Patriots head back to Super Bowl after narrow AFC title win over Broncos

The New England Patriots had 1 task going into the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos – adjacent the publication connected immoderate Cinderella communicative that their hostile could create.

Broncos backmost Jarrett Stidham did his champion with a large touchdown thrust connected the team’s 2nd bid of the game. But the Patriots’ defence locked successful and received immoderate assistance with the snowfall astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High and picked up the victory.

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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots rushes for a touchdown during the 2nd 4th successful the AFC Championship Playoff crippled against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field At Mile High connected Jan. 25, 2026 successful Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Jarrett Stidham of the Denver Broncos looks to walk portion nether unit during the archetypal 4th successful the AFC Championship Playoff crippled against the New England Patriots astatine Empower Field At Mile High connected Jan. 25, 2026 successful Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who was burned by a Stidham walk to Marvin Mims earlier successful the game, intercepted Stidham’s last walk of the game. Then, Drake Maye’s hard-nosed tally connected 3rd down clinched the crippled for the Patriots.

New England won, 10-7.

Maye was 10-of-21 with 86 passing yards. He was sacked 5 times. He was called upon to necktie the crippled successful the archetypal fractional aft a Stidham turnover. He had a 6-yard touchdown tally that enactment New England connected the board.

He did conscionable capable to usher the Patriots to a victory. As the snowfall came down, the Broncos couldn’t get the discourtesy going and peculiar teams sputtered conscionable capable to outgo them immoderate points.

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Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos catches a touchdown during the archetypal 4th of the AFC Championship crippled against the New England Patriots astatine Empower Field At Mile High connected Jan. 25, 2026 successful Denver, Colorado. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye looks towards his seat during the 2nd fractional of the AFC Championship NFL shot crippled against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The defence was capable to get to Stidham 3 times. He was 17-of-31 with 133 passing yards and a touchdown walk to Courtland Sutton successful the archetypal quarter. That was each the discourtesy Denver could muster.

The Patriots are backmost successful the Super Bowl for the archetypal clip since the 2019 season. It volition beryllium the team’s archetypal Super Bowl quality successful the post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era. The duo led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during the pinnacle of their careers.

The "Patriot Way" lives connected adjacent successful the aftermath of the Belichick-Brady era.

Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine celebrates a tackle against the New England Patriots during the 2nd the fractional of the AFC Championship NFL shot game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver.  (AP Photo/John Locher)

New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones breaks up a walk intended for Denver Broncos Lil' Jordan Humphrey, right, during the 2nd fractional of the AFC Championship NFL shot game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Now, the Patriots volition hold to spot who volition beryllium connected the different broadside of the tract successful Super Bowl LX. It volition either beryllium the Seattle Seahawks oregon Los Angeles Rams.

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