship Game in 27 Years". TheFutonCritic.com. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

[94] "Ratings - CBS Sports' Coverage of the Afc Championship (Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos) Attracts 39 Million Viewers - the Number One Broadcast on Any Network This Season". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

[95] "Ratings - CBS Wins the Week with the Best Viewer Delivery by Any Network This Season and Best by Any Network in Nearly a Year". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

[96] "AFC Champ Highest rated telecast of 2008-09 TV season". 20 January 2009.

[97] "NFL passes new records in TV ratings". USA Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

[98] "NFL Ratings Spike: 48.7 Million Watch AFC Title Game, NFC Game Draws 57.6 Mil". Deadline Hollywood. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

[99] "AFC Championship Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

[100] "Astonishing Chart Shows How The NFL Dominates TV Ratings". Business Insider. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

[101] "CBS Sports Earns Second Highest Viewer Average for AFC Championship Game in 32 Years - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2022.

[102] Patten, Dominic (19 January 2015). "AFC Championship Game Ratings Stumble For CBS, 'Revenge' Rises". Deadline Hollywood.

[103] Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2016). "AFC Title Game Ratings Score For CBS With 53.3 Million Viewers". Deadline Hollywood.

[104] "NFL Conference Championships Overnight TV Ratings 2006-2016". sportstvratings.com. 23 January 2017.

[bostonglobe.com-105] "Without the Patriots, TV ratings for AFC championship game reportedly take a dip - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.

[106] "TV Ratings: NFL Conference Championships Grow". HollywoodReporter.com. 26 January 2021.

[107] "TV Ratings: NFL Conference Championships Hit Multi-Year Highs". HollywoodReporter.com. February 2022.

[108] "Local Bengals-Chiefs TV ratings top 2022 Super Bowl". WVXU. 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-02-15.

[:9-109] Lewis, Jon (2024-01-30). "Over 55 million for Chiefs-Ravens AFC title game". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2024-01-30.

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[26]

[27]

[28]

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[fn 4]

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[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

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[fn 5]

