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Patriots Edge Broncos 10‑7 in Snow‑Soaked AFC Championship, Securing Super Bowl Spot

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Patriots win on Maye’s dual‑threat play while Stidham struggles New England captured a 10‑7 victory in Denver as Drake Maye’s 6‑yard keeper on third‑and‑5 in the final minutes provided the decisive touchdown, giving the Patriots their 12th Super Bowl appearance[2]. Maye finished with 86 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and the game‑winning score, becoming the second‑youngest quarterback ever to reach a Super Bowl[2]. Denver’s starter Jarrett Stidham completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, threw one touchdown and turned the ball over twice, including an interception that set up Maye’s first‑half score[2].

Broncos’ defense excels but fourth‑down gamble proves costly Vance Joseph’s unit recorded five sacks on Maye, held him to 65 net passing yards and limited New England to two sustained drives, yet the Broncos never recovered after a failed fourth‑and‑1 attempt from the Patriots’ 14‑yard line[1]. Coach Sean Payton chose to pass instead of kicking a field goal that would have given Denver a double‑digit halftime lead; the play failed and the Broncos never again entered New England’s 30‑yard line[1]. Payton later called the decision a mistake, saying hindsight favored a run and expressing “always regrets” about the call[1].

Bo Nix injury forces rare backup start for Denver Bo Nix suffered a season‑ending broken right ankle during the divisional win over Buffalo, requiring surgery and sidelining him for about three months[1]. The injury promoted Jarrett Stidham, who had not thrown a pass all season and last started in 2023, to the AFC Championship starter[5]. Stidham’s start marks a playoff rarity, the first quarterback to start a conference championship for a team that began the season with a different starter since Roger Staubach in 1972[6], and adds a personal storyline as he faces the Patriots, the franchise that drafted him[5].

Freezing snow and historic milestones define the contest Kickoff temperature was 26 °F, snow began falling by halftime and dropped to 16 °F in the fourth quarter, forcing crews to use snowblowers on the field and causing both kickers to miss long attempts[2]. The Patriots recorded their 40th playoff win, breaking the tie with the 49ers for the most in NFL history[2], and a victory could make Mike Vrabel the first person to win a Super Bowl as both player and head coach for the same franchise[2].

Broncos finish 15‑4, third conference‑title loss, players voice disappointment Denver ends the season 15‑4 but suffers its third AFC championship defeat in eleven attempts and its first home playoff loss in five tries[1]. Linebacker Alex Singleton called the loss “something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives,” while OLB Nik Bonitto described it as “sickening … knowing we’re definitely the better team”[1]. The team’s future remains uncertain as speculation surrounds head coach Vance Joseph’s job security[1].

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Timeline

Dec 2, 2025 – New England reaches its 11th win of the season, beating the New York Giants 33‑15; Drake Maye throws two touchdowns and Marcus Jones returns two punts for scores, making the Patriots the first NFL team to notch 11 victories this year[26].

Dec 7, 2025 – Buffalo rallies past Cincinnati 39‑34 in a snowy comeback, with Josh Allen delivering four passing touchdowns and a rushing score, while defensive back Jordan Benford records a pick‑6 that sparks the final drive[27].

Dec 15, 2025 – The Patriots fall 35‑31 to the Bills; Maye’s interception fuels Buffalo’s go‑ahead drive, yet New England retains the AFC East lead despite the loss[25].

Dec 21, 2025 – The Bills deactivate wide‑out Keon Coleman ahead of the Browns matchup, reflecting his five‑game slump after a strong rookie debut last season[24].

Dec 22, 2025 – New England rallies from an 11‑point deficit to beat Baltimore 28‑24, with Maye posting a career‑high 380 yards and two TDs; the win secures a playoff berth and extends the Patriots’ perfect road record to 7‑0[22].

Dec 22, 2025 – Rookie running back Tre’Veyon Henderson exits the Ravens game with a head injury after just three yards, removing a key playmaker from the Patriots’ late‑season push[23].

