though their return for a touchdown didn\u2019t count because the play was whistled dead<\/a>. It didn\u2019t matter, as Maye ran 6 yards on a quarterback draw for the touchdown and a tie score.<\/p>\nThe Broncos had a few mistakes, Stidham\u2019s fumble being the worst. They decided against a field-goal attempt on a fourth-and-1, passed it and Stidham threw incomplete under pressure. They missed a field goal with 20 seconds left in the first half. In many ways the Broncos had thoroughly outplayed the Patriots, but they were still just tied 7-7 at halftime. New England had to feel pretty good about that after a poor start.<\/p>\n
Then the weather turned bad and it turned the field into an unplayable mess.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Snow to start 2nd half<\/strong><\/p>\nBy the time the teams came out of the locker room for the second half, snow had started to fall. New England decided it was time to run the ball. Mostly using the running game, and getting a 28-yard scramble from Maye and a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1, New England had its best drive to start the second half. The Broncos held inside the 10-yard line, but the Patriots got a field goal to take the lead. They were fortunate to get that lead before the field became much worse.<\/p>\n
Snow had covered the field by the end of the third quarter. For a Broncos offense with its backup quarterback, the weather didn\u2019t help their struggles moving the ball. After a couple Broncos punts to start the second half, Stidham\u2019s deep throw to Mims and the touchdown to Sutton when the skies were sunny and clear seemed like it happened in a different game weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
The Broncos had a shot to tie the game with less than five minutes left to go. A bad punt set them up with good field position but the offense couldn\u2019t get a first down. The Broncos tried a 46-yard field goal in miserable conditions and it was blocked.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Denver got the ball back when the Patriots decided to run three times and punt, but the odds of them going all the way downfield and scoring seemed very low. Denver had to try something, and when Stidham threw deep, it was picked off by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez with 2:11 left. That practically punched New England\u2019s ticket to the Super Bowl. Maye\u2019s run with 1:51 left for the first down made it official.<\/p>\n
The Broncos will spend the offseason wondering how things might have been different if Nix had stayed healthy, or if the snow had at least given Stidham and the offense a chance in the second half. The Patriots were just thrilled to be moving on, with much better weather in Santa Clara for their next game.<\/p>\n
Live57 updates<\/p>\n
\n- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 12:11 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769383151_114_dims.jpeg\"\/)
Sun, January 25, 2026 at 3:11 PM PST\nIan Casselberry<\/p>\n
Patriots – 206 yards total offense<\/strong>
Drake Maye: 10-of-21, 86 yards\/ 10 rushes, 65 yards, 1 TD
Rhamondre Stevenson: 25 carries, 71 yards
Mack Hollins: 2 catches, 51 yards<\/p>\nBroncos – 181 yards total offense<\/strong>
Jarrett Stidham: 17-of-31, 133 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RJ Harvey: 13 rushes, 37 yards
Marvin Mims Jr.: 4 catches, 62 yards<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 3:07 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Drake Maye takes three kneeldowns after Denver\u2019s 5-yard encroachment penalty to run out the clock and the Patriots finish a 10-7 victory over the Broncos to win the AFC championship.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 3:04 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
D.J. Jones commits an encroachment penalty and giving the Patriots 5 yards means they can kneel out the clock.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 3:01 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Facing a third-and-6 with 1:57 left on the clock, Drake Maye fakes a handoff and rolls out left to run for 7 yards and a Patriots\u2019 first down.<\/p>\n
Denver has to use its final timeout and that should clinch the win for New England.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:58 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Rhamondre Stevenson gains 4 yards on first-and-10 to take the game to the 2-minute warning.<\/p>\n
The Patriots have a second-and-6 at their 40-yard line. Denver has one timeout remaining.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:56 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Following a desperate 1-yard toss to RJ Harvey, Jarrett Stidham is picked off attempting a deep throw to Marvin Mims Jr.<\/p>\n
Christian Gonzalez gets the interception on the underthrown pass and the Patriots take over on their 36-yard line with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:53 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
The tough sledding continues for both offenses in the snow. New England can\u2019t get a first down after three Rhamondre Stevenson rushing attempts result in 1 yard gained.<\/p>\n
A 31-yard punt by Bryce Baringer pushes the Broncos back to their 32-yard line with 3:05 remaining in the game.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:51 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Wil Lutz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt through the snow after the Broncos can\u2019t get a first down. Leonard Taylor III appeared to tip the kick for New England.<\/p>\n
The Patriots take over at their 36-yard line with 4:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:46 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