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[fn 6]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Semifinal championship football game in the NFL}}
+{{Short description|Semifinal championship football game in the NFL}}
-{{About|the game played annually since the 1970 season|its predecessor|AFL championship}}
+{{About|the game played annually since the 1970 season|its predecessor|American Football League playoffs{{!}}AFL Championship Game}}
-{{distinguish|AFC Champions League}}
+{{Distinguish|AFC Champions League Elite}}
+{{pp|small=yes}}
-<noinclude>{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=AFC championship game|2=Talk:ACC Championship Game#Requested move 28 April 2024}}
-</noinclude>{{pp|small=yes}}
 {{NFL event
 | title = AFC Championship Game
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 | season2023 = [[M&T Bank Stadium]]<br />[[Baltimore, Maryland]]<br />January 28, 2024<br />[[2023 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] 17,<br />[[2023 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] 10
 }}
-The '''AFC Championship Game''' is the annual championship game of the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) and one of the two semifinal [[National Football League playoffs|playoff]] games of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), the largest professional [[American football]] league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the AFC postseason's first two rounds. The [[List of AFC Champions|AFC champion]] then advances to face the winner of the [[NFC Championship Game]] in the [[Super Bowl]].
-The game was established as part of the [[AFL–NFL merger|1970 merger]] between the NFL and the [[American Football League]] (AFL), with the merged league realigning into two [[Athletic conference|conferences]]. Since 1984,<ref name=WBZ/> each winner of the AFC Championship Game has also received the '''Lamar Hunt Trophy''', named after the founder of both the AFL and the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[Lamar Hunt]].
+The '''AFC Championship Game''' is the annual championship game of the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) and one of the two semifinal [[NFL playoffs|playoff]] games of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), the largest professional [[American football]] league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the AFC postseason's first two rounds. The [[list of AFC champions|AFC champion]] then advances to face the winner of the [[NFC Championship Game]] in the [[Super Bowl]].
+The game was established as part of the [[AFL–NFL merger|1970 merger]] between the NFL and the [[American Football League]] (AFL), with the merged league realigning into two [[Athletic conference|conferences]]. Since 1984,<ref name=WBZ/> each winner of the AFC Championship Game has also received the '''Lamar Hunt Trophy''', named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[Lamar Hunt]].
 ==History==
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 [[File:Lamar Hunt Trophy - AFC Championship.jpg|thumb|The redesigned Lamar Hunt Trophy, awarded since 2010–11 season]]
-The structure of the [[NFL playoffs]] has changed several times since 1970. At the end of each [[National Football League regular season|regular season]], the top teams in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] qualify for the postseason, including all division champions (three division winners from the [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970–71]] to [[2001–02 NFL playoffs|2001–02]] seasons; four since the [[2002–03 NFL playoffs|2002–03 season]]) and a set number of "[[NFL Wild card|wild card]]" teams that possess the two best win–loss records after the regular season yet fail to win their division (one wild card team from the 1970–71 to [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977–78]] seasons; two wild cards from [[1978–79 NFL playoffs|1978–79]] to [[1989–90 NFL playoffs|1989–90]], and from 2002–03 to [[2019–20 NFL playoffs|2019–20]]; three from [[1990–91 NFL playoffs|1990–91]] to 2001–02, and since [[2020–21 NFL playoffs|2020–21]]). The two teams remaining following the wild-card round (first round) and the divisional round (second round) play in the AFC Championship Game, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.
+The structure of the [[NFL playoffs]] has changed several times since 1970. At the end of each [[National Football League regular season|regular season]], the top teams in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] qualify for the postseason, including all division champions (three division winners from the [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970–71]] to [[2001–02 NFL playoffs|2001–02]] seasons; four since the [[2002–03 NFL playoffs|2002–03 season]]) and a set number of "[[NFL Wild card|wild card]]" teams that possess the best win–loss records after the regular season yet fail to win their division (one wild card team from the 1970–71 to [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977–78]] seasons; two wild cards from [[1978–79 NFL playoffs|1978–79]] to [[1989–90 NFL playoffs|1989–90]], and from 2002–03 to [[2019–20 NFL playoffs|2019–20]]; three from [[1990–91 NFL playoffs|1990–91]] to 2001–02, and since [[2020–21 NFL playoffs|2020–21]]). The two teams remaining following the wild-card round (first round) and the divisional round (second round) play in the AFC Championship Game, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.
 Initially, the site of the AFC Championship Game was determined on a rotating basis. Since the [[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975–76 season]], the site of the game has been based on playoff seeding based on the regular season won-loss record, with the highest surviving seed hosting the game. A wild card team can only host the game if both participants are wild cards; such an instance has yet to occur in the NFL.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Palmer |first1=Pete |last2=Pullis |first2=Ken |last3=Lahman |first3=Sean |last4=Maher |first4=Tod |last5=Silverman |first5=Matthew |last6=Gillette |first6=Gary |title=The ESPN pro football encyclopedia |year=2007 |publisher=Sterling Pub. Co |isbn=9781402752506 |page=1207 |edition=2nd}}</ref>
@@ Line 39: / Line 40: @@
 }}
-Beginning with the [[1984–85 NFL playoffs]],<ref name=WBZ>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/01/18/patriots-blog-afc-championship-trophy-in-the-house/ | title=Patriots Blog: AFC Championship Trophy In The House | publisher=WBZ-TV | date=January 18, 2012| access-date=August 16, 2014 | quote=The Lamar Hunt Trophy, given to the winners of the AFC Championship since 1984}}</ref> the winner of the AFC Championship Game has received the [[Lamar Hunt]] Trophy, named after the founder of the AFL. The original trophy consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted AFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back.
+Beginning with the [[1984–85 NFL playoffs]],<ref name=WBZ>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/01/18/patriots-blog-afc-championship-trophy-in-the-house/ | title=Patriots Blog: AFC Championship Trophy In The House | publisher=WBZ-TV | date=January 18, 2012| access-date=August 16, 2014 | quote=The Lamar Hunt Trophy, given to the winners of the AFC Championship since 1984}}</ref> the winner of the AFC Championship Game has received the [[Lamar Hunt]] Trophy, named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of the [[Kansas City Chiefs]].  The original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted AFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back.
-For the [[2010–11 NFL playoffs]], the Lamar Hunt Trophy and the [[George Halas]] Trophy, which is awarded to the NFC Champion, were redesigned by [[Tiffany & Co.]] at the request of the NFL, in an attempt to make both awards more significant.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/3411365-418/trophy-halas-lombardi-nfl-silver.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=NFC's Halas trophy has new look}}</ref> The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a small base to more closely resemble the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]], which is awarded to the winner of the [[Super Bowl]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2011-01-25-nfl-replay-steelers_N.htm |work=[[USA Today]] | first=Jarrett | last=Bell | title=NFL Replay: Gritty Steelers aren't pretty, but they are Super | date=January 25, 2011}}</ref>
+For the [[2010–11 NFL playoffs]], the Lamar Hunt Trophy and the [[NFC Championship Game#George Halas Trophy|George Halas Trophy]], which is awarded to the NFC Champion, were redesigned by [[Tiffany & Co.]] at the request of the NFL in an attempt to make both awards more significant.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/3411365-418/trophy-halas-lombardi-nfl-silver.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=NFC's Halas trophy has new look}}</ref> The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a small base to more closely resemble the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]], which is awarded to the winner of the [[Super Bowl]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2011-01-25-nfl-replay-steelers_N.htm |work=[[USA Today]] | first=Jarrett | last=Bell | title=NFL Replay: Gritty Steelers aren't pretty, but they are Super | date=January 25, 2011}}</ref>
 In recent years [[Super Bowl ring|Conference championship rings]] are also awarded to members of the team who wins the AFC or NFC championship since they are the winners of the conference, even though they may not necessarily follow it up with a win in the Super Bowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/article/first-look-at-the-atlanta-falcons-nfc-championship-rings-53145915/ |title=First look at the Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship rings |publisher=247sports.com |access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Brandin-Cooks-thanks-New-England-Patriots-for-AFC-Championship-ring-119084704/ |title=Brandin Cooks thanks Patriots for AFC Championship ring |publisher=247sports.com |access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref>
@@ Line 53: / Line 54: @@
 {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
 |-
-! Season !! Playoffs !! Winning team !! Score!! Losing team !! Score !! Location!!Stadium
+! Season !! Playoffs !! Winning team !! Score!! Losing team !! Score !! Date !! Location!! Stadium
