Which teams hold the various records for the AFC Championship Game, and what are the results of all 51 games that have taken place since 1970?
Who has been to the most AFC Championship Games?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have played in the most AFC title games than any other team (16). Having been placed in the AFC at the time of the merger, the Steelers have gone on to be the most successful franchise. The Steelers played for the AFC title in six of the first 10 seasons after the AFC came into existence. Subsequently, they played in five title games between 2001 and 2010.
The Steelers also hold the record for the most AFC Championship Games hosted with 11. However, the Chiefs will set a record for consecutive games hosted with four when they host the Bengals to round out the 2021-22 AFC season.
Most consecutive appearances
New England holds the record for the most consecutive appearances with eight. Those eight came between 2011 and 2018. The Patriots are narrowly behind the Steelers in overall appearances with 15 Conference Championship appearances.
What team has lost the most AFC Championship Games?
The Steelers may have got to the most AFC title games, but they have also lost the most with eight. The Raiders are second with seven losses — no other team has more than four losses. The Raiders hold the record for the most consecutive losses with four.
The Cleveland Browns (0-3), Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3), and New York Jets (0-4) have all failed to win in any of their AFC title games. Meanwhile, the Texans are the only current AFC team to have never appeared in the AFC Championship Game.
Most victories and consecutive victories
The Patriots hold the record for the most victories with 11. However, the Bills hold the record for consecutive victories with four between 1990 and 1993.
Only one team has won all of their appearances in the AFC Championship Game. That is the Cincinnati Bengals, who enter the 2021-2022 AFC Championship Game with a 2-0 record. They will be hoping to extend that perfect record against the Chiefs.
AFC Championship Game results
- 1971 | Baltimore Colts 27, Oakland Raiders 17
- 1972 | Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
- 1973 | Miami Dolphins 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
- 1974 | Miami Dolphins 27, Oakland Raiders 10
- 1975 | Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Oakland Raiders 13
- 1976 | Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10
- 1977 | Oakland Raiders 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
- 1978 | Denver Broncos 20, Oakland Raiders 17
- 1979 | Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Houston Oilers 5
- 1980 | Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13
- 1981 | Oakland Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 27
- 1982 | Cincinnati Bengals 27, San Diego Chargers 7
- 1983 | Miami Dolphins 14, New York Jets 0
- 1984 | Los Angeles Raiders 30, Seattle Seahawks 14
- 1985 | Miami Dolphins 45, Pittsburgh Steelers 28
- 1986 | New England Patriots 31, Miami Dolphins 14
- 1987 | Denver Broncos 23, Cleveland Browns 20
- 1988 | Denver Broncos 38, Cleveland Browns 33
- 1989 | Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10
- 1990 | Denver Broncos 37, Cleveland Browns 21
- 1991 | Buffalo Bills 51, Los Angeles Raiders 3
- 1992 | Buffalo Bills 10, Denver Broncos 7
- 1993 | Buffalo Bills 29, Miami Dolphins 10
- 1994 | Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 13
- 1995 | San Diego Chargers 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 13
- 1996 | Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
- 1997 | New England Patriots 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 6
- 1998 | Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
- 1999 | Denver Broncos 23, New York Jets 10
The 2000s to present
- 2000 | Tennessee Titans 33, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
- 2001 | Baltimore Ravens 16, Oakland Raiders 3
- 2002 | New England Patriots 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
- 2003 | Oakland Raiders 41, Tennessee Titans 24
- 2004 | New England Patriots 24, Indianapolis Colts 14
- 2005 | New England Patriots 41, Pittsburgh Steelers 27
- 2006 | Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Denver Broncos 17
- 2007 | Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
- 2008 | New England Patriots 21, San Diego Chargers 12
- 2009 | Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
- 2010 | Indianapolis Colts 30, New York Jets 17
- 2011 | Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Jets 19
- 2012 | New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
- 2013 | Baltimore Ravens 28, New England Patriots 13
- 2014 | Denver Broncos 26, New England Patriots 16
- 2015 | New England Patriots 45, Indianapolis Colts 7
- 2016 | Denver Broncos 20, New England Patriots 18
- 2017 | New England Patriots 36, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
- 2018 | New England Patriots 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
- 2019 | New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31
- 2020 | Kansas City Chiefs 35, Tennessee Titans 24
- 2021 | Kansas City Chiefs 38, Buffalo Bills 24
Other AFC Championship Game team records of note
- Largest margin of victory: 48
Bills 51, Raiders 3 | Jan. 20, 1991 - Most points scored: 51
Bills 51, Raiders 3 | Jan. 20, 1991 - Most points by losing team: 34
Patriots 34, Colts 38 | Jan. 21, 2007 - Fewest points scored: 0
Colts 0, Dolphins 21 | Jan. 2, 1972
Jets 0, Dolphins 14 | Jan. 23, 1983 - Fewest points scored by winning team: 10
Bills 10, Broncos 7 | Jan. 12, 1992 - Most total points scored: 73
Dolphins 45, Steelers 28 | Jan. 6, 1985 - Fewest total points scored: 14
Dolphins 14, Jets 0 | Jan. 23, 1983 - Longest AFC Championship Game drought: 32
Cleveland Browns (last appearance 1989)