(No. 2) New England Patriots def. (No. 1) Denver Broncos 10-7
Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the Tom Brady era, delivering a gritty 10–7 win over the Denver Broncos in a blizzard-soaked AFC Championship Game on Sunday. Battling brutal conditions, Maye scored New England’s only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper and managed the game effectively as snow and wind turned the game into a test of toughness rather than firepower. The win sends the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl and caps a remarkable first season under head coach Mike Vrabel.
Maye’s passing numbers were modest, as expected in the weather, as he threw for just 86 yards. However, his legs proved decisive. He rushed for 65 yards, including the first-half touchdown, and sealed the game with a critical 7-yard scramble on third-and-5 late in the fourth quarter. That drive allowed New England, which finished 17–3, to drain the clock and close out the game.
The blizzard conditions dominated the afternoon, with temperatures hovering around 21 degrees and heavy snowfall reducing visibility. Players slipped repeatedly on the snow-covered field, and both teams struggled in the kicking game. Denver’s Wil Lutz and New England’s Andy Borregales each missed multiple field-goal attempts, including long tries in swirling winds just before halftime. One late Denver attempt was tipped at the line by Leonard Taylor III, a pivotal moment in a game where points were at a premium.
All eyes before kickoff were on Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, making his first start in more than two years after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury the previous week. Stidham opened with a 52-yard strike to Marvin Mims Jr. that set up Courtland Sutton’s 6-yard touchdown, but the early success fleeted. He finished 17 of 31 for 133 yards with one touchdown, two turnovers, and a costly late interception. Denver also passed up a makeable field goal on fourth-and-1 in the red zone and later lost a fumble inside its own 15, mistakes that loomed large.
New England’s resurgence under Vrabel has been one of the league’s defining stories this season. After years of rebuilding following the end of the Brady dynasty, the Patriots surged to the top of the AFC East for the first time since 2019 and now stand one win away from another championship. Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl winner as a player with New England, now has a chance to become the first person to win the title as both a player and head coach for the franchise.
The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. Seattle advanced by defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, setting the stage for final game of the season.
Super Bowl Pick (Championship Round Pick Results: 1-1)
- (No. 1) Seattle Seahawks over (No. 2) New England Patriots