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1970}} || align=center|[[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970–71]] || '''[[1970 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]''' (1) ||27|| [[1970 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||17|| [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]]<ref group="fn" name="Baltimore">Baltimore has hosted 2 total AFC Championship Games: 1 Colts home game and 1 Ravens home game.</ref>  || [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1970}} || align=center|[[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970–71]] || '''[[1970 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]''' (1) ||27|| [[1970 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||17|| [[1970 AFC Championship Game|January 3, 1971]] ||[[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]]<ref group="fn" name="Baltimore">Baltimore has hosted 2 total AFC Championship Games: 1 Colts home game and 1 Ravens home game.</ref>  || [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197101030clt.htm|title=Championship - Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Colts - January 3rd, 1971|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1971}} || align=center|[[1971–72 NFL playoffs|1971–72]] || [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (1) ||21|| [[1971 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] ||0|| [[Miami|Miami, Florida]]<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami">The [[Miami Orange Bowl]] was in Miami proper. Joe Robbie Stadium, now [[Hard Rock Stadium]], opened in 1987 in an unincorporated area with a Miami address; the area was then incorporated as [[Miami Gardens, Florida|Miami Gardens]] in 2003.</ref> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1971}} || align=center|[[1971–72 NFL playoffs|1971–72]] || [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (1) ||21|| [[1971 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] ||0|| January 2, 1972 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]]<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami">The [[Miami Orange Bowl]] was in Miami proper. Joe Robbie Stadium, now [[Hard Rock Stadium]], opened in 1987 in an unincorporated area with a Miami address; the area was then incorporated as [[Miami Gardens, Florida|Miami Gardens]] in 2003.</ref> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197201020mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - Baltimore Colts at Miami Dolphins - January 2nd, 1972|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1972}} || align=center|[[1972–73 NFL playoffs|1972–73]] || '''[[1972 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' (2) ||21|| [[1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||17|| [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] || [[Three Rivers Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1972}} || align=center|[[1972–73 NFL playoffs|1972–73]] || '''[[1972 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' (2) ||21|| [[1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||17|| December 31, 1972 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] || [[Three Rivers Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197212310pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 31st, 1972|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1973}} || align=center|[[1973–74 NFL playoffs|1973–74]] || '''[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' (3) ||27|| [[1973 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||10|| Miami, Florida (2)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || Miami Orange Bowl (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1973}} || align=center|[[1973–74 NFL playoffs|1973–74]] || '''[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' (3) ||27|| [[1973 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||10|| December 30, 1973 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]] (2)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197312300mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins - December 30th, 1973|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1974}} || align=center|[[1974–75 NFL playoffs|1974–75]] || '''[[1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (1) ||24|| [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||13|| [[Oakland, California]] || [[Oakland Coliseum]]<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum">The Oakland Coliseum was also known as Network Associates Coliseum.</ref>
+|align=center| {{nfly|1974}} || align=center|[[1974–75 NFL playoffs|1974–75]] || '''[[1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (1) ||24|| [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||13|| December 29, 1974 ||[[Oakland, California]] || [[Oakland Coliseum]]<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum">The Oakland Coliseum was also known as Network Associates Coliseum.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412290rai.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 29th, 1974|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1975}} || align=center|[[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975–76]] || '''[[1975 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (2) ||16|| [[1975 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||10|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2) || Three Rivers Stadium (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1975}} || align=center|[[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975–76]] || '''[[1975 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (2) ||16|| [[1975 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||10|| [[1975 AFC Championship Game|January 4, 1976]] ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (2) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197601040pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 4th, 1976|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1976}} || align=center|[[1976–77 NFL playoffs|1976–77]]|| '''[[1976 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' (1) ||24|| [[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||7|| Oakland, California (2) || Oakland Coliseum (2)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/>
+|align=center| {{nfly|1976}} || align=center|[[1976–77 NFL playoffs|1976–77]]|| '''[[1976 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' (1) ||24|| [[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||7|| December 26, 1976 ||[[Oakland, California]] (2) || [[Oakland Coliseum]] (2)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612260rai.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 26th, 1976|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1977}} || align=center|[[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977–78]] || [[1977 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (1) ||20|| [[1977 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||17|| [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] || [[Mile High Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1977}} || align=center|[[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977–78]] || [[1977 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (1) ||20|| [[1977 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||17|| January 1, 1978 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] || [[Mile High Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197801010den.htm|title=AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos - January 1st, 1978|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1978}} || align=center|[[1978–79 NFL playoffs|1978–79]] || '''[[1978 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (3) ||34|| [[1978 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] ||5|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (3) || Three Rivers Stadium (3)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1978}} || align=center|[[1978–79 NFL playoffs|1978–79]] || '''[[1978 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (3) ||34|| [[1978 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] ||5|| January 7, 1979 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (3) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197901070pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 7th, 1979|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1979}} || align=center|[[1979–80 NFL playoffs|1979–80]] || '''[[1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (4) ||27|| [[1979 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] ||13|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (4) || Three Rivers Stadium (4)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1979}} || align=center|[[1979–80 NFL playoffs|1979–80]] || '''[[1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (4) ||27|| [[1979 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] ||13|| January 6, 1980 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (4) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198001060pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 6th, 1980|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1980}} || align=center|[[1980–81 NFL playoffs|1980–81]] || '''[[1980 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' (2) ||34|| [[1980 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] ||27|| [[San Diego|San Diego, California]] || [[SDCCU Stadium|Jack Murphy Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1980}} || align=center|[[1980–81 NFL playoffs|1980–81]] || '''[[1980 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' (2) ||34|| [[1980 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] ||27|| January 11, 1981 ||[[San Diego|San Diego, California]] || [[SDCCU Stadium|Jack Murphy Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198101110sdg.htm|title=AFC Championship - Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers - January 11th, 1981|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1981}} || align=center|[[1981–82 NFL playoffs|1981–82]] || [[1981 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (1) || 27 || [[1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] || 7 || [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]] || [[Riverfront Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1981}} || align=center|[[1981–82 NFL playoffs|1981–82]] || [[1981 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (1) || 27 || [[1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] || 7 || [[Freezer Bowl|January 10, 1982]] ||[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]] || [[Riverfront Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201100cin.htm|title=AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals - January 10th, 1982|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1982}} || align=center|[[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982–83]] || [[1982 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (4) ||14|| [[1982 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] ||0|| Miami, Florida (3)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || Miami Orange Bowl (3)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1982}} || align=center|[[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982–83]] || [[1982 