Each football season, the AFC Championship Game is held to determine which one of the 16 teams in the American Football Conference of the NFL will appear in the Super Bowl.http://www.nfl.com/schedules?seasonType=POST&season=2010 The game began in 1970 following the merger of the NFL with the American Football League.http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/championships The winner receives the Lamar Hunt Trophy.http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4398505783_f32eecd5a9_o.png

To determine the AFC team that plays in Super Bowl XLV, the 2011 AFC Championship Game takes place on Sunday, January 23, 2011, starting at 6:30 p.m. EST and airing on CBS. The two teams playing in the game, as well as the location of the contest, will be determined after the 2011 NFL Divisional Weekend wraps up on Sunday, January 16, 2011.http://www.nfl.com/schedules?seasonType=POST&season=2010

In back to back years, the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos met in AFC Championship Games with a berth to the Super Bowl on the line. In the 1987 AFC Championship, John Elway led the Broncos 98 yards in the final 5:32 to the tying touchdown, forcing overtime. It was simply called "The Drive," in which Elway was six-of-nine passes for 78 yards and ran for 20 more. Following the Browns punt in overtime, Elway led Denver 60 yards to set up Rich Karlis' game winning field goal.http://espn.go.com/classic/s/add_elway_john.html

The next season, in the 1988 AFC Championship Game, the Browns and Broncos hooked up once again. This time, Cleveland was trying to come from behind, trailing 38-31 in the closing minutes. Bernie Kosar led the Browns inside the Denver 10-yard line and called a running play. Earnest Byner took the hand off and seemed headed to the end zone but was stripped by Jeremiah Castile at the Denver three-yard line. The Broncos recovered, took an intentional safety and won 38-33.http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-11-30/sports/1997334155_1_byner-fumble-point-of-view

In the 2006 AFC Championship, the Indianapolis Colts rallied from 18 points down and scored 32 points after halftime. Peyton Manning led the Colts down the field, and Joseph Addai scored the winning touchdown on a three-yard run with a minute remaining to give the Colts a 38-34 win.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/series?series=nweind

Other games of note include the Buffalo Bills defeating the Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 in the 1991 AFC Championship marking the most points scored in an AFC title game, the Bills 10-7 win over the Broncos a year later, where the team's only touchdown was scored on an interception return by Carlton Bailey and Broncos kicker David Treadwell missed three field goals, and Drew Bledsoe rallying the New England Patriots to a 24-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2002 AFC Championship after replacing the injured Tom Brady. Brady had replaced Bledsoe in week two of the regular season after he was knocked out on a hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis.http://www.eatdrinkandsleepfootball.com/history/superbowl/afc_champ.html http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199101200buf.htm http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201120buf.htm http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201270pit.htm

The 2010 AFC Championship Game was played on Sunday, January 24. The Indianapolis Colts continued on to Super Bowl XLIV after defeating the New York Jets 30-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium.http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=300124011 The 2009 AFC Championship Game featured the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Baltimore Ravens 23-14. The game was played on January 18, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. EST and was broadcast on CBS.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/series?series=balpit2008