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( R e d i r e c t e d f r o m A F C C h a m p i o n s h i p )
Semifinal championship football game in the NFL
This article is about the game played annually since the 1970 season. For its predecessor, see
AFL Championship Game .
January 3, 1971 (1970 season )
Lamar Hunt Trophy
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 champions then advances to face the winners 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] Lamar Hunt Trophy , named after the founder of both the AFL and 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] 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 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 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 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 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] 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]
Lamar Hunt Trophy
Beginning with the 1984–85 NFL playoffs ,[1] 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.
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] 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.
Score
Losing team
Score
Location
Stadium
1970–71
Baltimore Colts 1 )
27
Oakland Raiders
17
Baltimore, Maryland [fn 1]
Memorial Stadium
1971–72
Miami Dolphins (1 )
21
Baltimore Colts
0
Miami, Florida [fn 2]
Miami Orange Bowl
1972–73
Miami Dolphins 2 )
21
Pittsburgh Steelers
17
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Three Rivers Stadium
1973–74
Miami Dolphins 3 )
27
Oakland Raiders
10
Miami, Florida (2 )[fn 2]
Miami Orange Bowl (2 )
1974–75
Pittsburgh Steelers 1 )
24
Oakland Raiders
13
Oakland, California
Oakland Coliseum [fn 3]
1975–76
Pittsburgh Steelers 2 )
16
Oakland Raiders
10
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2 )
Three Rivers Stadium (2 )
1976–77
Oakland Raiders 1 )
24
Pittsburgh Steelers
7
Oakland, California (2 )
Oakland Coliseum (2 )[fn 3]
1977–78
Denver Broncos (1 )
20
Oakland Raiders
17
Denver, Colorado
Mile High Stadium
1978–79
Pittsburgh Steelers 3 )
34
Houston Oilers
5
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (3 )
Three Rivers Stadium (3 )
1979–80
Pittsburgh Steelers 4 )
27
Houston Oilers
13
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (4 )
Three Rivers Stadium (4 )
1980–81
Oakland Raiders 2 )
34
San Diego Chargers
27
San Diego, California
Jack Murphy Stadium
1981–82
Cincinnati Bengals (1 )
27
San Diego Chargers
7
Cincinnati, Ohio
Riverfront Stadium
1982–83
Miami Dolphins (4 )
14
New York Jets
0
Miami, Florida (3 )[fn 2]
Miami Orange Bowl (3 )
1983–84
Los Angeles Raiders 3 )
30
Seattle Seahawks
14
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
1984–85
Miami Dolphins (5 )
45
Pittsburgh Steelers
28
Miami, Florida (4 )[fn 2]
Miami Orange Bowl (4 )
1985–86
New England Patriots (1 )
31
Miami Dolphins
14
Miami, Florida (5 )[fn 2]
Miami Orange Bowl (5 )
1986–87
Denver Broncos (2 )
23 [fn 4]
Cleveland Browns
20
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
1987–88
Denver Broncos (3 )
38
Cleveland Browns
33
Denver, Colorado (2 )
Mile High Stadium (2 )
1988–89
Cincinnati Bengals (2 )
21
Buffalo Bills
10
Cincinnati, Ohio (2 )
Riverfront Stadium (2 )
1989–90
Denver Broncos (4 )
37
Cleveland Browns
21
Denver, Colorado (3 )
Mile High Stadium (3 )
1990–91
Buffalo Bills (1 )
51
Los Angeles Raiders
3
Orchard Park, New York
Rich Stadium
1991–92
Buffalo Bills (2 )
10
Denver Broncos
7
Orchard Park, New York (2 )
Rich Stadium (2 )
1992–93
Buffalo Bills (3 )
29
Miami Dolphins
10
Miami, Florida (6 )[fn 2]
Joe Robbie Stadium
1993–94
Buffalo Bills (4 )
30
Kansas City Chiefs
