Wikipedia

AFC Championship Game

(Redirected fromAFC Championship)
This article is about the game played annually since the 1970 season. For its predecessor, seeAFL Championship Game.
Not to be confused withAFC Champions League Elite.

TheAFC Championship Gameis the annual championship game of theAmerican Football Conference(AFC) and one of the two semifinalplayoffgames of theNational Football League(NFL), the largest professionalAmerican footballleague 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. TheAFC championthen advances to face the winner of theNFC Championship Gamein theSuper Bowl.

AFC Championship Game
First playedJanuary 3, 1971 (1970 season)
TrophyLamar HuntTrophy
2024 season
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
January 26, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs32
Buffalo Bills29

The game was established as part of the1970 mergerbetween the NFL and theAmerican Football League(AFL), with the merged league realigning into twoconferences.Since 1984,[1]each winner of the AFC Championship Game has also received theLamar Hunt Trophy,named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of theKansas City Chiefs,Lamar Hunt.

History

The first AFC Championship Game was played following the 1970 regular season after themergerbetween the NFL and the AFL. The game is considered the successor to the formerAFL Championship,and its game results are listed with that of its predecessor in the annualNFL Record and Fact Book.[2]Since the pre-merger NFL consisted of six more teams than the AFL (16 teams for the NFL and 10 for the AFL), a realignment was required as part of the merger to create two conferences with an equal number of teams: The NFL'sBaltimore Colts,Cleveland Browns,andPittsburgh Steelersjoined 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 theHouston Texanshas played in an AFC Championship Game at least once, while theNew York Jetsand theTennessee Titanshave yet to host one. TheSeattle 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 theLos Angeles RaidersforSuper Bowl XVIIIand, in their first appearance in an NFC conference title game, a win over theCarolina PanthersforSuper 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. TheNew England Patriotshave won the most AFC Championships at 11, and played in a record eight straight AFC title games (2011–2018). At least one of New England quarterbackTom Bradyand Pittsburgh quarterbackBen Roethlisbergerplayed in every championship game between the 2003 and the 2018 seasons, except for the 2009 season. TheKansas City Chiefshave hosted the AFC Championship a record five consecutive times, between the 2018–2022 seasons.[3][4][5][6][7]

TheDenver Broncosand 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

Further information:NFL playoffs
The redesigned Lamar Hunt Trophy, awarded since 2010–11 season

The structure of theNFL playoffshas changed several times since 1970. At the end of eachregular season,the top teams in theAFCqualify for the postseason, including all division champions (three division winners from the1970–71to2001–02seasons; four since the2002–03 season) and a set number of "wild card"teams that possess the best win–loss records after the regular season yet fail to win their division (one wild card team from the 1970–71 to1977–78seasons; two wild cards from1978–79to1989–90,and from 2002–03 to2019–20;three from1990–91to 2001–02, and since2020–21). 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.[8]: 10 Since the1975–76 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.[9]

Lamar Hunt Trophy

External image
The (former version of the) Lamar Hunt Trophyon display at a press conference at the Westin Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images. January 20, 2006.

Beginning with the1984–85 NFL playoffs,[1]the winner of the AFC Championship Game has received theLamar HuntTrophy, named after the founder of the AFL and founder and longtime owner of theKansas City Chiefs.The original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted AFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back.

For the2010–11 NFL playoffs,the Lamar Hunt Trophy and theGeorge Halas Trophy,which is awarded to the NFC Champion, were redesigned byTiffany & Co.at the request of the NFL in an attempt to make both awards more significant.[10]The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a small base to more closely resemble theVince Lombardi Trophy,which is awarded to the winner of theSuper Bowl.[11]

In recent yearsConference championship ringsare 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.[12][13]

