The second half of the AFC Championship Game in Denver felt like a throwback - and if you’re a New England Patriots fan, it was a familiar kind of chaos. Snow swirling, wind whipping, a low-scoring slugfest where every yard mattered. It had echoes of that unforgettable 2001 playoff showdown against the Raiders - the final game ever played at old Foxboro Stadium - when a young Tom Brady and a clutch Adam Vinatieri introduced the world to the Patriots dynasty.
On Sunday, it was fitting that Vinatieri was in the building to hand over the Lamar Hunt Trophy to Robert Kraft. The scene was almost cinematic - the franchise’s most clutch kicker watching a new generation grind out another gritty win in the elements. And once again, special teams played a starring role.
New England’s 10-7 win over the Broncos wasn’t pretty, but it was the kind of victory that’s become the Patriots’ calling card this postseason: defense-first, mistake-free, and just enough offense to get over the line. Kicking was critical, and while rookie Andy Borregales only hit one of his three field goal attempts, that lone make in the third quarter proved to be the difference.
On the other side, Denver had a chance to tie things up late with a 45-yard field goal - the exact distance Vinatieri nailed in the “Snow Bowl” 24 years ago - but the Patriots’ special teams came up huge. The kick was blocked and drifted wide, preserving New England’s narrow lead.
But this game wasn’t just about what went right for the Patriots. If anything, it also highlighted a glaring weak spot that’s been hanging around all season: punting.
Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw was outstanding. He handled the brutal conditions with poise, averaging 51.5 yards per punt and pinning the Patriots deep three different times. He didn’t give Marcus Jones - one of the NFL’s most electric returners - a single real opportunity to flip the field.
Meanwhile, New England’s Bryce Baringer had another rough outing. He’s had an up-and-down year, and Sunday was one of the low points.
He punted eight times - for the second straight game - and managed just 37.9 yards per kick, with a long of 45. That brings his postseason average to 40.3 yards per punt, a number that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence heading into the Super Bowl.
To his credit, Baringer did what he could to manage the chaos. He cleanly handled every snap, some of which came dangerously close to his own end zone.
He also kept dangerous Broncos returner Marvin Mims in check, limiting him to just eight yards on three returns - something Baringer said was a major point of emphasis going into the game. The strategy was clear: sacrifice distance for control, and take Mims out of the equation.
Still, when you stack Baringer’s performance next to Crawshaw’s, the difference is hard to ignore. Both punters faced the same conditions, but only one consistently flipped the field. That discrepancy could’ve easily swung the result if not for the Patriots’ suffocating defense and a timely special teams block.
New England’s defense continues to be the engine of this playoff run, and their ability to smother elite offenses has been historic. They’ve now become the first team in NFL history to defeat three of the league’s top-five defenses in consecutive postseason games - a testament to both their resilience and their game planning.
Offensively, it’s been all about ball security and field position. Drake Maye hasn’t lit up the scoreboard, but he’s protected the football, and in games like this one, that’s been enough.
Josh McDaniels has leaned into a conservative, execution-based approach, and it’s working. The Patriots are ending drives with kicks - whether it’s a punt, a field goal, or an extra point - and avoiding costly turnovers. That formula, paired with a defense that doesn’t blink, has them one win away from another Super Bowl title.
Looking ahead to Santa Clara and Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks, the weather should be far more forgiving. But even with two weeks to prepare, don’t expect head coach Mike Vrabel to shake things up at punter.
He’s publicly backed Baringer, especially praising his work as the holder for Borregales. And at this point in the season, the Patriots are riding with the roster that got them here.
Still, the punting game is a concern - and one that could resurface on the biggest stage. For a team that’s built its identity on special teams excellence, with standouts like Marcus Jones and Brenden Schooler, it’s an area Vrabel and the front office may look to address once the confetti settles.
For now, though, the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. And if history has taught us anything, it's that when the stakes are highest and the weather clears, this team knows how to finish.