Stefon Diggs, Resilient as Ever, Helps Patriots Punch Ticket to Super Bowl LX
DENVER - The snow was falling, the defenses were flying, and Stefon Diggs was doing what he’s done his entire career: showing up when it matters most.
The veteran wide receiver, now in his 11th NFL season, played a pivotal role in the New England Patriots’ gritty 10-7 win over the top-seeded Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. With the win, the Patriots are headed to Super Bowl LX, where they’ll face the Seattle Seahawks on February 8 in Santa Clara.
It wasn’t pretty-this one was a slugfest in the snow, the kind of game that tests your toughness more than your talent. But Diggs showed both.
He led the Patriots with five catches, none bigger than the one that etched his name a little deeper into NFL postseason lore. That fifth reception made him just the 11th player in league history to notch 80 career postseason catches, and only the ninth to do it within 11 seasons.
He’s now just six receptions away from passing Hall of Famer Andre Reed for 10th all-time in playoff catches-a milestone that speaks to Diggs’ consistency and clutch factor when the lights are brightest.
After the game, Diggs summed it up in a way only a seasoned vet could:
"I'll take an ugly win before I take a pretty loss," he told reporters.
**"Nobody's satisfied. Happy, but not complacent.
We're blessed to be where we are, but we know there's more out there for us." **
That mindset has defined Diggs’ journey this season. Coming off a torn ACL, he wasn’t just fighting to get back on the field-he was fighting to return to form.
And he did just that. Diggs led the Patriots in both receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) during the regular season, reestablishing himself as the go-to option in a revamped New England offense.
"I'm just so proud of this team," Diggs told NFL Network postgame. **"You don't know how hard this year has been, battling the injury and coming back.
Being around the right group of guys. Great quarterback.
Great OC. Great team.
Great head coach. It made it all worth it, all the hard work.
We've got one more." **
Diggs’ career has always been about resilience. From his college days at Maryland, where he racked up over 4,100 all-purpose yards and became one of the most dynamic players in program history, to his rise through the NFL ranks as one of the league’s most dependable and explosive receivers, he’s built a reputation on grit, precision, and big-game performances.
At Maryland, Diggs left his mark-second all-time in receiving yards (2,227), sixth in receptions (150), and sixth in receiving touchdowns (14). He was electric then, and he’s still electric now-just with more scars, more wisdom, and more postseason hardware.
Now, with a Super Bowl appearance on the horizon, Diggs has the chance to add the one thing that’s eluded him: a ring.
He’s been to the mountaintop before and come up just short. But this time feels different.
This time, he’s the veteran voice in the locker room. The battle-tested leader.
The guy who’s been through the fire and come out stronger.
And if his performance in the AFC Championship is any indication, Stefon Diggs isn’t just chasing a title-he’s ready to earn it.