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (4) ||14|| [[1982 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] ||0|| January 23, 1983 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]] (3)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301230mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - New York Jets at Miami Dolphins - January 23rd, 1983|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1983}} || align=center|[[1983–84 NFL playoffs|1983–84]] || '''[[1983 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]]''' (3) ||30|| [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] ||14|| [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]] || [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1983}} || align=center|[[1983–84 NFL playoffs|1983–84]] || '''[[1983 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]]''' (3) ||30|| [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] ||14|| January 8, 1984 ||[[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]] || [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198401080rai.htm|title=AFC Championship - Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Raiders - January 8th, 1984|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1984}} || align=center|[[1984–85 NFL playoffs|1984–85]] || [[1984 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (5) ||45|| [[1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||28|| Miami, Florida (4)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || Miami Orange Bowl (4)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1984}} || align=center|[[1984–85 NFL playoffs|1984–85]] || [[1984 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (5) ||45|| [[1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||28|| January 6, 1985 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]] (4)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]] (4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501060mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins - January 6th, 1985|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1985}} || align=center|[[1985–86 NFL playoffs|1985–86]] || [[1985 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (1) ||31|| [[1985 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] ||14|| Miami, Florida (5)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || Miami Orange Bowl (5)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1985}} || align=center|[[1985–86 NFL playoffs|1985–86]] || [[1985 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (1) ||31|| [[1985 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] ||14|| January 12, 1986 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]] (5)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Miami Orange Bowl]] (5)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601120mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - January 12th, 1986|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1986}} || align=center|[[1986–87 NFL playoffs|1986–87]] || [[1986 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (2) ||23<ref group="fn" name="OT">Overtime</ref>|| [[1986 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||20|| [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]] || [[Cleveland Stadium|Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1986}} || align=center|[[1986–87 NFL playoffs|1986–87]] || [[1986 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (2) ||23<ref group="fn" name="OT">Overtime</ref>|| [[1986 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||20|| [[The Drive (American football)|January 11, 1987]] ||[[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]] || [[Cleveland Stadium|Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198701110cle.htm|title=AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns - January 11th, 1987|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|1987}} || align=center|[[1987–88 NFL playoffs|1987–88]] || [[1987 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (3) ||38|| [[1987 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||33|| Denver, Colorado (2) || Mile High Stadium (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1987}} || align=center|[[1987–88 NFL playoffs|1987–88]] || [[1987 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (3) ||38|| [[1987 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||33|| [[The Fumble|January 17, 1988]] ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (2) || [[Mile High Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801170den.htm|title=AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1988|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1988}} || align=center|[[1988–89 NFL playoffs|1988–89]] || [[1988 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (2) ||21|| [[1988 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] ||10|| Cincinnati, Ohio (2) || Riverfront Stadium (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1988}} || align=center|[[1988–89 NFL playoffs|1988–89]] || [[1988 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (2) ||21|| [[1988 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] ||10|| January 8, 1989 ||[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]] (2) || [[Riverfront Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901080cin.htm|title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals - January 8th, 1989|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1989}} || align=center|[[1989–90 NFL playoffs|1989–90]] || [[1989 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (4) ||37|| [[1989 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||21|| Denver, Colorado (3) || Mile High Stadium (3)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1989}} || align=center|[[1989–90 NFL playoffs|1989–90]] || [[1989 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (4) ||37|| [[1989 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] ||21|| January 14, 1990 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (3) || [[Mile High Stadium]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001140den.htm|title=AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 14th, 1990|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1990}} || align=center|[[1990–91 NFL playoffs|1990–91]] || [[1990 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (1) ||51|| [[1990 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]] ||3|| [[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park, New York]] || [[New Era Field|Rich Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1990}} || align=center|[[1990–91 NFL playoffs|1990–91]] || [[1990 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (1) ||51|| [[1990 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]] ||3|| January 20, 1991 ||[[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park, New York]] || [[New Era Field|Rich Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199101200buf.htm|title=AFC Championship - Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills - January 20th, 1991|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1991}} || align=center|[[1991–92 NFL playoffs|1991–92]] || [[1991 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (2) ||10|| [[1991 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] ||7|| Orchard Park, New York (2) || Rich Stadium (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1991}} || align=center|[[1991–92 NFL playoffs|1991–92]] || [[1991 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (2) ||10|| [[1991 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] ||7|| January 12, 1992 ||[[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park, New York]] (2) || [[New Era Field|Rich Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201120buf.htm|title=AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills - January 12th, 1992|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1992}} || align=center|[[1992–93 NFL playoffs|1992–93]] || [[1992 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (3) ||29|| [[1992 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] ||10|| Miami, Florida (6)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1992}} || align=center|[[1992–93 NFL playoffs|1992–93]] || [[1992 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (3) ||29|| [[1992 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] ||10|| January 17, 1993 ||[[Miami|Miami, Florida]] (6)<ref group="fn" name="Greater Miami"/> || [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301170mia.htm|title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins - January 17th, 1993|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1993}} || align=center|[[1993–94 NFL playoffs|1993–94]] || [[1993 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (4) ||30|| [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] ||13|| Orchard Park, New York (3) || Rich Stadium (3)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1993}} || align=center|[[1993–94 NFL playoffs|1993–94]] || [[1993 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (4) ||30|| [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] ||13|| January 23, 1994 ||[[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park, New York]] (3) || [[New Era Field|Rich Stadium]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401230buf.htm|title=AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 23rd, 1994|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1994}} || align=center|[[1994–95 NFL playoffs|1994–95]] || [[1994 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] (1) ||17|| [[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||13|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (5) || Three Rivers Stadium (5)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1994}} || align=center|[[1994–95 NFL playoffs|1994–95]] || [[1994 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] (1) ||17|| [[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||13|| January 15, 1995 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (5) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (5)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199501150pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 15th, 1995|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1995}} || align=center|[[1995–96 NFL playoffs|1995–96]]|| [[1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] (5) ||20|| [[1995 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||16|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (6) || Three Rivers Stadium (6)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1995}} || align=center|[[1995–96 NFL playoffs|1995–96]]|| [[1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] (5) ||20|| [[1995 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||16|| [[1995 AFC Championship