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MassLive sports columnist Karen Guregian makes the postseason pick:
The Patriots have loved being underdogs. They've enjoyed having doubters.
They've made a habit of proving people wrong.
On Sunday, in the AFC Championship game, they won't have that luxury since they're playing a Denver team that lost its starting quarterback.
They're the overwhelming favorite to beat the Broncos, and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Now the pressure's on them. They're expected to win. How will they handle it?
By taking care of business and beating the Broncos.
It won't be as easy as some think. Playing in Denver, playing in the altitude, playing with all the crowd noise, is still a tough assignment. And, scoring against the Broncos defense hasn't all of a sudden become a piece of cake.
Jarrett Stidham, who is starting for injured starter Bo Nix (broken ankle), hasn't thrown a pass in a regular season game in two years. That's problematic. No doubt Sean Payton will devise a plan that gives Stidham the best chance to survive.
In the end, however, Drake Maye and the Patriots will find a way to prevail. They've been road warriors all year. It'll be no different at Mile High.
Final score prediction: Patriots 24, Broncos 20
