Broncos Fall Short, Patriots Punch Super Bowl Ticket Behind Rookie QB Drake Maye
Sean Payton had a message for Broncos fans leading into the AFC Championship Game: be loud, then rest your voices for two weeks. The implication was clear-Denver expected to be playing in the Super Bowl.
Instead, it's the Patriots who are packing their bags for Vegas.
In a gritty, grind-it-out 10-7 win at Empower Field at Mile High, Mike Vrabel’s Patriots silenced both the Denver crowd and the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes. The weather was ugly-snow swirling, wind howling-but New England embraced the chaos and came out on top, earning a trip to the big game while Denver heads into an offseason full of what-ifs.
Payton’s pregame comments added a little extra spice to an already storied rivalry. Whether it gave the Patriots bulletin-board material or not, they certainly played like a team with something to prove. And now, it’s Denver-not New England-that has months to rest.
Drake Maye Breaks the Mile High Curse
Here’s the headline stat: Drake Maye just did something Tom Brady never could.
According to CBS’s Jim Nantz during the broadcast, Brady went 0-3 in road playoff games in Denver throughout his legendary career. Maye? He’s 1-0.
That’s not to say the rookie lit it up in the box score. This was far from a quarterback showcase. But Maye did what great quarterbacks do-he made just enough plays when it mattered, avoided the big mistake, and leaned on his defense to carry the day.
In a game where the elements were as much a factor as the players, Maye showed poise beyond his years. The snow and wind turned the field into a slip-and-slide, but the Patriots offense managed to scrape together just enough-thanks in part to a defense that smothered Russell Wilson and made life miserable for Payton’s offense.
Patriots Defense Delivers Again
If there’s one consistent storyline for New England this postseason, it’s the defense showing up in big moments. That unit was the backbone of this win, holding Denver to just seven points and coming up with key stops down the stretch.
Vrabel’s group played with discipline, physicality, and a clear game plan to keep Wilson uncomfortable in the pocket. They forced Denver to beat them through the air in tough conditions-and the Broncos couldn’t.
What's Next
For Denver, this one’s going to sting. They had the home-field advantage, the crowd, and the expectation that this was their year to break through. But in the end, they couldn’t crack the code of a Patriots team that’s peaking at the right time.
As for New England, the story now shifts to Las Vegas. Drake Maye, in his rookie season, is headed to the Super Bowl-something few quarterbacks have done, and something even the GOAT himself never managed in Denver.
The Patriots are back on the biggest stage, and this time, they’re doing it with a new face of the franchise.