Patriots return to Super Bowl after narrow AFC title win over Broncos
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The New England Patriots had one task heading into the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos: close the book on any Cinderella story their opponent might create.
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham did his best with a big touchdown drive on the team’s second drive of the game. But the Patriots defense stepped up and got some help from the snow at Empower Field at Mile High and pulled out the win.
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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots rushes to score during the second quarter of the AFC Championship Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Jarrett Stidham of the Denver Broncos looks to pass while under pressure during the first quarter of the AFC Championship Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who was burned by Stidham’s pass to Marvin Mims earlier in the game, intercepted Stidham’s final pass of the game. Then, Drake Maye’s tough third-down run clinched the game for the Patriots.
New England won 10-7.
Maye was 10-for-21 with 86 passing yards. He was fired five times. He was called upon to tie the game in the first half after a Stidham turnover. He had a 6-yard touchdown run that put New England on the board.
He did enough to lead the Patriots to victory. When the snow fell, the Broncos couldn’t get the offense going and the special teams faltered enough to cost them some points.
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Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos catches a touchdown during the first quarter of the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks toward his bench during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
The defense was able to get to Stidham three times. He was 17-for-31 with 133 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton in the first quarter. That was all the offense Denver could muster.
The Patriots return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2019 season. It will be the team’s first Super Bowl appearance in the post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era. The duo led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during the peak of their careers.
The “Patriot Way” lives on even after the Belichick-Brady era.
Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine celebrates a tackle against the New England Patriots during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (John Locher/AP Photo)
New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, right, during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
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Now, the Patriots will wait to see who will be on the other side of the field in Super Bowl LX. It will be the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.