In a frigid, snow-swept battle at Empower Field at Mile High, the New England Patriots edged the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game, clinching a trip to Super Bowl LX and continuing the franchise’s return to championship form.
Patriots’ QB Drake Maye, making his first AFC Championship appearance, delivered a poised performance in brutal weather. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards, added 65 rushing yards on 10 carries, and scored the Patriots’ lone touchdown on a 6-yard keeper late in the second quarter.
The Broncos struck first, with Stidham — starting in place of the injured Bo Nix — engineering a crisp opening drive that ended in a touchdown for a 7-0 lead. But as snowfall intensified, both offenses sputtered. Each team missed two long field goal attempts before halftime, and ball movement became increasingly difficult once whiteout conditions set in.
Playing through worsening conditions, New England scored the only points of the second half on a 23-yard field goal by rookie kicker Andy Borregales midway through the third quarter. That kick proved decisive in a contest dominated by defense, field position, and timely plays.
New England leaned heavily on Rhamondre Stevenson, who carried 25 times for 71 yards, helping control possession and keep Denver’s offense off balance. The Patriots did not commit a turnover, while the Broncos made two costly mistakes, including a late interception that sealed their fate.
With just over two minutes remaining, cornerback Christian Gonzalez intercepted Stidham near midfield, halting Denver’s final push. Maye followed with a clutch 7-yard scramble on third down to move the chains and run out the clock, securing New England’s 12th Super Bowl appearance and its first playoff victory in Denver.
Stidham finished with 133 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Denver fell one step short of head coach Sean Payton’s preseason goal of reaching Super Bowl 60.
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots have embraced a tough, disciplined identity, and Sunday’s win reflected that approach. And at just 23 years old, Maye is now the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, trailing only Dan Marino. He enters the game undefeated in the postseason at 3-0.
The Patriots now head to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 where they’ll face the Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the LA Rams with a 31-27 win in the NFC Championship Game. The matchup will mark a long-awaited rematch between the two franchises, with the Lombardi Trophy on the line.
Editorial credit: kovop / Shutterstock.com