Game|January 14, 1996]] ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (6) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (6)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football=reference.com/boxscores/199601140pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 14th, 1996|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1996}} || align=center|[[1996–97 NFL playoffs|1996–97]] || [[1996 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (2) ||20|| [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] ||6|| [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] || [[Foxboro Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1996}} || align=center|[[1996–97 NFL playoffs|1996–97]] || [[1996 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (2) ||20|| [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] ||6|| January 12, 1997 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] || [[Foxboro Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701120nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 12th, 1997|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1997}} || align=center|[[1997–98 NFL playoffs|1997–98]] || '''[[1997 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (5) ||24|| [[1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||21|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (7) || Three Rivers Stadium (7)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1997}} || align=center|[[1997–98 NFL playoffs|1997–98]] || '''[[1997 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (5) ||24|| [[1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||21|| January 11, 1998 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (7) || [[Three Rivers Stadium]] (7)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 11th, 1998|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1998}} || align=center|[[1998–99 NFL playoffs|1998–99]]|| '''[[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (6) ||23|| [[1998 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] ||10|| Denver, Colorado (4) || Mile High Stadium (4)
+|align=center| {{nfly|1998}} || align=center|[[1998–99 NFL playoffs|1998–99]]|| '''[[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (6) ||23|| [[1998 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] ||10|| January 17, 1999 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (4) || [[Mile High Stadium]] (4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901170den.htm|title=AFC Championship - New York Jets at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1999|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|1999}} || align=center|[[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999–00]] || [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] (1) ||33|| [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] ||14|| [[Jacksonville, Florida]] || [[TIAA Bank Field|Alltel Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|1999}} || align=center|[[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999–00]] || [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] (1) ||33|| [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] ||14|| January 23, 2000 ||[[Jacksonville, Florida]] || [[TIAA Bank Field|Alltel Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001230jax.htm|title=AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 23rd, 2000|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2000}} || align=center|[[2000–01 NFL playoffs|2000–01]] || '''[[2000 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' (1) ||16|| [[2000 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||3|| Oakland, California (3) || Oakland Coliseum (3)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/>
+|align=center| {{nfly|2000}} || align=center|[[2000–01 NFL playoffs|2000–01]] || '''[[2000 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' (1) ||16|| [[2000 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] ||3|| January 14, 2001 ||[[Oakland, California]] (3) || [[Oakland Coliseum]] (3)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200101140rai.htm|title=AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders - January 14th, 2001|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2001}} || align=center|[[2001–02 NFL playoffs|2001–02]] || '''[[2001 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (3) ||24||[[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||17|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (8) ||[[Heinz Field]]<ref group="fn" name="Acrisue Stadium">Acrisure Stadium was previously known as Heinz Field</ref>
+|align=center| {{nfly|2001}} || align=center|[[2001–02 NFL playoffs|2001–02]] || '''[[2001 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (3) ||24||[[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||17|| January 27, 2002 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (8) ||[[Heinz Field]]<ref group="fn" name="Acrisue Stadium">Acrisure Stadium was previously known as Heinz Field</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201270pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 27th, 2002|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2002}} || align=center|[[2002–03 NFL playoffs|2002–03]] || [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] (4) ||41|| [[2002 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] ||24|| Oakland, California (4) || [[Oakland Coliseum|Network Associates Coliseum]] (4)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/>
+|align=center| {{nfly|2002}} || align=center|[[2002–03 NFL playoffs|2002–03]] || [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] (4) ||41|| [[2002 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] ||24|| January 19, 2003 ||[[Oakland, California]] (4) || [[Oakland Coliseum|Network Associates Coliseum]] (4)<ref group="fn" name="Oak Coliseum"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200301190rai.htm|title=AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Oakland Raiders - January 19th, 2003|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2003}} || align=center|[[2003–04 NFL playoffs|2003–04]] || '''[[2003 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (4) ||24|| [[2003 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||14|| Foxborough, Massachusetts (2) || [[Gillette Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|2003}} || align=center|[[2003–04 NFL playoffs|2003–04]] || '''[[2003 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (4) ||24|| [[2003 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||14|| January 18, 2004 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (2) || [[Gillette Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200401180nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2004|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2004}} || align=center|[[2004–05 NFL playoffs|2004–05]] || '''[[2004 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (5) ||41|| [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||27|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (9) || Heinz Field (2)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" />
+|align=center| {{nfly|2004}} || align=center|[[2004–05 NFL playoffs|2004–05]] || '''[[2004 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (5) ||41|| [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] ||27|| January 23, 2005 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (9) || [[Heinz Field]] (2)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200501230pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2005|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2005}} || align=center|[[2005–06 NFL playoffs|2005–06]] || '''[[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (6) ||34|| [[2005 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] ||17|| Denver, Colorado (5) || [[Empower Field at Mile High|Invesco Field at Mile High]]<ref group="fn" name="Empower">[[Empower Field at Mile High]] was also known as Invesco Field at Mile High, then Sports Authority Field at Mile High.</ref>
+|align=center| {{nfly|2005}} || align=center|[[2005–06 NFL playoffs|2005–06]] || '''[[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (6) ||34|| [[2005 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] ||17|| January 22, 2006 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (5) || [[Empower Field at Mile High|Invesco Field at Mile High]]<ref group="fn" name="Empower">[[Empower Field at Mile High]] was also known as Invesco Field at Mile High, then Sports Authority Field at Mile High.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220den.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 22nd, 2006|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2006}} || align=center|[[2006–07 NFL playoffs|2006–07]] || '''[[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]''' (2) ||38|| [[2006 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] ||34|| [[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]] || [[RCA Dome]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|2006}} || align=center|[[2006–07 NFL playoffs|2006–07]] || '''[[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]''' (2) ||38|| [[2006 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] ||34|| January 21, 2007 ||[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]] || [[RCA Dome]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701210clt.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts - January 21st, 2007|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2007}} || align=center|[[2007–08 NFL playoffs|2007–08]] || [[2007 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (6) ||21|| [[2007 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] ||12|| Foxborough, Massachusetts (3) || Gillette Stadium (2)
+|align=center| {{nfly|2007}} || align=center|[[2007–08 NFL playoffs|2007–08]] || [[2007 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (6) ||21|| [[2007 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] ||12|| January 20, 2008 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (3) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200801200nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2008|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2008}} || align=center|[[2008–09 NFL playoffs|2008–09]] || '''[[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (7) ||23|| [[2008 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] ||14|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10) || Heinz Field (3)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" />
