For the 12th time in franchise history and the first time since Tom Brady left Foxborough, the New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl.
On the back of a stout defensive performance and a steady dual-threat game from quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots took down the host Denver Broncos 10-7 in Sunday’s AFC championship.
It was an all-out defensive showcase from both sides in what turned into a blizzard, as the Patriots came into the showdown with the NFL’s fourth-best scoring defence and the Broncos had the third-best, but a strong rushing game from Maye proved to be the distinguishing factor.
The QB ran for 69 yards and a touchdown in a game where the Patriots’ passing attack couldn’t get going.
Meanwhile, the Broncos were unable to get their offence going on a snowy day behind backup QB Jarrett Stidham, who got the start in place of the injured Bo Nix.
Despite lobbing a touchdown to Courtland Sutton on the Broncos’ opening drive, Denver was shut down the rest of the way. A decision from head coach Sean Payton to go for it on fourth-and-one at the Patriots’ 14-yard line proved costly, as the Broncos left three points on the board in the tight showdown.
The Patriots’ special teams also came up clutch in the fourth, as defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III tipped a 45-yard field goal from Will Lutz, which would’ve tied the game at 10–10. Then, on a late drive from the Broncos with three minutes to go, Stidham threw an interception to cornerback Christian Gonzalez to pretty much ice the game.
With the win, the Patriots will now head to San Francisco for Super Bowl LX as they await the winner of the NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, taking place later Sunday.
