Points were scarce in the Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Broncos in a snowy, bitter AFC Championship Game in Denver, with the elements only making scoring tougher after halftime. A handful of pivotal plays and coaching choices swung the game and sent New England to the Super Bowl in the first postseason without Tom Brady.
One of the biggest decisions came when Denver, instead of taking a kick, elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 at New England’s 14. Under heavy pressure, Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham — forced into action after starter Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle — threw the ball away on an incomplete pass, handing the Patriots a turnover on downs. Denver never converted another scoring chance, and those missed points ultimately left them three short.
Stidham’s earlier miscue set up New England’s only touchdown. Late in the second quarter, while Denver led, Stidham, pinned by the rush, tried to rid the ball and appeared to have thrown it away. Officials initially ruled intentional grounding, wiping out what looked like a defensive score, but after review they deemed it a fumble. Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder recovered, giving New England the ball; on the very next play Drake Maye ran for a 6-yard touchdown.
In the fourth quarter there was a dramatic special-teams moment as a would-be game-tying field-goal attempt by Will Lutz sailed wide after being affected by the conditions and contact at the line. New England’s push on the kick changed the ball’s trajectory, preserving the Patriots’ three-point advantage.
With 2:19 remaining and a chance to steal the game, Stidham again erred, underthrowing a deep pass intended for Marvin Mims Jr.; Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez stepped in to make the interception and all but ended Denver’s comeback hopes.
New England then closed it out on the ground. Facing third-and-6 with under two minutes left, Maye faked a handoff, rolled left and gained enough yardage to secure a crucial first down and let the Patriots run out the clock. Maye finished with 10 carries for 65 yards, multiple first downs and the lone touchdown, anchoring New England’s offense. In the end, a few decisive defensive plays, special-teams impact, and Maye’s late composure separated the teams.
Fan take: This game matters because it shows how quickly a franchise can pivot after a Hall of Fame quarterback’s departure — New England’s defense and a mobile young QB carried them to the Super Bowl. For the NFL, it underscores the value of complementary football (defense, special teams, and a running QB) and how weather and backup QBs can dramatically reshape playoff outcomes.