+|align=center| {{nfly|2008}} || align=center|[[2008–09 NFL playoffs|2008–09]] || '''[[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' (7) ||23|| [[2008 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] ||14|| January 18, 2009 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (10) || [[Heinz Field]] (3)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200901180pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 18th, 2009|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2009}} || align=center|[[2009–10 NFL playoffs|2009–10]] || [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] (3) ||30|| [[2009 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]||17|| Indianapolis, Indiana (2) || [[Lucas Oil Stadium]]
+|align=center| {{nfly|2009}} || align=center|[[2009–10 NFL playoffs|2009–10]] || [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] (3) ||30|| [[2009 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]||17|| January 24, 2010 ||[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]] (2) || [[Lucas Oil Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001240clt.htm|title=AFC Championship - New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - January 24th, 2010|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2010}} || align=center|[[2010–11 NFL playoffs|2010–11]] || [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] (8) ||24|| [[2010 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]  ||19|| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (11) || Heinz Field (4)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" />
+|align=center| {{nfly|2010}} || align=center|[[2010–11 NFL playoffs|2010–11]] || [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] (8) ||24|| [[2010 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]  ||19|| January 23, 2011 ||[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] (11) || [[Heinz Field]] (4)<ref name="Acrisue Stadium" group="fn" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101230pit.htm|title=AFC Championship - New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2011|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-|align=center| {{nfly|2011}} || align=center|[[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011–12]] || [[2011 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (7) ||23|| [[2011 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]  ||20|| Foxborough, Massachusetts (4) || Gillette Stadium (3)
+|align=center| {{nfly|2011}} || align=center|[[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011–12]] || [[2011 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (7) ||23|| [[2011 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]  ||20|| January 22, 2012 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (4) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201201220nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2012|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-|align=center| {{nfly|2012}} || align=center|[[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012–13]] || '''[[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' (2) ||28|| [[2012 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] ||13|| Foxborough, Massachusetts (5) || Gillette Stadium (4)
+|align=center| {{nfly|2012}} || align=center|[[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012–13]] || '''[[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' (2) ||28|| [[2012 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] ||13|| January 20, 2013 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (5) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201301200nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2013|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-| align=center| {{nfly|2013}} || align=center|[[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013–14]] ||  [[2013 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (7) ||26|| [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]  ||16||  Denver, Colorado (6) || [[Empower Field at Mile High|Sports Authority Field at Mile High]] (2)<ref group="fn" name="Empower"/>
+| align=center| {{nfly|2013}} || align=center|[[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013–14]] ||  [[2013 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] (7) ||26|| [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]  ||16|| January 19, 2014 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (6) || [[Empower Field at Mile High|Sports Authority Field at Mile High]] (2)<ref group="fn" name="Empower"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201401190den.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-| align=center| {{nfly|2014}} || align=center|[[2014–15 NFL playoffs|2014–15]] ||  '''[[2014 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (8) ||45 || [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||7|| Foxborough, Massachusetts (6) || Gillette Stadium (5)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2014}} || align=center|[[2014–15 NFL playoffs|2014–15]] ||  '''[[2014 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (8) ||45 || [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] ||7|| [[Deflategate|January 18, 2015]] ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (6) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (5)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501180nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2015|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-| align=center| {{nfly|2015}} || align=center|[[2015–16 NFL playoffs|2015–16]] || '''[[2015 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (8) || 20 || [[2015 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 18 || Denver, Colorado (7) || Sports Authority Field at Mile High (3)<ref group="fn" name="Empower"/>
+| align=center| {{nfly|2015}} || align=center|[[2015–16 NFL playoffs|2015–16]] || '''[[2015 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' (8) || 20 || [[2015 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 18 || January 24, 2016 ||[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] (7) || [[Empower Field at Mile High|Sports Authority Field at Mile High]] (3)<ref group="fn" name="Empower"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201601240den.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 24th, 2016|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-| align=center| {{nfly|2016}} || align=center|[[2016–17 NFL playoffs|2016–17]] || '''[[2016 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (9) || 36 || [[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 17 || Foxborough, Massachusetts (7) || Gillette Stadium (6)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2016}} || align=center|[[2016–17 NFL playoffs|2016–17]] || '''[[2016 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (9) || 36 || [[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 17 || January 22, 2017 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (7) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (6)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201701220nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2017|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-| align=center| {{nfly|2017}} || align=center|[[2017–18 NFL playoffs|2017–18]] || [[2017 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (10) || 24 || [[2017 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] || 20 || Foxborough, Massachusetts (8) || Gillette Stadium (7)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2017}} || align=center|[[2017–18 NFL playoffs|2017–18]] || [[2017 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] (10) || 24 || [[2017 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] || 20 || January 21, 2018 ||[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] (8) || [[Gillette Stadium]] (7)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201801210nwe.htm|title=AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 21st, 2018|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-| align=center| {{nfly|2018}} || align=center|[[2018–19 NFL playoffs|2018–19]] || '''[[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (11) || 37<ref group="fn" name="OT"/> || [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 31 || [[Kansas City, Missouri]] || [[Arrowhead Stadium]]
+| align=center| {{nfly|2018}} || align=center|[[2018–19 NFL playoffs|2018–19]] || '''[[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' (11) || 37<ref group="fn" name="OT"/> || [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 31 || January 20, 2019 ||[[Kansas City, Missouri]] || [[Arrowhead Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201901200kan.htm|title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs - January 20th, 2019|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
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-| align=center| {{nfly|2019}} || align=center|[[2019–20 NFL playoffs|2019–20]] || '''[[2019 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (1) || 35 || [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] || 24 || Kansas City, Missouri (2) || Arrowhead Stadium (2)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2019}} || align=center|[[2019–20 NFL playoffs|2019–20]] || '''[[2019 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (1) || 35 || [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] || 24 || January 19, 2020 ||[[Kansas City, Missouri]] (2) || [[Arrowhead Stadium]] (2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202001190kan.htm|title=AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs - January 19th, 2020|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-| align=center| {{nfly|2020}} || align=center|[[2020–21 NFL playoffs|2020–21]] || [[2020 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] (2) || 38 || [[2020 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 24 || Kansas City, Missouri (3) || Arrowhead Stadium (3)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2020}} || align=center|[[2020–21 NFL playoffs|2020–21]] || [[2020 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] (2) || 38 || [[2020 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 24 || January 24, 2021 ||[[Kansas City, Missouri]] (3) || [[Arrowhead Stadium]] (3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101240kan.htm|title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-| align=center| {{nfly|2021}} || align=center|[[2021–22 NFL playoffs|2021–22]] || [[2021 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (3) || 27<ref group="fn" name="OT"/> || [[2021 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 24 || Kansas City, Missouri (4) || Arrowhead Stadium (4)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2021}} || align=center|[[2021–22 NFL playoffs|2021–22]] || [[2021 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] (3) || 27<ref group="fn" name="OT"/> || [[2021 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 24 || January 30, 2022 ||[[Kansas City, Missouri]] (4) || [[Arrowhead Stadium]] (4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202201300kan.htm|title=AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 30th, 2022|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
