DENVER — In a game marked by challenging weather, Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a narrow 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos, securing their 12th Super Bowl appearance. Maye showcased his versatility, rushing for 68 yards and passing for 86, while also scoring the Patriots’ only touchdown on a 6-yard run.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Christian Gonzalez made a crucial interception off Denver’s Jarrett Stidham, who was filling in for the injured Bo Nix. This turnover at New England’s 36-yard line was pivotal. The Patriots (17-3) sealed their first playoff triumph in Denver when Maye clinched the game with a 7-yard run on a crucial third-and-5.
New England’s win places them among a select group of teams that have captured a conference championship with 10 points or fewer. They join the Buffalo Bills, who edged out the Broncos 10-7 in the 1991 AFC Championship, and the Los Angeles Rams, who claimed a 9-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1979 NFC title game.
Despite a strong season, the Broncos (15-4) fell just short of achieving head coach Sean Payton’s preseason vision of reaching Super Bowl 60.
The game saw both teams’ kickers struggle under the harsh conditions. Denver’s Wil Lutz and New England’s Andy Borregales each missed two field goals, with their attempts going wide just before snow blanketed the field at halftime.
Reflecting on the game, Maye acknowledged the difficult conditions, stating, “It wasn’t ideal. Our defense has been outstanding throughout the playoffs. We need to play better, but I’m incredibly proud of this team. It truly was a collective effort.”
The Patriots fell behind 7-0, but had a key fourth-down stop near their own end zone to spark the comeback. Their victory was their 40th in the playoffs, breaking a tie with the San Francisco 49ers for the most in NFL history.
It was sunny at kickoff with a temperature of 26 degrees, but by halftime the snowflakes began falling and grounds crews had to use snowblowers to mark the hashmarks and yard lines by the fourth quarter, when it was 16 degrees.
After gaining just 72 yards in the first half, the Patriots opened the second half in swirling snow with a 16-play, 64-yard drive that ate up 9 1/2 minutes and ended with a 23-yard field goal by Borregales that gave New England its first lead at 10-7.
The Patriots managed just four first downs and 72 yards in the first half, punting five times and missing a field goal. But they capitalized on a short field when New England’s defense set up Maye at the Denver 12 with a takeaway and Maye took it in from 6 yards out to tie it at 7 at halftime.
Stepping in for the injured Nix (ankle surgery), Stidham’s first completion since the 2023 regular-season finale was a 52-yard dart to Marvin Mims Jr. to the New England 7 that set up Courtland Sutton’s 6-yard touchdown catch that started the scoring.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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