The Patriots are heading back to the Super Bowl, and they did it the hard way.
In a classic AFC Championship Game fought through snow and wind at Empower Field at Mile High, the New England Patriots held off the Denver Broncos, 10‑7, Sunday afternoon to secure their trip to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif. It was a defensive battle defined by weather, discipline and a timely mix of grit and execution.
Early on, neither offense found much traction. Denver struck first, punctuating its opening possession with a six‑yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to receiver Marvin Mims, giving the home team a 7‑0 lead in front of a raucous, snow‑flecked crowd. The Broncos were filling in for injured starters and testing New England’s resolve from the outset.
But the Patriots slowly mounted a response. Young quarterback Drake Maye, making his first AFC Championship start, found a way to manufacture offense even as the elements worsened. With snow piling up and visibility dipping, the Patriots leaned on a methodical ground game and Maye’s athleticism. On a key second‑quarter play, Maye kept the ball himself, rumbling six yards for New England’s lone offensive touchdown and tying the game at 7‑7 just before halftime.
Neither team clicked through the air consistently. Maye completed only 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards, credited with neither turnover nor surrendering points directly from mistakes. But his legs (10 carries for 65 yards) kept New England moving when passes were hard to connect. Meanwhile, Denver’s offense, facing its own weather issues and missing key playmakers, managed just 133 passing yards and was unable to convert enough late to pull ahead.
Defense was the story in the second half. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales got the Patriots on the board again with a 23‑yard field goal midway through the third quarter, snapping a scoreless stretch and giving New England a 10‑7 edge they would never relinquish. Both teams struggled to sustain drives in the blizzard‑like conditions, trading punts and long punts on punts while the snow continued to fall.
Late in regulation, as Denver made its final push, New England’s defense delivered when it mattered most. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez hauled in a crucial interception with just over two minutes remaining, halting the Broncos’ last serious threat and turning the tide firmly back to the Patriots. With the ball in hand and the crowd noise growing, Maye took over on the ground, picking up a clutch seven‑yard run on third down that allowed New England to bleed out the clock and seal the victory.
New England’s win was its 12th conference championship in franchise history, extending its lead atop the NFL record books. For a team that finished just 4‑13 a season ago, the turnaround has been remarkable. The Patriots finished the 2025 regular season at 17‑3 and now enter Super Bowl LX with momentum born of tough, physical performances against top defenses in every round.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, in his first season leading the Patriots, has instilled a mix of discipline and resilience that showed up on Sunday. This group has leaned on a strong defense throughout the playoffs, holding opponents to limited yardage while finding just enough offense to win close games. And in Denver, that formula worked again.
Maye’s development has been a key storyline. At just 23 years old, he became the 2nd‑youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, a list that includes only a handful of names in league history. His ability to adapt, especially in challenging conditions like those at Mile High, reflects a maturity belying his years.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson also played a stabilizing role, grinding out tough yardage to keep the chains moving and give the Broncos’ defense something to defend even when passing was impractical. Combined with New England’s defense, which forced timely stops and took advantage of Denver’s miscues, the Pats earned a hard‑fought win.
For the Broncos, it was a valiant effort that fell just short. Denver’s hopes of reaching a first Super Bowl since its 1998 season hinged on a few key plays that didn’t break their way, including the late interception and the Patriots’ ability to control field position when it mattered most. Still, the season showed promise for a rebuilding franchise.
Now New England turns its attention west. In two weeks, at Super Bowl LX on February 8, the Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks – a familiar foe with their own defensive pedigree and championship aspirations. It’s a matchup that bridges eras: the Patriots of recent resurgence against a Seahawks squad riding a wave of momentum and balance.
The road here wasn’t easy, and Sunday’s win might not be remembered for fireworks or gaudy stats. But in a game defined by weather and defense, the Patriots did exactly what they needed to do: make critical plays at critical moments and close out a title opportunity with poise. Now, they’re once again in the hunt for football’s biggest prize.
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