Patriots vs. Steelers: Kickoff Time, How to Watch the AFC Championship, and More

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Like the team slogan, the New England Patriots have one more game on the schedule, this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Patriots will play the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night for the right to go to Houston. The winner will win what will be a record ninth AFC Championship and Super Bowl appearance. New England comes into the game following a misleading 18-point win over the Houston Texans while the Pittsburgh needed six field goals and a late 2-point conversion stop to pass the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16.

To help you get ready for Sunday's game, here what you need to know:

Kickoff Time

Both teams will take the field Sunday at 6:40 p.m.

Television and Radio Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties with Phil Simms as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Lance Barrow and directed by Mike Arnold.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One. Kevin Harlan and Dan Fouts will call the game with Ross Tucker providing sideline analysis. 93.7, WEEI, will carry the national broadcast.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.

Parking Lot and Train Information

Parking and Transportation
Parking lots at Gillette Stadium open four hours before kickoff. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs, and limos. The MBTA will be running trains from Boston and Providence. Here's the full train schedule:

Boston Train

• South Station - 3:50 p.m.
• Back Bay - 3:55 p.m.
• Dedham Corp - 4:10 p.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 5:00 p.m.

Rhode Island Train

• TF Green Airport -3:30 p.m.
• Providence - 4:00 p.m.
• South Attleboro - 4:10 p.m.
• Attleboro - 4:20 p.m.
• Mansfield - 4:30 p.m.
• Gillette Stadium - 5:05 p.m.

Both trains will leave Foxborough 30 minutes after the end of the game. Train tickets are $20 roundtrip.

Arrive Early

Stadium officials encourage fans to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95 or I-495 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items

Only gallon sized clear freezer bags, clear bags measuring 12" x 12" x 6", women's wristlets or handheld wallets not to exceed 8" x 5" x 2" (approximately the size of a hand), and clear plastic bags carrying only purchases made at the Patriots ProShop are allowed in Gillette Stadium.

Please note that bags larger than the permitted size, including purses, shoulder bags, diaper bags and backpacks, will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium on event days. Further, bags exceeding the permitted size will not be held or stored by the venue and must be returned to a vehicle before entering the stadium. For more information, see the stadium's clear bag policy.

Prohibited items at Gillette Stadium include, but are not limited to: selfie sticks, GoPro cameras, camera bags, umbrellas, coolers, fanny packs, outside food and beverage, balloons or beach balls, noisemakers, signs larger than 11 x 17 and any other items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate by stadium management. For more information on prohibited items, see the Gillette Stadium prohibited items policy.

Series History

The Patriots and Steelers will square off for the second time in 2016 and for the fifth time in the postseason, including two previous AFC Championship Games. New England beat Pittsburgh in the 2001 and 2004 AFC Championship Games, both played in Pittsburgh. The Patriots traveled to Pittsburgh on Oct. 23 of this season and pulled out a 27-16 victory.

Overall, this week’s meeting will be 30th matchup. Pittsburgh leads the regular-season series with a 14-11 margin, while New England leads 3-1 in the postseason. The Patriots have won the last three meetings overall with win in the regular season in 2013, 2015 and 2016

The teams played in the AFC Championship Game following the 2001 and 2004 seasons, with the Patriots winning both times en route to Super Bowl titles. The teams played in the divisional playoffs in 1996 and 1997. The Patriots beat Pittsburgh, 28-3, at Foxboro Stadium en route to their Super Bowl XXXI appearance. Pittsburgh beat the Patriots the following season, 7-6, at Three Rivers Stadium.

This week’s game will be Pittsburgh’s NFL-leading 16th AFC Championship game, while New England will appear in its 13th AFC Championship Game.

Only Pittsburgh, San Francisco (15) and Dallas (14) have appeared in more conference title games that the Patriots.

The Betting Line

New England is favored by six according to the major line makers, according to ESPN.com

The Expert Picks

• Boston Herald - All reporters pick New England
• Boston Globe - Reporters pick New England 4-1
• ESPN - Reporters pick New England 7-2
• Pete Prisco, CBS Sports - New England 27, Pittsburgh 20
• FiveThirtyEight- New England has 70 percent chance of winning

Image Credit: Dan Libon