As the Denver Broncos prepare for Sunday’s AFC Championship game, hundreds of orange-clad fans filled Larimer Square to support the hometown team.

Featuring a DJ, a simulated tunnel and Denver’s three Lombardi trophies on display, Saturday’s fan rally drew an energized crowd that easily filled the pedestrian roadway, despite temperatures in the high teens.

Along with “Go Broncos!” cheers, many could also be heard booing the occasional New England Patriots fans who happened to walk by the square sporting their own team’s apparel.

“Folks didn’t think Denver fans would show up in 10-degree weather, I said ‘have you met Denver fans?,'” Mayor Mike Johnston said to the crowd. “Can’t believe we’re bringing the Pats back for the 10-year reunion of the last Broncos AFC Championship. We’re going to deliver tomorrow, and we’ll be going back to Santa Clara.”

The Broncos come into the game riding one of the best defenses in the league, one that nearly set the NFL record for total sacks in one season in 2025. The only detriment to their shootout victory against the Buffalo Bills last week was the loss of starting quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle bone.

Denver’s counterpart, the Patriots, feature one of the most explosive offenses in the league, and have already beaten two top-five defenses in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Young gunslinger Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, and the team is near-completely healthy just in time for the pivotal matchup with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

The Broncos have had New England’s number at home in the playoffs, sporting a 4-0 all-time record that includes three victories against Tom Brady in Mile High.

Even with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, Marco Ramirez is confident that Denver will continue their playoff dominance against the Patriots.

“We’re going to the Super Bowl,” Ramirez said. “They don’t know what’s coming for them.”