13
Orchard Park, New York (3 )
Rich Stadium (3 )
1994–95
San Diego Chargers (1 )
17
Pittsburgh Steelers
13
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (5 )
Three Rivers Stadium (5 )
1995–96
Pittsburgh Steelers (5 )
20
Indianapolis Colts
16
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (6 )
Three Rivers Stadium (6 )
1996–97
New England Patriots (2 )
20
Jacksonville Jaguars
6
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Foxboro Stadium
1997–98
Denver Broncos 5 )
24
Pittsburgh Steelers
21
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (7 )
Three Rivers Stadium (7 )
1998–99
Denver Broncos 6 )
23
New York Jets
10
Denver, Colorado (4 )
Mile High Stadium (4 )
1999–00
Tennessee Titans (1 )
33
Jacksonville Jaguars
14
Jacksonville, Florida
Alltel Stadium
2000–01
Baltimore Ravens 1 )
16
Oakland Raiders
3
Oakland, California (3 )
Oakland Coliseum (3 )[fn 3]
2001–02
New England Patriots 3 )
24
Pittsburgh Steelers
17
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (8 )
Heinz Field [fn 5]
2002–03
Oakland Raiders (4 )
41
Tennessee Titans
24
Oakland, California (4 )
Network Associates Coliseum (4 )[fn 3]
2003–04
New England Patriots 4 )
24
Indianapolis Colts
14
Foxborough, Massachusetts (2 )
Gillette Stadium
2004–05
New England Patriots 5 )
41
Pittsburgh Steelers
27
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (9 )
Heinz Field (2 )[fn 5]
2005–06
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 )
34
Denver Broncos
17
Denver, Colorado (5 )
Invesco Field at Mile High [fn 6]
2006–07
Indianapolis Colts 2 )
38
New England Patriots
34
Indianapolis, Indiana
RCA Dome
2007–08
New England Patriots (6 )
21
San Diego Chargers
12
Foxborough, Massachusetts (3 )
Gillette Stadium (2 )
2008–09
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 )
23
Baltimore Ravens
14
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10 )
Heinz Field (3 )[fn 5]
2009–10
Indianapolis Colts (3 )
30
New York Jets
17
Indianapolis, Indiana (2 )
Lucas Oil Stadium
2010–11
Pittsburgh Steelers (8 )
24
New York Jets
19
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (11 )
Heinz Field (4 )[fn 5]
2011–12
New England Patriots (7 )
23
Baltimore Ravens
20
Foxborough, Massachusetts (4 )
Gillette Stadium (3 )
2012–13
Baltimore Ravens 2 )
28
New England Patriots
13
Foxborough, Massachusetts (5 )
Gillette Stadium (4 )
2013–14
Denver Broncos (7 )
26
New England Patriots
16
Denver, Colorado (6 )
Sports Authority Field at Mile High (2 )[fn 6]
2014–15
New England Patriots 8 )
45
Indianapolis Colts
7
Foxborough, Massachusetts (6 )
Gillette Stadium (5 )
2015–16
Denver Broncos 8 )
20
New England Patriots
18
Denver, Colorado (7 )
Sports Authority Field at Mile High (3 )[fn 6]
2016–17
New England Patriots 9 )
36
Pittsburgh Steelers
17
Foxborough, Massachusetts (7 )
Gillette Stadium (6 )
2017–18
New England Patriots (10 )
24
Jacksonville Jaguars
20
Foxborough, Massachusetts (8 )
Gillette Stadium (7 )
2018–19
New England Patriots 11 )
37 [fn 4]
Kansas City Chiefs
31
Kansas City, Missouri
Arrowhead Stadium
2019–20
Kansas City Chiefs 1 )
35
Tennessee Titans
24
Kansas City, Missouri (2 )
Arrowhead Stadium (2 )
2020–21
Kansas City Chiefs (2 )
38
Buffalo Bills
24
Kansas City, Missouri (3 )
Arrowhead Stadium (3 )
2021–22
Cincinnati Bengals (3 )
27 [fn 4]
Kansas City Chiefs
24
Kansas City, Missouri (4 )
Arrowhead Stadium (4 )
2022–23
Kansas City Chiefs 3 )
23
Cincinnati Bengals
20
Kansas City, Missouri (5 )
Arrowhead Stadium (5 )
2023–24
Kansas City Chiefs 4 )
17
Baltimore Ravens
10
Baltimore, Maryland (2 )[fn 1]
M&T Bank Stadium
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.