List of AFC Championship Games

See also:List of AFL and AFC champions
Numbers in parentheses in the table are AFC Championships.Boldindicates 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.
Season Playoffs Date Winning team Score Losing team Score Location Stadium
1970 1970–71 January 3, 1971 Baltimore Colts(1) 27 Oakland Raiders 17 Baltimore, Maryland[fn 1] Memorial Stadium[14]
1971 1971–72 January 2, 1972 Miami Dolphins(1) 21 Baltimore Colts 0 Miami, Florida[fn 2] Miami Orange Bowl[15]
1972 1972–73 December 31, 1972 Miami Dolphins(2) 21 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Three Rivers Stadium[16]
1973 1973–74 December 30, 1973 Miami Dolphins(3) 27 Oakland Raiders 10 Miami, Florida(2)[fn 2] Miami Orange Bowl(2)[17]
1974 1974–75 December 29, 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers(1) 24 Oakland Raiders 13 Oakland, California Oakland Coliseum[fn 3][18]
1975 1975–76 January 4, 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers(2) 16 Oakland Raiders 10 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(2) Three Rivers Stadium(2)[19]
1976 1976–77 December 26, 1976 Oakland Raiders(1) 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Oakland, California(2) Oakland Coliseum(2)[fn 3][20]
1977 1977–78 January 1, 1978 Denver Broncos(1) 20 Oakland Raiders 17 Denver, Colorado Mile High Stadium[21]
1978 1978–79 January 7, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers(3) 34 Houston Oilers 5 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(3) Three Rivers Stadium(3)[22]
1979 1979–80 January 6, 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 27 Houston Oilers 13 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(4) Three Rivers Stadium(4)[23]
1980 1980–81 January 11, 1981 Oakland Raiders(2) 34 San Diego Chargers 27 San Diego, California Jack Murphy Stadium[24]
1981 1981–82 January 10, 1982 Cincinnati Bengals(1) 27 San Diego Chargers 7 Cincinnati, Ohio Riverfront Stadium[25]
1982 1982–83 January 23, 1983 Miami Dolphins(4) 14 New York Jets 0 Miami, Florida(3)[fn 2] Miami Orange Bowl(3)[26]
1983 1983–84 January 8, 1984 Los Angeles Raiders(3) 30 Seattle Seahawks 14 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum[27]
1984 1984–85 January 6, 1985 Miami Dolphins(5) 45 Pittsburgh Steelers 28 Miami, Florida(4)[fn 2] Miami Orange Bowl(4)[28]
1985 1985–86 January 12, 1986 New England Patriots(1) 31 Miami Dolphins 14 Miami, Florida(5)[fn 2] Miami Orange Bowl(5)[29]
1986 1986–87 January 11, 1987 Denver Broncos(2) 23[fn 4] Cleveland Browns 20 Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Municipal Stadium[30]
1987 1987–88 January 17, 1988 Denver Broncos(3) 38 Cleveland Browns 33 Denver, Colorado(2) Mile High Stadium(2)[31]
1988 1988–89 January 8, 1989 Cincinnati Bengals(2) 21 Buffalo Bills 10 Cincinnati, Ohio(2) Riverfront Stadium(2)[32]
1989 1989–90 January 14, 1990 Denver Broncos(4) 37 Cleveland Browns 21 Denver, Colorado(3) Mile High Stadium(3)[33]
1990 1990–91 January 20, 1991 Buffalo Bills(1) 51 Los Angeles Raiders 3 Orchard Park, New York Rich Stadium[34]
1991 1991–92 January 12, 1992 Buffalo Bills(2) 10 Denver Broncos 7 Orchard Park, New York(2) Rich Stadium(2)[35]
1992 1992–93 January 17, 1993 Buffalo Bills(3) 29 Miami Dolphins 10 Miami, Florida(6)[fn 2] Joe Robbie Stadium[36]
1993 1993–94 January 23, 1994 Buffalo Bills(4) 30 Kansas City Chiefs 13 Orchard Park, New York(3) Rich Stadium(3)[37]
1994 1994–95 January 15, 1995 San Diego Chargers(1) 17 Pittsburgh Steelers 13 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(5) Three Rivers Stadium(5)[38]
1995 1995–96 January 14, 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers(5) 20 Indianapolis Colts 16 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(6) Three Rivers Stadium(6)[39]
1996 1996–97 January 12, 1997 New England Patriots(2) 20 Jacksonville Jaguars 6 Foxborough, Massachusetts Foxboro Stadium[40]
