Not even a snowstorm could stop the New England Patriots from going on the road and knocking off the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. In only his first year as the team’s head coach, Mike Vrabel has taken the Patriots back to the Super Bowl.
Who would have thought the road to get there would be even uglier than it was in last week’s win over the Houston Texans?
The Patriots’ offense struggled early in protecting quarterback Drake Maye from Denver’s elite pass rush. On the other side, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who made the start for the injured Bo Nix, beat the Patriots’ defense over the top early with a 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims. He then followed that play up with a touchdown throw in the first quarter to Courtland Sutton.
You could see the smile on Stidham’s face after the first couple of drives in the game. He was settling in and finding his rhythm. Little did he know that Mother Nature and the Patriots’ defense would have something to say about that later in the game.
Broncos coach Sean Payton obviously wasn’t expecting it either considering he passed on a field goal that would have potentially had his team ahead 10-0 earlier in the game. Instead, he attempted to go for it on a 4th-and-1 on New England’s 14-yard line and failed to convert.
Looking back, that play ultimately decided the game with the Patriots’ defense stepping up and getting a huge stop in a clutch moment.
On the next offensive drive for Denver, Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss forced a fumble on Stidham that came on a backwards pass attempt that finally got New England in scoring position. Maye then cashed in on the gifted opportunity with a six-yard touchdown run.
By halftime, the skies opened at Empower Field at Mile High, and the stadium turned into a snowglobe.
The entire game became all about defense and taking care of the football. It wasn’t the prettiest 30 minutes of football, but the Patriots’ defense once again stood up to the challenge and shut out the Broncos for the entire second half to hold on for a 10-7 victory.
Maye went 10-of-21 for 86 passing yards, along with rushing the ball 10 times for 65 yards on the ground. The second-year quarterback’s usage of his legs was key when things got tight, and like he has all postseason, he made the big plays when the Patriots needed them, including one run that went for 28 yards.
And then he iced the game late in the fourth quarter.
DRAKE MAYE OUTRUNS HIM
NEvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/1FoNGda29L— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026
The Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season. Sure, they have things to clean up along the offensive line, and there’s hope that Maye will be better in a warmer and drier climate. It has been nothing but top defenses and the elements for Maye and company throughout these playoffs.
But through the strength of the defense and the offense stepping up in clutch moments, they will have an opportunity to hoist the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Instant analysis of Patriots’ 10-7 AFC Championship win over Broncos