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Patriots Secure 12th Super Bowl Berth, Set to Face Seahawks

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Patriots Edge Broncos 10‑7 in Snow‑Soaked AFC Championship The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10‑7 to capture the AFC title in Denver’s snow‑laden stadium, with kickoff temperatures at 26 °F and snow beginning at halftime, dropping to 16 °F by the fourth quarter[1][2]. Field‑goal attempts from both sides missed long range, and crews resorted to snowblowers to keep the playing surface clear[1][2]. The win sends New England to its 12th Super Bowl appearance[1][2].

Drake Maye’s Dual‑Threat Play Secures Victory Twenty‑three‑year‑old quarterback Drake Maye threw for 86 yards, rushed for 65 yards, and delivered a decisive 7‑yard touchdown run on third‑and‑5 in the final minutes, giving the Patriots a 10‑7 lead that held[1][2]. The score‑changing keeper made Maye the second‑youngest quarterback ever to reach a Super Bowl, trailing only Dan Marino[1]. His performance was highlighted as the key factor in New England’s win[2].

Broncos’ Starter Stidham Limited by Turnovers Jarrett Stidham, starting for the injured Bo Nix, completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, including a 52‑yard pass to Marvin Mims that set up Courtland Sutton’s 6‑yard touchdown[1][2]. Stidham committed two turnovers: a backward pass recovered by Elijah Ponder and an interception by Christian Gonzalez with 2:11 left, halting Denver’s comeback attempts[1][2]. The turnovers kept the Broncos from scoring after their early lead[1][2].

Milestones and Upcoming Super Bowl Opponent The victory gave the Patriots their 40th postseason win, breaking a tie with the San Francisco 49 Ers for the most NFL playoff victories[1][2]. Head coach Mike Vrabel could become the first individual to win a Super Bowl as both player and head coach for the same franchise[1][2]. New England will face the Seattle Seahawks, who earned the NFC title by beating the Los Angeles Rams, in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California[2].

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Timeline

Dec 2, 2025 – New England defeats the New York Giants 33‑15, becoming the first NFL team to reach 11 wins this season; Drake Maye throws for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while Marcus Jones returns two punts for scores, sparking a dominant special‑teams performance [6].

Dec 14, 2025 – The Patriots fall 35‑31 to Buffalo; Maye’s third‑quarter interception sets up Josh Allen’s go‑ahead drive, yet New England retains a one‑game AFC East lead and players vow, “We have to learn and move forward” [5].

Dec 22, 2025 – New England rallies 28‑24 over Baltimore, with Maye posting a career‑high 380 passing yards and two touchdowns, engineering an 89‑yard, fourth‑quarter drive that clinches a playoff berth and lifts the Patriots to 7‑0 on the road [4].

Jan 12, 2026 – In the wild‑card round, the Patriots edge Los Angeles Chargers 16‑3; Maye contributes 268 passing yards, 66 rushing yards and a 28‑yard TD to Hunter Henry, while the defense sacks Justin Herbert six times; after a head‑butt from Milton Williams, Coach Mike Vrabel shrugs, calling it “playoff intensity,” and Jim Harbaugh lauds Herbert as “a warrior” [3].

Jan 18, 2026 – New England beats Houston 28‑16 in the divisional round, with Maye delivering three touchdown passes and the defense forcing five turnovers, including Marcus Jones’s pick‑six; Maye praises the unit, saying “our defense made the big plays,” as the Patriots join the Rams‑Seahawks and Broncos‑Bills winners to set up conference‑title matchups [2][8].

Jan 25, 2026 – The Patriots capture the AFC championship 10‑7 over Denver in snowy conditions; Maye scores the winning 7‑yard TD on third‑and‑5, finishes with 86 passing and 65 rushing yards, and New England records its 40th postseason win, breaking the tie with the 49ers and becoming only the third team to win a conference title with ten points or fewer (joining the 1991 Bills and 1979 Rams). Vrabel could become the first player‑coach to win a Super Bowl for the same franchise, stating “the players will win the game,” and the Patriots advance to face Seattle in the Super Bowl [1][7].

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