1997 1997–98 January 11, 1998 Denver Broncos(5) 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 21 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(7) Three Rivers Stadium(7)[41]
1998 1998–99 January 17, 1999 Denver Broncos(6) 23 New York Jets 10 Denver, Colorado(4) Mile High Stadium(4)[42]
1999 1999–00 January 23, 2000 Tennessee Titans(1) 33 Jacksonville Jaguars 14 Jacksonville, Florida Alltel Stadium[43]
2000 2000–01 January 14, 2001 Baltimore Ravens(1) 16 Oakland Raiders 3 Oakland, California(3) Oakland Coliseum(3)[fn 3][44]
2001 2001–02 January 27, 2002 New England Patriots(3) 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(8) Heinz Field[fn 5][45]
2002 2002–03 January 19, 2003 Oakland Raiders(4) 41 Tennessee Titans 24 Oakland, California(4) Network Associates Coliseum(4)[fn 3][46]
2003 2003–04 January 18, 2004 New England Patriots(4) 24 Indianapolis Colts 14 Foxborough, Massachusetts(2) Gillette Stadium[47]
2004 2004–05 January 23, 2005 New England Patriots(5) 41 Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(9) Heinz Field(2)[fn 5][48]
2005 2005–06 January 22, 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers(6) 34 Denver Broncos 17 Denver, Colorado(5) Invesco Field at Mile High[fn 6][49]
2006 2006–07 January 21, 2007 Indianapolis Colts(2) 38 New England Patriots 34 Indianapolis, Indiana RCA Dome[50]
2007 2007–08 January 20, 2008 New England Patriots(6) 21 San Diego Chargers 12 Foxborough, Massachusetts(3) Gillette Stadium(2)[51]
2008 2008–09 January 18, 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers(7) 23 Baltimore Ravens 14 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(10) Heinz Field(3)[fn 5][52]
2009 2009–10 January 24, 2010 Indianapolis Colts(3) 30 New York Jets 17 Indianapolis, Indiana(2) Lucas Oil Stadium[53]
2010 2010–11 January 23, 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers(8) 24 New York Jets 19 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(11) Heinz Field(4)[fn 5][54]
2011 2011–12 January 22, 2012 New England Patriots(7) 23 Baltimore Ravens 20 Foxborough, Massachusetts(4) Gillette Stadium(3)[55]
2012 2012–13 January 20, 2013 Baltimore Ravens(2) 28 New England Patriots 13 Foxborough, Massachusetts(5) Gillette Stadium(4)[56]
2013 2013–14 January 19, 2014 Denver Broncos(7) 26 New England Patriots 16 Denver, Colorado(6) Sports Authority Field at Mile High(2)[fn 6][57]
2014 2014–15 January 18, 2015 New England Patriots(8) 45 Indianapolis Colts 7 Foxborough, Massachusetts(6) Gillette Stadium(5)[58]
2015 2015–16 January 24, 2016 Denver Broncos(8) 20 New England Patriots 18 Denver, Colorado(7) Sports Authority Field at Mile High(3)[fn 6][59]
2016 2016–17 January 22, 2017 New England Patriots(9) 36 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Foxborough, Massachusetts(7) Gillette Stadium(6)[60]
2017 2017–18 January 21, 2018 New England Patriots(10) 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 20 Foxborough, Massachusetts(8) Gillette Stadium(7)[61]
2018 2018–19 January 20, 2019 New England Patriots(11) 37[fn 4] Kansas City Chiefs 31 Kansas City, Missouri Arrowhead Stadium[62]
2019 2019–20 January 19, 2020 Kansas City Chiefs(1) 35 Tennessee Titans 24 Kansas City, Missouri(2) Arrowhead Stadium(2)[63]
2020 2020–21 January 24, 2021 Kansas City Chiefs(2) 38 Buffalo Bills 24 Kansas City, Missouri(3) Arrowhead Stadium(3)[64]
2021 2021–22 January 30, 2022 Cincinnati Bengals(3) 27[fn 4] Kansas City Chiefs 24 Kansas City, Missouri(4) Arrowhead Stadium(4)[65]
2022 2022–23 January 29, 2023 Kansas City Chiefs(3) 23 Cincinnati Bengals 20 Kansas City, Missouri(5) Arrowhead Stadium(5)[66]
2023 2023–24 January 28, 2024 Kansas City Chiefs(4) 17 Baltimore Ravens 10 Baltimore, Maryland(2)[fn 1] M&T Bank Stadium[67]
2024 2024–25 January 26, 2025 Kansas City Chiefs(5) 32 Buffalo Bills 29 Kansas City, Missouri(6) Arrowhead Stadium(6)[68]