L
Win %
PF
PA
Last game
Last win
Home games
Home wins
Home losses
Home win %
Away games
Away wins
Away losses
Away win %
Pittsburgh Steelers
8
8
.500
332
303
2016
2010
11
6
5
.545
5
2
3
.400
New England Patriots
11
4
.733
371
280
2018
2018
8
7
1
.875
7
4
3
.571
Las Vegas Raiders [fn 7]
4
7
.364
202
253
2002
2002
5
3
2
.600
6
1
5
.167
Denver Broncos
8
2
.800
235
200
2015
2015
7
6
1
.857
3
2
1
.667
Miami Dolphins
5
2
.714
152
115
1992
1984
6
4
2
.667
1
1
0
1.000
Kansas City Chiefs
4
3
.571
181
172
2023
2023
5
3
2
.600
2
1
1
.500
Indianapolis Colts [fn 8]
3
4
.429
132
178
2014
2009
3
3
0
1.000
4
0
4
.000
Buffalo Bills
4
2
.667
158
92
2020
1993
3
3
0
1.000
3
1
2
.333
Baltimore Ravens
2
3
.400
88
79
2023
2012
1
0
1
.000
4
2
2
.500
Tennessee Titans [fn 9]
1
4
.200
99
151
2019
1999
0
0
0
—
5
1
4
.200
Cincinnati Bengals
3
1
.750
95
64
2022
2021
2
2
0
1.000
2
1
1
.500
Los Angeles Chargers
1
3
.250
63
95
2007
1994
1
0
1
.000
3
1
2
.333
New York Jets
0
4
.000
46
91
2010
N/A
0
0
0
—
4
0
4
.000
Cleveland Browns
0
3
.000
74
98
1989
N/A
1
0
1
.000
2
0
2
.000
Jacksonville Jaguars
0
3
.000
40
77
2017
N/A
1
0
1
.000
2
0
2
.000
Seattle Seahawks [fn 10]
0
1
.000
14
30
1983
N/A[b]
0
0
0
—
1
0
1
.000
Houston Texans [fn 11]
0
0
—
—
—
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
—
Tampa Bay Buccaneers [fn 12]
0
0
—
—
—
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
—
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.
Losses
Win %
Season(s )
Pittsburgh Steelers
8
8
.500
1972 , 1974 1975 1976 , 1978 1979 1984 , 1994 , 1995 1997 , 2001 , 2004 , 2005 2008 2010 2016
New England Patriots
11
4
.733
1985 1996 2001 2003 2004 2006 , 2007 2011 2012 , 2013 , 2014 2015 , 2016 2017 2018
Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders [fn 7]
4
7
.364
1970 , 1973 , 1974 , 1975 , 1976 1977 , 1980 1983 1990 , 2000 , 2002
Denver Broncos
8
2
.800
1977 1986 1987 1989 1991 , 1997 1998 2005 , 2013 2015
Kansas City Chiefs
4
3
.571
1993 , 2018 , 2019 2020 2021 , 2022 2023
Miami Dolphins
5
2
.714
1971 1972 1973 1982 1984 1985 , 1992
Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts [fn 8]
3
4
.429
1970 1971 , 1995 , 2003 , 2006 2009 2014
Buffalo Bills
4
2
.667
1988 , 1990 1991 1992 1993 2020
Houston Oilers/ [fn 9]
1
4
.200
1978 , 1979 , 1999 2002 , 2019
Baltimore Ravens
2
3
.400
2000 2008 , 2011 , 2012 2023
Cincinnati Bengals
3
1
.750
1981 1988 2021 2022
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
1
3
.250
1980 , 1981 , 1994 2007
New York Jets
0
4
.000
1982 , 1998 , 2009 , 2010
Jacksonville Jaguars
0
3
.000
1996 , 1999 , 2017
Cleveland Browns
0
3
.000
1986 , 1987 , 1989
Seattle Seahawks [fn 10]
0
1
.000
1983
Houston Texans [fn 11]
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.
