The Patriots survived brutal conditions at Mile High to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX, leaning on defense and timely quarterback play as the weather flipped dramatically in the second half. Snow and wind turned the game into a grind, and New England was far better equipped to handle it.
Mike Vrabel’s defense smothered Denver after halftime, allowing just 32 yards on five second-half possessions. Facing backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, the Patriots shut down the Broncos’ running game, holding them to 3.3 yards per carry and only three rushing first downs. Denver managed just one explosive play all afternoon—a 52-yard completion to Marvin Mims Jr. that set up its lone touchdown. Outside of that moment, New England controlled the game, forcing two turnovers and allowing only four first downs over the Broncos’ final eight drives.
The Patriots’ defensive front dominated a strong Denver offensive line, sacking Stidham three times and consistently winning in pressure situations. Stidham completed just one of 10 passes for four yards when pressured and finished 4-of-14 on third downs. A defense that entered the postseason with questions has answered them decisively at every turn.
Offensively, the conditions made throwing the ball difficult for both teams, and Drake Maye’s passing numbers reflected it. The MVP candidate completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards and was sacked five times, but he protected the football and made the difference with his legs. Maye scrambled 10 times for 65 yards and scored the Patriots’ only touchdown. His runs of 28, 16, and 13 yards were the longest gains by either team. With the passing game stalled and Rhamondre Stevenson limited to 2.8 yards per carry, Maye’s mobility provided the Patriots’ most important moments.
Maye’s rushing touchdown tied the game in the first half. His 28-yard scramble on third-and-9 set up the go-ahead field goal in the third quarter. Late, with Denver hoping for one final possession, Maye sealed the outcome with a 7-yard scramble on third-and-5. During a season defined by composure, he once again delivered, becoming the first quarterback to defeat three top-five total defenses in a single postseason.
Stidham, making his first appearance in more than 700 days, started unsteadily before briefly settling in. After missing on his first three throws, he connected on a 52-yard pass and followed it with a short touchdown to calm his nerves. That momentum vanished once New England increased the pressure. Deep in his own territory late in the second quarter, Stidham attempted to avoid a sack and flipped the ball backward, resulting in a fumble that handed the Patriots a short field and a touchdown. He made a handful of quality throws but struggled badly under duress, finishing 17 of 31 for 133 yards with a touchdown and an interception that ended Denver’s final chance.
Special teams were uneven for New England, with punter Bryce Baringer struggling and rookie kicker Andres Borregales missing from 63 and 46 yards. Still, when the game was on the line, the Patriots delivered a decisive play. With 4:46 remaining and Denver attempting a 45-yard field goal to tie the game, Leonard Taylor III—called up from the practice squad—got a hand on the kick to force the miss, a moment that proved pivotal.
A critical early decision by Denver also loomed large. Leading 7–0 and driving into the red zone, the Broncos faced fourth-and-1 after a Jarrett Stidham scramble came up short. Sean Payton elected to go for it rather than take a field goal, and the play collapsed under heavy pressure. Given the worsening weather and a backup quarterback making his first start since 2023, passing on a chance to take a two-score lead proved costly. Instead, the Broncos were forced to play from behind as snow and wind took over the game, a decision that will linger throughout the offseason.
New England has averaged 18.0 points per game this postseason, the fewest by any team to reach the Super Bowl since the 1979 Rams. Now, that offense will have a chance to capture a Super Bowl for the Patriots for the first time since the Tom Brady era.