Appearances, 1970–present

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.

TheHouston Texans,the last current AFC team to have never made an appearance, are omitted.[fn 7]

# Team W L % PF PA Last game Last win Home games Home wins Home losses Home win % Away games Away wins Away losses Away win %
16 Pittsburgh Steelers 8 8 .500 332 303 2016 2010 11 6 5 .545 5 2 3 .400
15 New England Patriots 11 4 .733 371 280 2018 2018 8 7 1 .875 7 4 3 .571
11 Las Vegas Raiders[fn 8] 4 7 .364 202 253 2002 2002 5 3 2 .600 6 1 5 .167
10 Denver Broncos 8 2 .800 235 200 2015 2015 7 6 1 .857 3 2 1 .667
8 Kansas City Chiefs 5 3 .625 213 201 2024 2024 6 4 2 .667 2 1 1 .500
7 Miami Dolphins 5 2 .714 152 115 1992 1984 6 4 2 .667 1 1 0 1.000
7 Buffalo Bills 4 3 .571 187 124 2024 1993 3 3 0 1.000 4 1 3 .250
7 Indianapolis Colts[fn 9] 3 4 .429 132 178 2014 2009 3 3 0 1.000 4 0 4 .000
5 Baltimore Ravens 2 3 .400 88 79 2023 2012 1 0 1 .000 4 2 2 .500
5 Tennessee Titans[fn 10] 1 4 .200 99 151 2019 1999 0 0 0 — 5 1 4 .200
4 Cincinnati Bengals 3 1 .750 95 64 2022 2021 2 2 0 1.000 2 1 1 .500
4 Los Angeles Chargers[fn 11] 1 3 .250 63 95 2007 1994 1 0 1 .000 3 1 2 .333
4 New York Jets 0 4 .000 46 91 2010 N/A 0 0 0 — 4 0 4 .000
3 Cleveland Browns 0 3 .000 74 98 1989 N/A 1 0 1 .000 2 0 2 .000
3 Jacksonville Jaguars 0 3 .000 40 77 2017 N/A 1 0 1 .000 2 0 2 .000
1 Seattle Seahawks[fn 12] 0 1 .000 14 30 1983 N/A[b] 0 0 0 — 1 0 1 .000

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 yearsindicate winning Conference Championship appearances.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Season(s)
16 Pittsburgh Steelers 8 8 .500 1972,1974,1975,1976,1978,1979,1984,1994,1995,1997,2001,2004,2005,2008,2010,2016
15 New England Patriots 11 4 .733 1985,1996,2001,2003,2004,2006,2007,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018
11 Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders[fn 8] 4 7 .364 1970,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1980,1983,1990,2000,2002
10 Denver Broncos 8 2 .800 1977,1986,1987,1989,1991,1997,1998,2005,2013,2015
8 Kansas City Chiefs 5 3 .625 1993,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
7 Miami Dolphins 5 2 .714 1971,1972,1973,1982,1984,1985,1992
7 Buffalo Bills 4 3 .571 1988,1990,1991,1992,1993,2020,2024
7 Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts[fn 9] 3 4 .429 1970,1971,1995,2003,2006,2009,2014
5 Houston Oilers/
Tennessee Titans[fn 10]		 1 4 .200 1978,1979,1999,2002,2019
5 Baltimore Ravens 2 3 .400 2000,2008,2011,2012,2023
4 Cincinnati Bengals 3 1 .750 1981,1988,2021,2022
4 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers[fn 11] 1 3 .250 1980,1981,1994,2007
4 New York Jets 0 4 .000 1982,1998,2009,2010
3 Jacksonville Jaguars 0 3 .000 1996,1999,2017
3 Cleveland Browns 0 3 .000 1986,1987,1989
1 Seattle Seahawks[fn 12] 0 1 .000 1983
0 Houston Texans[fn 7] 0 0 –
0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers[fn 13] 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.

Division Total 1970–2001 2002–present
Apps Wins Losses Win % Apps Wins Losses Win % Apps Wins Losses Win %
AFC East 36 21 15 .583 20 13[fn 14] 7[fn 15] .650 16 8[fn 14] 8[fn 15] .500
AFC North 33 14 19 .424 22 9[fn 16] 13[fn 17] .409 11 5[fn 16] 6[fn 17] .455
AFC South 7 2 5 .286 — 7 2[fn 18] 5[fn 19] .286
AFC West 34 18 16 .529 22 10[fn 20] 12[fn 21] .455 12 8[fn 20] 4[fn 21] .667

