The New England Patriots will host the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 34-16 on Saturday, while the Steelers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16 on Sunday.
The Patriots overcame a sloppy offensive performance to defeat the AFC South Champion Texans and their dominant defense. QB Tom Brady threw two interceptions, matching his regular season total, and the offensive line allowed countless pressure to the Texans defensive front.
The Steelers held on to beat the AFC West Champion Chiefs while on the road. Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell gained 170 yards on the ground, while WR Antonio Brown caught 108 of QB Ben Roethlisberger’s 224 passing yards. TE Jesse James chipped in 83 receiving yards.
This is the third time that Brady will face the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Brady went on the road in 2001 and 2004 to defeat the Steelers en route to winning the Super Bowl.
Fourteen of the past sixteen AFC Championship Games have featured either the Patriots, Steelers, or both. The two exceptions are 2002 (Raiders vs Titans) and 2009 (Colts vs Jets).
Kickoff is at 6:40 PM EST on Sunday, January 22nd. The game will be shown on CBS.