Leonard Taylor III picked the perfect moment to make the biggest play of his young NFL career.
With the snow falling harder and the AFC Championship Game hanging in the balance, the New England Patriots clung to a 10-7 lead over the Denver Broncos late in the fourth quarter. Denver had driven into field goal range and lined up for a 45-yard attempt to tie the game. That’s when Taylor, a recent call-up from the Patriots’ practice squad, burst through the line and got a hand on Wil Lutz’s kick - a clutch block that helped seal New England’s trip to Super Bowl LX.
It was the kind of moment that turns unknowns into heroes. And for Taylor, it was a culmination of a season spent grinding behind the scenes, waiting for his shot.
Let’s set the stage. The Broncos were working with great field position and the weather wasn’t doing anyone any favors - visibility was low, footing was worse, and every snap felt like it could swing the game.
But as Lutz lined up for the potential game-tying kick, Taylor exploded off the line and made contact with the ball, sending it fluttering off course. Just like that, what could’ve been a game-tying score turned into a defining stop.
The Patriots' sideline erupted. And while the offense didn’t light up the stat sheet, they did just enough to get the job done.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye had a modest day through the air, throwing for just 86 yards. But he made his impact felt with his legs, rushing for 65 yards and scoring New England’s lone touchdown on a 6-yard keeper late in the first half to tie things up at 7-7. In the closing minutes, Maye delivered again - this time with a crucial third-down scramble that allowed the Patriots to run out the clock and punch their ticket to Santa Clara.
On the other side, Denver was trying to navigate life without rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who went down with a season-ending ankle injury in last week’s win over Buffalo. Jarrett Stidham got the nod and managed 181 total yards on offense, but the Patriots’ defense kept him in check all night. The final nail came when cornerback Christian Gonzalez picked off Stidham late, effectively ending Denver’s hopes.
But the spotlight belongs to Taylor.
The former Miami Hurricane has been on the Patriots’ radar all season. He’s been elevated multiple times from the practice squad and has earned praise from head coach Mike Vrabel for his work ethic and physical tools. Sunday night, he turned that trust into production.
Taylor’s college résumé shows flashes of the disruptor he’s becoming. In three seasons at Miami from 2021 to 2023, he racked up 24 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception during a standout 2022 campaign.
Even as a freshman, he was making noise - 21 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and two sacks. He went undrafted but bounced between the Jets and Patriots before landing on New England’s practice squad in October 2025.
Now? He’s a key reason why the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl.
It’s the kind of underdog story that defines playoff football - a player grinding behind the scenes, waiting for the right moment, and delivering when it matters most. If Taylor’s block is any indication, his journey is just getting started.