Most common matchups

Count Matchup Record Years Played
3 Oakland /Los Angeles /Las Vegas Raidersvs.Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers, 2–1 1974, 1975, 1976
3 Denver Broncosvs.Cleveland Browns Broncos, 3–0 1986, 1987, 1989
3 New England Patriotsvs.Pittsburgh Steelers Patriots, 3–0 2001, 2004, 2016
3 Baltimore /Indianapolis Coltsvs.New England Patriots Patriots, 2–1 2003, 2006, 2014
3 Buffalo Billsvs.Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs, 2–1 1993, 2020, 2024
2 Miami Dolphinsvs.Pittsburgh Steelers Dolphins, 2–0 1972, 1984
2 Houston / Tennessee Oilers/ Titansvs.Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers, 2–0 1978, 1979
2 Jacksonville Jaguarsvs.New England Patriots Patriots, 2–0 1996, 2017
2 Denver Broncosvs.Pittsburgh Steelers Tie, 1–1 1997, 2005
2 Baltimore Ravensvs.New England Patriots Tie, 1–1 2011, 2012
2 Denver Broncosvs.New England Patriots Broncos, 2–0 2013, 2015
2 Cincinnati Bengalsvs.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)

Notes:

  • *Tied for Conference Championship record
  • **Conference Championship record

TV ratings

  • 1982: 51.6 million viewers[69]
  • 2003: 41.5 million
  • 2005: 44.3 million
  • 2006: 39 million viewers[70]
  • 2007: 46.7 million viewers[71]
  • 2009: 42 million viewers[72]
  • 2010: 42.3 million viewers
  • 2011: 54.9 million viewers[73]
  • 2012: 48.7 million viewers[74][75]
  • 2013: 47.7 million viewers[76]
  • 2014: 51.3 million viewers[77]
  • 2015: 42.1 million viewers[78]
  • 2016: 53.3 million viewers[79]
  • 2017: 41.2 million viewers[80]
  • 2018: 53.9 million viewers[81]
  • 2019: 41.1 million viewers[81]
  • 2020: 41.8 million viewers[82]
  • 2021: 47.8 million viewers[83]
  • 2022: 53.1 million viewers[84]
  • 2023: 55.5 million viewers[85]
  • 2024: 57.4 million viewers[86]

Footnotes

  1. ^abBaltimore has hosted 2 total AFC Championship Games: 1 Colts home game and 1 Ravens home game.
  2. ^abcdefTheMiami Orange Bowlwas in Miami proper. Joe Robbie Stadium, nowHard Rock Stadium,opened in 1987 in an unincorporated area with a Miami address; the area was then incorporated asMiami Gardensin 2003.
  3. ^abcdThe Oakland Coliseum was also known as Network Associates Coliseum.
  4. ^abcOvertime
  5. ^abcdAcrisure Stadium was previously known as Heinz Field
  6. ^abcEmpower Field at Mile Highwas also known as Invesco Field at Mile High, then Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
  7. ^abcdThe Houston Texans were founded in 2002.
  8. ^abIncludes 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 theLos 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. Sincemoving to Las Vegasin 2020, the Raiders are 0–0 in AFC Championship Games.
  9. ^abIncludes appearances as theBaltimore Colts(the 1970 merger to 1983), where they went 1–1 in AFC Championship Games. Sincemoving to Indianapolisin 1984, the Colts are 2–3 in AFC Championship Games.
  10. ^abIncludes appearances as theHouston 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.
  11. ^abThe Chargers were playing in San Diego at the time of all their AFC Championship appearances.
  12. ^abThe 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 theNFC Championship Game(3–0), they hold a combined 3–1 record between both Conference Championship Games.
  13. ^The Buccaneers were members of the AFC in 1976 before moving to the NFC in 1977.
  14. ^abAFC 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.
  15. ^abAFC East conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1971, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998. Since 2002: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020, 2024.
  16. ^abAFC North conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2021.
  17. ^abAFC 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.
  18. ^AFC South conference championship game victories: 2006, 2009.
  19. ^AFC South conference championship game losses: 2002, 2003, 2014, 2017, 2019.
  20. ^abAFC West conference championship game victories. Pre-2002: 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998. Since 2002: 2002, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024.
  21. ^abAFC West conference championship game losses. Pre-2002: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000. Since 2002: 2005, 2007, 2018, 2021
  22. ^The Jets last hosted the1968 AFL Championship Gameduring the pre-AFL-NFL merger era.
  23. ^The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise last hosted the1962 AFL Championship Game.
  24. ^The Jets wonSuper Bowl IIIas the 1968 AFL Champion.

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