A Harsh Battle in the Snow

Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl appearance with a gritty performance under challenging conditions. Despite the snow and cold, Maye ran for 68 yards and passed for 86, scoring the team’s only touchdown on a 6-yard run. This effort helped the Patriots secure a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Christian Gonzalez made a crucial play by intercepting Jarrett Stidham, who was starting in place of an injured Bo Nix. The interception came at New England’s 36-yard line with 2:11 remaining, allowing the Patriots to seal their first playoff win in Denver. Maye then rushed for 7 yards on third-and-5 from his own 41-yard line, effectively ending the game.

In Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach, the Patriots became the third team in Super Bowl history to win a conference championship with 10 points or less. The Buffalo Bills previously achieved this feat in 1991, and the Los Angeles Rams did so in 1979.

“I’m just proud of this team,” Maye said. “Don’t have many words. Just thankful for this team. Love each and every one of them. It took everybody.”

The Broncos, who finished one step short of reaching Super Bowl 60 as predicted by Sean Payton, struggled with field goals in the frigid conditions. Both kickers missed two attempts, with Denver’s Wil Lutz and New England’s Andy Borregales missing long kicks just before the snow began falling at halftime.

The Patriots initially fell behind 7-0 but mounted a comeback after a key fourth-down stop near their own end zone. Their victory marked their 40th playoff win, breaking a tie with the San Francisco 49ers for the most in NFL history.

The game started in sunny conditions with a temperature of 26 degrees, but by halftime, snowflakes began to fall. Grounds crews had to use snowblowers to mark the hashmarks and yard lines by the fourth quarter, when the temperature dropped to 16 degrees.

“What an atmosphere out here,” Maye said. “Battle of the elements. Love this team. How about the defense? I love each and every one of them.”

After gaining just 72 yards in the first half, the Patriots opened the second half in the swirling snow with a 16-play, 64-yard drive that lasted 9 1/2 minutes. The drive ended with a 23-yard field goal by Borregales, giving New England its first lead at 10-7.

The Patriots managed only four first downs and 72 yards in the first half, punting five times and missing a field goal. However, they capitalized on a short field when the defense set up Maye at the Denver 12-yard line. Maye then took it in from 6 yards out to tie the game at 7 at halftime.

Jarrett Stidham, stepping in for the injured Nix, made his first completion since the 2023 regular-season finale. His 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. set up Courtland Sutton’s 6-yard touchdown catch, which opened the scoring. The Broncos reached New England’s 14-yard line early in the second quarter, but Payton opted to go for it. Stidham’s throw to R.J. Harvey was incomplete on fourth-and-1.

Instead of extending their lead, the Broncos were left clinging to a 7-0 advantage. Elijah Ponder recovered Stidham’s backward pass at the Denver 12-yard line, setting up the tying touchdown two plays later.

Stidham, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2019, made his first start since the 2023 regular-season finale. The Broncos were the only team in the league that didn’t give their backup quarterback any snaps or handoffs the last two seasons.

Nix, who had 11 game-winning drives in his first two NFL seasons, suffered a broken right ankle on Denver’s final drive in overtime against Buffalo last week. He didn’t come out of the game, and the extent of his injury wasn’t known until he underwent X-rays after the 33-30 win.

Injuries

Patriots: Linebacker Robert Spillane went to the injury tent with an ankle injury with 3:14 left in the first quarter.

Broncos: Wide receiver Pat Bryant, who left in the first quarter of the divisional round with a concussion, left in the first half Sunday with a pulled hamstring and didn’t return.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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