When discussing the New England Patriots and their playoff history, the words “challenges” and “struggles” often don’t seem to fit.

Then you look at their record-setting playoff game at Mile High—a venue that is definitely not easy to play in.

Playing at Denver’s Empower Field, or anywhere in the city, is considered one of the toughest challenges in professional sports, mainly because of the high altitude (5,280 feet above sea level).

The air is “thinner” due to lower atmospheric pressure, which means athletes get less oxygen and their heart and lungs have to work harder. Visitors often experience “heavy legs,” shortness of breath, and faster fatigue, especially in the second half.

Despite their greatness, the Patriots organization is not exempt from these challenges.

The Sporting News provides an in-depth look at New England’s playoff battle against the Broncos at Mile High.

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Patriots playoff record in Denver

The Patriots have played a postseason game in Denver five times and lost four of them. New England did have a playoff win over the Broncos in 2012, though, when the two met in New England. Here is a summary of how those games played out.

MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Patriots players ever

1986 Divisional Round: Broncos 22, Patriots 17

The Patriots traveled to Denver for their first-ever playoff matchup. The game was closely contested, featuring crucial plays from both teams.

Although the final score was close, Denver dominated time of possession and nearly doubled its first downs, even though John Elway had an off day with two interceptions.

Broncos defensive end Rulon Jones sacked Tony Eason in the end zone, resulting in a safety that sealed Denver’s 22-17 win.

2005 Divisional Round: Broncos 27, Patriots 13

The game remained scoreless until late in the second quarter, when Adam Vinatieri of New England successfully kicked a field goal. 

At the Denver 5-yard line, Champ Bailey intercepted a pass from Tom Brady in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to the New England 1-yard line. This play led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Anderson, increasing the score to 17-6.

Denver increased their lead to 24-6 after Jake Plummer threw a touchdown pass to Rod Smith. The Patriots scored a late touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-13, but Denver responded with a final field goal, securing a 27-13 win.

2013 AFC Championship: Broncos 26, Patriots 16

The Broncos maintained the lead throughout the game and extended it to 23-3 in the fourth quarter, dominating both possession and total offense with 507 yards to New England’s 320.

The Patriots made a late attempt to close the gap, with Tom Brady throwing a touchdown pass to Julian Edelman and running in another score, reducing the score to 26-16 with just over three minutes left. Nevertheless, a failed two-point conversion and a crucial fourth-down conversion by the Broncos on their final drive secured their win.

2015 AFC Championship: Broncos 20, Patriots 18 

Once again, the Broncos never trailed in this game, and it came down to the wire. The key player was Von Miller, who pressured Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, hitting him relentlessly, recording 2.5 sacks and an interception.

The game ended in a dramatic conclusion. Trailing 20-12 late in the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored a touchdown with a catch by Rob Gronkowski with only 12 seconds left. However, the critical two-point conversion attempt to tie the game was intercepted by Broncos’ defensive back Brad Roby, securing Denver’s 20-18 victory.

MORE: Revisiting 2016 AFC championship

2025 AFC Championship: Patriots 10, Broncos 7

The Patriots finally won a playoff game in Denver during the 2025 AFC championship game, as they outlasted the Broncos 10-7. The game was a defensive battle and saw snowfall in the second half, which turned the contest into a low-scoring affair.

Quarterback Drake Maye improved to 3-0 in his playoff career despite only throwing for 86 yards. However, he did have 65 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown, including the two biggest plays of the game.

The win put the Patriots back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the Brady-Belichick dynasty, this time with Maye and Mike Vrabel leading the way. It also means that Maye did something Brady never did: win a playoff game in Denver.

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