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Patriots Punch Ticket to Super Bowl LX After Grinding Out AFC Championship Win in Snowy Showdown
The New England Patriots are heading to Super Bowl LX after a hard-fought AFC Championship victory over the Denver Broncos, securing their spot with a dominant second-half performance as snow blanketed the field. The final score, a tight 10-7, belies the Patriots’ control once the elements – and their run game – took over.
The turning point came early in the second half. A lengthy Patriots drive culminated in a field goal, putting them up 10-7, a lead they would not relinquish. The Broncos’ best chance to even the score came in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard field goal attempt, but Patriots defensive lineman Leonard Taylor had other plans, deflecting Wil Lutz’s kick and preserving New England’s slim advantage.
Denver managed to force a punt and got the ball back with just over three minutes remaining, but quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s hopes were dashed by an interception from Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. With the clock winding down and the Broncos out of timeouts, Patriots MVP quarterback Drake Maye sealed the deal with a crucial seven-yard run on third-and-5, allowing New England to run out the clock and secure their trip to Levi’s Stadium.
Maye’s legs were a significant factor throughout the game. He powered in a six-yard touchdown run in the second quarter following a Stidham fumble and ripped off a 28-yard gain to set up Andy Borregales’s third-quarter field goal. Maye finished with 65 rushing yards, complemented by Rhamondre Stevenson’s 71 yards, as the Patriots leaned heavily on their ground game when the snow and wind intensified.
For the Broncos, quarterback Jarrett Stidham, in his first start since the 2023 season finale, struggled to find his rhythm. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
His discomfort was evident on a fumbled backward pass after attempting to evade the Patriots’ pass rush. Drops by Broncos receivers also plagued their efforts.
A key decision by Broncos head coach Sean Payton in the second quarter will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion. Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 14-yard line while up 7-0, Payton opted against a field goal that would have extended their lead to two scores.
Stidham’s subsequent pass fell incomplete, a play that the Patriots seemingly “blew up” from the snap. This decision, questionable at the time, became even more scrutinized as the weather deteriorated and the Broncos’ offense stalled.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also made a bold call, successfully converting a third-quarter sneak where officials ruled Maye was pushed across the line for a first down. Despite inconclusive replays, the call stood, costing the Broncos a valuable timeout on an unsuccessful challenge. While a risk, it paid off, as the Patriots scored the only points of the second half a few plays later.
As the Patriots look ahead to Super Bowl LX and their quest for a seventh franchise championship, the Broncos are left to ponder what might have been, particularly if key plays had gone differently or if Bo Nix had been healthy enough to take the field.