2002-present
Wins
Losses
Win %
Apps
Wins
Losses
Win %
Apps
Wins
Losses
Win %
35
21
14
.600
20
13 [fn 13]
7 [fn 14]
.650
15
8 [fn 13]
7 [fn 14]
.533
33
14
19
.424
22
9 [fn 15]
13 [fn 16]
.429
11
5 [fn 15]
6 [fn 16]
.455
7
2
5
.286
—
7
2 [fn 17]
5 [fn 18]
.286
33
17
16
.515
22
10 [fn 19]
12 [fn 20]
.455
11
7 [fn 19]
4 [fn 20]
.636
Most common matchups
Years Played
Oakland / Los Angeles / Las Vegas Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers, 2–1
1974, 1975, 1976
Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns
Broncos, 3–0
1986, 1987, 1989
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Patriots, 3–0
2001, 2004, 2016
Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
Patriots, 2–1
2003, 2006, 2014
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Tie, 1–1
1993, 2020
Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dolphins, 2–0
1972, 1984
Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers, 2–0
1978, 1979
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
Patriots, 2–0
1996, 2017
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Tie, 1–1
1997, 2005
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
Tie, 1–1
2011, 2012
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots
Broncos, 2–0
2013, 2015
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Tie, 1–1
2021, 2022
AFC Championship Game records
AFC Championship Game logo, 2001–2005 AFC Championship Game logo, 2008–2010 (Used with old shield since 2005)
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[16]
2003: 41.5 million
2005: 44.3 million
2006: 39 million viewers[17]
2007: 46.7 million viewers[18]
2009: 42 million viewers[19]
2010: 42.3 million viewers
2011: 54.9 million viewers[20]
2012: 48.7 million viewers[21] [22]
2013: 47.7 million viewers[23]
2014: 51.3 million viewers[24]
2015: 42.1 million viewers[25]
2016: 53.3 million viewers[26]
2017: 41.2 million viewers[27]
2018: 53.9 million viewers[28]
2019: 41.1 million viewers[28]
2020: 41.8 million viewers[29]
2021: 47.8 million viewers[30]
2022: 53.1 million viewers[31]
2023: 55.5 million viewers[32]
^ 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 d The Houston Texans were founded in 2002.
^ a b 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, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023.
^ a b AFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021
^ The Jets last hosted the 1968 AFL Championship Game during the pre-Super Bowl 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
^ "AFC Championship Game Results. Includes AFL Championship Games (1960-69)". 2023 NFL Record and Fact Book . 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 .
^ "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 . Retrieved 11 October 2014 .
^ "NFL Ratings Spike: 48.7 Million Watch AFC Title Game, NFC Game Draws 57.6 Mil" . Deadline Hollywood . 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 . 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.com .
^ Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2016). "AFC Title Game Ratings Score For CBS With 53.3 Million Viewers" . deadline.com .
^ "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 .
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● T h i s p a g e w a s l a s t e d i t e d o n 7 J u l y 2 0 2 4 , a t 0 2 : 0 8 ( U T C ) . ● T e x t i s a v a i l a b l e u n d e r t h e C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s A t t r i b u t i o n - S h a r e A l i k e L i c e n s e 4 . 0 ;
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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.
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