The Unlikely Road to the Super Bowl

Veteran New England Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams has acknowledged that the team’s remarkable turnaround this season, going from 4-13 last year to a 14-3 record in 2024, was unexpected. Despite his confidence in the franchise’s ability to improve, he admits that achieving such success so quickly was not something he anticipated. To show his faith in the team’s potential, Williams signed a four-year, $104 million contract last offseason. However, the rapid transformation of the Patriots into a playoff contender still surprised him.

The Patriots have now made history by becoming the first NFL team to reach the Super Bowl after finishing the regular season with 13 losses. Their journey has been anything but conventional. The team faced an unusually soft schedule throughout the season due to the weak AFC East and a group of teams that finished in last place based on their previous year’s performance.

In the playoffs, the offense and quarterback Drake Maye, who was considered a regular-season MVP candidate, struggled significantly. The Patriots scored only 54 points in three playoff games, including a touchdown that came from a forced fumble by the defense. Despite these challenges, the team managed to defeat the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, 10-7, in a hard-fought defensive battle.

“Nobody Believed in Us”

Williams emphasized that the Patriots’ path to the Super Bowl has been met with skepticism. He pointed out that many people did not believe in the team’s ability to succeed, even as they reached the AFC Championship. “We got a lot of guys who have been counted out. Nobody believed in us,” Williams said. “They probably gonna say it’s just how they (the Broncos) played, we ain’t did nothing. It was just what they did. But like I said, we got one more game, we’ll go out and take care of business. See if we get some credit then.”

He added that he doesn’t focus on the numbers or the criticism. “I don’t care about numbers, and all that. Whatever. We gotta go out there, we gotta play. All that stuff don’t matter when you get between them lines. We’ll see what’s gonna happen.”

Key Players Who Stepped Up

While the offense struggled, several players stepped up to lead the Patriots to victory. Quarterback Drake Maye, despite a modest stat line of 10-for-21 passing for 86 yards and no touchdowns, contributed significantly with his running ability. He rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries, including the team’s lone touchdown. Additionally, Maye made a crucial third-down run with 1:57 remaining in the game, which helped secure the win.

The defense also played a critical role in the victory. Christian Gonzalez, a 2024 All-Pro cornerback, recorded an interception with 2:18 left in the game, preventing a Denver comeback. Christian Ellis, the brother of Broncos linebacker Jonah Elliss, had a strip sack of Jarrett Stidham in the second quarter, which shifted the momentum of the game.

A Hero from the Practice Squad

Milton Williams also highlighted the contributions of Leonard Taylor III, a practice squad player who was signed in October. Taylor made a pivotal play in the fourth quarter by blocking Will Lutz’s 45-yard field goal attempt, helping the Patriots maintain their lead. “LT, No. 93, L.T. made a huge play,” Williams said. “He came in here and just worked, busted his butt everyday. Learning, learning our defense. I told him, man, these are the games where people want to figure out who you are. Come out here, make some plays, and they’re gonna know who you are. He went out there and made a big play for us, blocked the kick and gave us the opportunity to win the game.”