-| align=center| {{nfly|2022}} || align=center|[[2022–23 NFL playoffs|2022–23]] || '''[[2022 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (3)|| 23 || [[2022 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] || 20 || Kansas City, Missouri (5) || Arrowhead Stadium (5)
+| align=center| {{nfly|2022}} || align=center|[[2022–23 NFL playoffs|2022–23]] || '''[[2022 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (3)|| 23 || [[2022 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] || 20 || January 29, 2023 ||[[Kansas City, Missouri]] (5) ||[[Arrowhead Stadium]] (5)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202301290kan.htm|title=AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - January 29th, 2023|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |-
 | align=center| {{nfly|2023}} || align=center| [[2023–24 NFL playoffs|2023–24]]
-| '''[[2023 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (4) || 17 || [[2023 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] || 10 || Baltimore, Maryland (2)<ref group="fn" name="Baltimore"/> || [[M&T Bank Stadium]]
+| '''[[2023 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' (4) || 17 || [[2023 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] || 10 || January 28, 2024 ||[[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]] (2)<ref group="fn" name="Baltimore"/> || [[M&T Bank Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202401280rav.htm|title=AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens - January 28th, 2024|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>
 |}
 ==Appearances, 1970–present==
@@ Line 170: / Line 170: @@
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
 |-
-! # !! Team !! W !! L !! Win % !! PF !! PA || Last game || Last win || Home games || Home wins || Home losses || Home Win % || Away games || Away wins || Away losses || Away Win %
+! # !! Team !! W !! L !! Win % !! PF !! PA || Last game || Last win || Home games || Home wins || Home losses || Home win % || Away games || Away wins || Away losses || Away win %
 |-
 | style="text-align:center;"|16||[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]|| style="text-align:center;"|8|| style="text-align:center;"|8||align="right"|{{winpct|8|8}}||align="right"| 332||align="right"| 303|| style="text-align:center;"|[[2016–17 NFL playoffs|2016]]|| style="text-align:center;"|[[2010–11 NFL playoffs|2010]]|| style="text-align:center;"|11|| style="text-align:center;"|6|| style="text-align:center;"|5||align="right"| {{winpct|6|5}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5|| style="text-align:center;"|2|| style="text-align:center;"|3||align="right"|{{winpct|2|3}}
@@ Line 203: / Line 203: @@
 |-
 | style="text-align:center;"|1||[[Seattle Seahawks]]<ref group="fn" name="SEA appearances"/> || style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|1||align="right"|{{winpct|0|1}}||align="right"| 14||align="right"| 30|| style="text-align:center;"|[[1983–84 NFL playoffs|1983]]|| style="text-align:center;"|N/A{{Cref|b}}|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|1||align="right"|{{winpct|0|1}}
-|-
-| style="text-align:center;"|0||[[Houston Texans]]<ref group="fn" name="Hou2002"/> || style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"|{{sort|-|—}}||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}|| style="text-align:center;"|N/A|| style="text-align:center;"|N/A|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}
-|-
-| style="text-align:center;"|0||[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]<ref group="fn" name="TB appearances"/> || style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"|{{sort|-|—}}||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}|| style="text-align:center;"|N/A|| style="text-align:center;"|N/A|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0|| style="text-align:center;"|0||align="right"| {{sort|-|—}}
 |}
@@ Line 339: / Line 335: @@
 | 22
-| 10<ref name="WestWins" group="fn">AFC West conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1976, 1977, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023. </ref>
+| 10<ref name="WestWins" group="fn">AFC West conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023. </ref>
-| 12<ref name="WestDefeats" group="fn">AFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021 </ref>
+| 12<ref name="WestDefeats" group="fn">AFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021 </ref>
 | .455
@@ Line 448: / Line 444: @@
 * '''Fewest combined points scored:''' 14; January 23, 1983 ([[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982]]) – [[Miami Dolphins]] (14) vs. [[New York Jets]] (0)
 * '''Current AFC teams which have never appeared in a Conference Championship Game:''' [[Houston Texans]]<ref group="fn" name="Hou2002"/>
-* '''Current AFC teams which have never hosted a Conference Championship Game:''' [[Houston Texans]],<ref group="fn" name="Hou2002"/> [[New York Jets]],<ref group="fn">The Jets last hosted the [[1968 American Football League Championship Game|1968 AFL Championship Game]] during the pre-Super Bowl era.</ref> [[Tennessee Titans]]<ref group="fn">The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise last hosted the [[1962 American Football League Championship Game|1962 AFL Championship Game]].</ref>
+* '''Current AFC teams which have never hosted a Conference Championship Game:''' [[Houston Texans]],<ref group="fn" name="Hou2002"/> [[New York Jets]],<ref group="fn">The Jets last hosted the [[1968 American Football League Championship Game|1968 AFL Championship Game]] during the pre-AFL-NFL merger era.</ref> [[Tennessee Titans]]<ref group="fn">The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise last hosted the [[1962 American Football League Championship Game|1962 AFL Championship Game]].</ref>
 * '''Current AFC teams which have never won a Conference Championship:''' [[Cleveland Browns]] (0–3), [[Houston Texans]] (0–0), [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] (0–3) and [[New York Jets]] (0–4)
 * '''Longest drought without appearing in an AFC Championship Game:''' [[Cleveland Browns]] (last appearance – [[1989–90 NFL playoffs|1989]])
@@ Line 474: / Line 470: @@
 *2010: 42.3 million viewers
 *2011: 54.9 million viewers<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-02-02-nflratings02_ST_N.htm|title=NFL passes new records in TV ratings|work=[[USA Today]]|date=1 February 2011|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>
-*2012: 48.7 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/01/afc-championship-game-highest-rated-in-18-years-nfc-game-top-rated-in-17-years/|title=NFL Ratings Spike: 48.7 Million Watch AFC Title Game, NFC Game Draws 57.6 Mil|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=23 January 2012|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/tag/afc-championship-ratings/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219012425/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/tag/afc-championship-ratings/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2013|title=AFC Championship Ratings|website=TV by the Numbers|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>
+*2012: 48.7 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/01/afc-championship-game-highest-rated-in-18-years-nfc-game-top-rated-in-17-years-218971/|title=NFL Ratings Spike: 48.7 Million Watch AFC Title Game, NFC Game Draws 57.6 Mil|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=23 January 2012|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/tag/afc-championship-ratings/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219012425/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/tag/afc-championship-ratings/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2013|title=AFC Championship Ratings|website=TV by the Numbers|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>
 *2013: 47.7 million viewers<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/tv-has-just-one-thing-left-live-nfl-2013-12|title=Astonishing Chart Shows How The NFL Dominates TV Ratings|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=17 December 2013|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>
 *2014: 51.3 million viewers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/20/cbs-sports-earns-second-highest-viewer-average-for-afc-championship-game-in-32-years/230653/ |title=CBS Sports Earns Second Highest Viewer Average for AFC Championship Game in 32 Years - Ratings &#124; TVbytheNumbers |website=tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123040238/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/20/cbs-sports-earns-second-highest-viewer-average-for-afc-championship-game-in-32-years/230653/ |archive-date=23 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*2015: 42.1 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/afc-championship-ratings-patriots-colts-cbs-nfl-revenge-1201353194/|title=AFC Championship Game Ratings Stumble For CBS, 'Revenge' Rises|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=19 January 2015|website=deadline.com}}</ref>
+*2015: 42.1 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/afc-championship-ratings-patriots-colts-cbs-nfl-revenge-1201353194/|title=AFC Championship Game Ratings Stumble For CBS, 'Revenge' Rises|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=19 January 2015|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
-*2016: 53.3 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/afc-championship-game-ratings-broncos-patriots-cbs-1201689780/|title=AFC Title Game Ratings Score For CBS With 53.3 Million Viewers|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=25 January 2016|website=deadline.com}}</ref>
+*2016: 53.3 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/afc-championship-game-ratings-broncos-patriots-cbs-1201689780/|title=AFC Title Game Ratings Score For CBS With 53.3 Million Viewers|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=25 January 2016|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
 *2017: 41.2 million viewers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstvratings.com/nfl-conference-championships-overnight-tv-ratings-2006-2016/7365/|title=NFL Conference Championships Overnight TV Ratings 2006-2016|date=23 January 2017|website=sportstvratings.com}}</ref>
 *2018: 53.9 million viewers<ref name="bostonglobe.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2020/01/20/without-patriots-ratings-for-afc-championship-game-take-dip/wrAL3bzYoGHWiKJiF8rOPO/story.html|title = Without the Patriots, TV ratings for AFC championship game reportedly take a dip - the Boston Globe|website = [[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref>
@@ Line 497: / Line 493: @@
 {{NFL awards}}
 {{NFL}}
+{{American football in the United States}}
 [[Category:AFC Championship Games| ]]