New England loses 1 yard on its next possession, with Rhamondre Stevenson gaining 2 yards following Drake Maye rushing for a 3-yard loss. Maye throw incomplete on third-and-11 and the Patriots have to punt.<\/p>\n
Denver takes over on the New England 33-yard line following a 26-yard punt by Bryce Baringer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Offense is still difficult for the Broncos to generate.<\/p>\n
Denver got some push in its running game and got a first down, but two incompletions by Jarrett Stidham and a 4-yard gain on third-and-10 forces the Broncos to punt again.<\/p>\n
The Patriots take over at their 8-yard line after a 45-yard punt by Jeremy Crawshaw.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:40 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
CBS reporter Evan Washburn letting snow collect on his magnificent head of hair is a bold choice. Football players aren\u2019t the only tough ones on the field today.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:38 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
As CBS\u2019 Tracy Wolfson explained on the broadcast, the Patriots are driving right into the snow when they\u2019re on offense.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:36 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
The Patriots grinded out some rushing yards on their ensuing possession, with Rhamondre Stevenson gaining 17 yards on three carries.<\/p>\n
However, Drake Maye gets sacked for a 7-yard loss on third-and-4 which stalls the drive at the New England 30-yard line.<\/p>\n
Denver gets the ball back at its 30-yard line after a 40-yard punt by Bryce Baringer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:32 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Denver can\u2019t generate much offense in the snowy conditions right now. Jarrett Stidham throws incomplete on third-and-7 to Lil\u2019Jordan Humphrey and the Broncos have to punt.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Crawshaw kicks 60 yards for a touchback and the Patriots take over at their20-yard line with 14:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:27 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
The Patriots\u2019 drive stalled after that big 31-yard pass to Mack Hollins. Three subsequent plays result in 3 yards gained and New England has to settle for a field goal.<\/p>\n
However, Andy Borregales\u2019 46-yard attempt through the snow tails wide right.<\/p>\n
Denver takes over at its 37-yard line with 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:18 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Drake Maye challenges the snow, throwing a 31-yard completion to Mack Hollins on a second-and-6 flea flicker from the Patriots\u2019 38-yard line.<\/p>\n
First down for New England at the Denver 31-yard line after the big play in which Maye gets the ball over two Broncos defenders.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:16 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
The weather could be a factor going into the fourth quarter as the snow is starting to fall harder in Denver.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:14 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
Denver can\u2019t answer New England\u2019s field goal, gaining only 6 yards in three plays on its next possession.<\/p>\n
The Patriots take over at their 21-yard line following a 52-yard punt by Jeremy Crawshaw and 2-yard Marcus Jones return.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:07 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
After a first down was ruled, the Patriots couldn\u2019t push any further to the end zone. Two Rhamondre Stevenson rushes \u2014 including a direct snap to him on a trick play \u2014 gained 4 yards.<\/p>\n
But Drake Maye was sacked by Jonathan Cooperfor a 2-yard loss on third-and-3 from the Denver 3-yard line and New England has to settle for a field goal.<\/p>\n
Andy Borregales kicks a 23-yarder and the Patriots take the lead.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- Sun, January 25, 2026 at 2:03 PM PST\n
Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n
A very close call is upheld after replay review, giving the Patriots a first down on a QB sneak by Drake Maye.<\/p>\n
On CBS, Gene Steratore said he would\u2019ve liked to see a measurement after none was taken.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DENVER \u2014 The New England Patriots ruled the NFL for most of two decades, and when they fell,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":542805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[239234,18272,32525,145117,51378,8605,29345,172503,21438,233071,76568,52871,533,239235,50909,62,1263,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-542804","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-afc-championship-game","9":"tag-bo-nix","10":"tag-broncos","11":"tag-christian-gonzalez","12":"tag-courtland-sutton","13":"tag-denver","14":"tag-drake-maye","15":"tag-jarrett-stidham","16":"tag-jerry-jeudy","17":"tag-marvin-mims-jr","18":"tag-mike-vrabel","19":"tag-new-england","20":"tag-new-england-patriots","21":"tag-patriots-dynasty","22":"tag-raiders","23":"tag-sports","24":"tag-tom-brady","25":"tag-united-states","26":"tag-unitedstates","27":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115958302318300781","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=542804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/542805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=542804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=542804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=542804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}