Drake Maye made a significant impact during the AFC Championship Game, showcasing his ability to lead and make crucial plays. In the first half, he ran for a touchdown, and in the final moments of the game, he delivered a first down that sealed New England’s 10-7 victory over the Broncos in Denver. His performance was complemented by a strong defensive effort from the Patriots.

The game plan for the defense was clear: “Dominate up front,” said defensive tackle Milton Williams. And that’s exactly what they did. Maye, who became the second-youngest quarterback to start the Super Bowl at age 23, played a pivotal role in the team’s success. The Patriots are making their 12th appearance in the Super Bowl and will face the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 on Sunday.

Maye led a critical field-goal drive in the third quarter that included a fourth-down conversion and consumed more than nine minutes of clock time. Those three points helped secure the 10-7 lead, which held throughout the rest of the game.

“That boy is a dog,” Williams said, highlighting Maye’s determination and resilience.

Coach Mike Vrabel has been guiding Maye since he was a first-round pick acquired by the Patriots. Vrabel emphasized that Maye needed to be the “conductor” of the game, controlling the environment and making as many positive plays as possible.

New England made history by becoming the first team to defeat three teams in the playoffs with defenses that finished in the top five in total defense. Despite being sacked 15 times during the three-game playoff run against the Chargers (No. 5), Texans (No. 1), and Broncos (No. 2), Maye found ways to make impactful plays.

Maye had the Patriots’ two longest running plays, including a 28-yard run, and rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. Of his 10 completions, only one went more than 11 yards, a 31-yard connection with Mack Hollins on a flea-flicker, totaling 86 passing yards.

Stefon Diggs, who is playing in his third conference championship game, gave all the credit to Maye after the game. “That’s a soldier, man. That’s a MVP, man,” said Diggs, 32. “That’s a man that stands 10 toes, battles through adversity.”

Maye’s 6-yard touchdown in the first half tied the game at 7. This came after the Broncos scored first on a 6-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham to Courtland Sutton. The Broncos missed a 32-yard field goal and an opportunity for a 10-0 lead when they went for a fourth-down pass that was incomplete at the 9:22 mark in the second quarter. Wil Lutz also missed a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter.

In the final two-minute warning, Maye took the snap under center and executed a naked bootleg to his left. He raced against Broncos linebacker Jonah Elliss and managed to gain 5 yards, securing the win for New England.

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with the Patriots, now has a chance to become the first person to win the Lombardi Trophy with the same franchise both as a player and as a head coach. Gary Kubiak, who was a backup quarterback for the Broncos, guided Peyton Manning and Denver to a Super Bowl win in 2016.

Vrabel, who played linebacker before transitioning to coaching, has built a rugged defense known for its swagger. Williams mentioned that the Patriots were motivated by praise for the opponent’s defense. In three playoff games, the Patriots have allowed only 26 total points.

With a 7-0 lead, the Broncos opted not to kick a field goal and went for a first down but failed, reinforcing New England’s “no respect” narrative.

“We got a lot of guys that’s been counted out. Nobody really believed in us and what we could do,” Williams said. “They’re probably gonna say it’s just how they played (today), we ain’t do nothing, it’s what they did. We got one more game to go out there and take care of business and see if we get some credit then.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton expressed regrets about going for it on fourth down. “It’s also a call you make based on the team you’re playing and what you’re watching on the other side of the ball. Yeah, there’s always going to be second thoughts.”

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez intercepted Stidham with 2:11 remaining, helping secure the win. The Patriots also capitalized on a backyard pass from Stidham earlier in the game.

“Our defense is going to hold it down. If we don’t turn the ball over, we’re going to do our part,” Gonzalez said. “As a corner, you don’t get too many chances. You just want to make the plays when it comes your way. I just saw the ball in the air. I was playing off. Doesn’t happen very often, I’m always in press. At that point it was like I’m playing receiver again. Go up and get it at its highest point and bring it down.”