v t e NFL playoffs
Overview	NFL playoff games NFL playoff results AFL Championship Game NFL Championship Game Playoff Bowl AFC Championship Game NFC Championship Game Super Bowl champions records Vince Lombardi Trophy Post-season streaks Post-season droughts Quarterback playoff records career passing touchdowns leaders Head coaches by playoff record
Playoff/conference tiebreaker games	1932 1941 1943 1947 1950 1952 1957 1958 1965
NFL playoff system	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
AFL	American Football League playoffs
Broadcasters	NFL Championship Game Playoff Bowl Super Bowl

v t e NFL awards and trophies
Team	Vince Lombardi Trophy Super Bowl Lamar Hunt Trophy AFC Championship George Halas Trophy NFC Championship
Individual	Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Assistant Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Walter Payton Man of the Year Alan Page Community Award Super Bowl MVP Pete Rozelle Trophy Super Bowl ring Sporting News NFL Player of the Year Award Art McNally Award Art Rooney Award Bart Starr Award Bert Bell Award Butkus Award Deacon Jones Award George Halas Award Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award
One-time only	50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1969) 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (1994) 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (2019) All-Decade Teams
Annual presentation	NFL Honors NFL Top 100
Awards organizations	Associated Press Kansas City Committee of 101 Maxwell Football Club NFL Alumni Touchdown Club of Columbus Washington D.C. Touchdown Club
Former awards	Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy MVP NFL Player of the Year awards Joe F. Carr Trophy Jim Thorpe Trophy UPI American Football League Most Valuable Player Award NEA Defensive Player of the Year NEA Rookie of the Year Football Digest NFL Player of the Year UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year UPI NFC Player of the Year UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year Washington D.C. Touchdown Club NFL Player of the Year