DENVER – The New England Patriots proved that neither the home team nor the weather could stop them from securing a spot in Super Bowl 60.

“I’ll be damned if we let a little snow stop us from going to the Super Bowl,” said Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte after the team’s 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game on Jan. 25.

“We get a lot of money to play in the weather, no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s rain, snow, sleet, a blizzard, it doesn’t matter.”

The game was heavily impacted by the harsh weather conditions. As the second half began at Empower Field, snowfall, strong winds, and poor visibility turned the field into a challenge for both teams. The turf became slippery, making it difficult for players to maintain their footing.

The elements played a key role in several missed opportunities. Both kickers, Andy Borregales of the Patriots and Wil Lutz of the Broncos, struggled with the conditions, combining for three missed field goals in the conference title game. This marked the first time since 1991 that a conference championship game had such a record. Additionally, New England’s Bryce Baringer shanked a 26-yard punt, further complicating the kicking game.

The passing game also suffered, especially for the Broncos. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, replacing injured starter Bo Nix, managed just 10 yards in the second half. He threw an interception to Christian Gonzalez on the team’s final possession, which sealed the outcome for the Patriots.

“The conditions weren’t great. But they had to play in them, too,” said Broncos tight end Adam Trautman. “If you had said we’d have homefield advantage in the AFC championship game, we’d take a snow game, too. They were just better than us today … (And) you feel the margin of error is super-small in this type of game.”

Despite the challenges, the Patriots’ rushing attack proved to be a decisive factor. New England rushed the ball 38 times for 141 yards, led by Rhamondre Stevenson’s 71 yards on 25 carries. The consistent ground game allowed the Patriots to control the tempo of the game, as getting first downs became a major challenge for the Broncos.

Quarterback Drake Maye also showcased his ability to adapt to the conditions. He escaped the pocket for a 28-yard run, the longest of the game, and added a seven-yard scramble on a third-and-five to seal the victory. Maye finished with 10 scrambles for 65 yards, demonstrating his effectiveness despite the adverse weather.

“It was definitely a little slick,” Maye said of the footing. “Still, the Patriots quarterback escaped from the pocket for a 28-yard run that was the game’s longest. And, he added, “It was good enough on the last run to get around the edge.”

Maye iced the game with a seven-yard scamper around left end on a third-and-five. He finished with 10 scrambles for 65 yards and regardless of the elements was able to sting Denver’s defense with his legs, just as Buffalo’s Josh Allen did a week earlier.

It’s just that the degree of difficulty was a lot tougher on Sunday.

Then again, that depends on one’s perspective. After all, the Patriots are headquartered in Foxborough, where “Patriot Weather” is a real thing.

“This weather don’t mess with us,” said Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore. “We play in the snow, play in the rain. It don’t matter. We’ve played in weather much worse than this. I feel like that’s to our advantage.”

It sure turned out that way on Sunday.

One thing for certain: Snow will not be a factor in the next game, with Super Bowl 60 set to be staged in Santa Clara, California.