The New England Patriots booked their place at Tremendous Bowl LX as they edged out the Denver Broncos 10-7 in close to blizzard situations within the AFC Championship sport.
The Patriots tallied solely 72 yards on offense, and three first downs, within the first half however managed to enter the break stage at 7-7 after a expensive Jarrett Stidham fumble for Denver.
The Broncos’ back-up quarterback, making his first NFL begin in two years because of Bo Nix’s season-ending damage suffered within the divisional spherical, began the sport properly and earned Denver a 7-0 lead after following up a 52-yard strike to Marvin Mims with a landing toss to Courtland Sutton within the first quarter.
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Jarrett Stidham follows up a surprising deep ball to Marvin Mims with a six-yard landing toss to Courtland Sutton for the Denver Broncos
However, with the Broncos’ protection utterly shutting down New England’s offense, Denver have been left to rue a Stidham fumble from their very own 33-yard line that gifted the Patriots their game-tying rating.
Elijah Ponder seemingly returned the fumble for a landing, just for the referees to have dominated the play useless too quickly. The error didn’t show too expensive, nevertheless, as Patriots QB Drake Maye ran in a six-yard TD off the turnover two performs later.
Denver might, and maybe ought to, have nonetheless had a lead on the half, however their resolution to go for it on fourth and one from the New England 14-yard line earlier within the second quarter – as a substitute of kick a discipline aim – was a mistake, because the Patriots’ protection held agency and compelled a turnover on downs.
Each groups missed discipline aim tries shortly earlier than half-time, Will Lutz lacking from 54 yards for the Broncos earlier than Andy Borregales failed with an much more opportunistic effort for the Pats from 63 yards as time expired.
Drake Maye celebrates after the New England Patriots attain Tremendous Bowl LX with victory over the Denver Broncos
Stats leaders:
Patriots
- Passing: Drake Maye, 10/21, 86 yards
- Dashing: Rhamondre Stevenson, 25 carries, 71 yards
- Receiving: Mack Hollins, 2 catches, 51 yards
Broncos
- Passing: Jarrett Stidham, 17/31, 133 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (& 1 fumble)
- Dashing: RJ Harvey, 13 carries, 37 yards
- Receiving: Marvin Mims Jr, 4 catches, 62 yards
Throughout the interval, situations rapidly worsened in Denver as excessive winds and heavy snow rolled in to make scoring even harder within the second half, however the Patriots crucially got here away with the game-clinching three factors off the opening drive.
New England virtually eclipsed their whole first-half yardage on their opening possession after the break, driving 64 yards to arrange a 23-yard discipline aim – shortly after Maye transformed a key fourth and one play because the Pats opted to go for it.
That proved to be the distinction, with New England’s protection utterly locking down Denver’s offense within the second half, limiting them to only one first down and 32 yards as they booked their place on the Tremendous Bowl in Santa Clara in two weeks’ time.
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Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye react after successful the AFC Championship for the New England Patriots towards the Denver Broncos.
Each groups had additional field-goal tries that have been missed, Denver’s 46-yarder with 4 minutes and 46 seconds left within the sport being blocked, whereas Stidham threw an interception to all-but finish the competition with simply over two minutes remaining.
The victory extends New England’s report variety of Tremendous Bowl appearances to 12 as they give the impression of being to win a seventh and first with out legendary quarterback and coach combo Tom Brady and Invoice Belichick on the helm.
Watch each minute of the NFL playoffs and Tremendous Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium dwell on Sky Sports activities NFL.