Dec 29, 2025 – Cleveland upsets Pittsburgh 13‑6, forcing a Week 18 showdown with Baltimore and reshaping the AFC North race; the win highlights the Browns’ defensive dominance in the final regular‑season week[5].

Jan 10, 2026 – Matthew Stafford fuels the Los Angeles Rams’ wild‑card campaign, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns and positioning the Rams as a favorite in their opening playoff game[21].

Jan 12, 2026 – New England defeats the Los Angeles Chargers 16‑3 in the wild‑card round; Maye rushes for 66 yards, throws for 268 yards and a TD, while the Patriots’ defense sacks Justin Herbert six times, prompting a post‑game quote from coach Mike Vrabel: “We took the intensity to a new level”[19][20].

Jan 12, 2026 – San Francisco rallies to beat Philadelphia 23‑19, with Brock Purdy delivering two late TD passes to Christian McCaffrey; the win sends the sixth‑seeded 49ers to the divisional round[4].

Jan 14, 2026 – The opening playoff weekend sets a new record with twelve fourth‑quarter lead changes, highlighted by Buffalo’s 27‑24 win over Jacksonville and San Francisco’s 23‑19 victory over Philadelphia[18].

Jan 16, 2026 – Analysts preview the divisional slate, noting Josh Allen’s injury list as he faces Denver’s elite pass rush at altitude, Houston’s 10‑game streak, and San Francisco’s Kittle Achilles injury that could tilt the Niners‑Seahawks matchup[17].

Jan 17, 2026 – Expert panel backs Denver, Seattle, New England and Los Angeles to advance, citing Broncos culture, Seahawks defense, Patriots turnover‑creation and Rams offensive firepower as decisive factors[3].

Jan 17, 2026 – In the divisional round, Denver overcomes Buffalo 33‑30 in overtime, Wil Lutz nails the winning 23‑yard field goal, and Bo Nix fractures his right ankle on the final play, ending his season[15][16][30].

Jan 17, 2026 – Seattle demolishes San Francisco 41‑6, with Sam Darnold stepping in for an injured starter and Kenneth Walker III scoring three rushing TDs, propelling the Seahawks to the NFC championship[15].

Jan 18, 2026 – The Broncos and Seahawks secure conference‑championship berths; Denver’s win marks its first home playoff victory in a decade, while Seattle’s dominant performance sets up a title clash with the Los Angeles Rams[2][15].

Jan 18, 2026 – Super Bowl 60 is slated for Feb 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, confirming the postseason schedule for the league’s championship game[2].

Jan 19, 2026 – The Broncos announce Jarrett Stidham as the starter for the AFC title after Nix’s injury; Sportradar notes Stidham will be the seventh quarterback ever to start a playoff game without any regular‑season starts, joining a rare group that includes Frank Reich, the only one to win as a fill‑in in 1992[10].

Jan 21, 2026 – Denver, the No. 1 seed, hosts New England in the AFC championship with Stidham at quarterback; betting lines favor the Patriots by 5½ points, and analysts highlight Denver’s 18.3 pts/game defense versus the Patriots’ third‑ranked offense[9].

Jan 22, 2026 – Stidham prepares to start the conference championship, becoming the first quarterback since Roger Staubach in 1972 to start a conference title game for a team that began the season with a different starter[1].

Mike Vrabel praises him: “He shows the mental aptitude, accuracy and ability to extend plays,” underscoring confidence in Stidham’s readiness[1].

Jan 23, 2026 – Denver confirms Stidham’s backup start as a playoff rarity; the matchup pits him against the Patriots, the franchise that originally drafted him, adding a personal storyline to the AFC title game[8].

Jan 25, 2026 – New England clinches its 12th Super Bowl appearance, beating Denver 10‑7 in snowy Denver; Maye’s 6‑yard keeper on third‑and‑5 secures the win, and the Patriots record their 40th postseason victory, breaking the tie with the 49ers for the most playoff wins in NFL history[28].

Coach Mike Vrabel notes, “We could become the first player‑coach to win a Super Bowl for the same franchise,” highlighting the historic stakes[7].

Jan 26, 2026 – Post‑game analysis reveals Sean Payton’s fourth‑down gamble on the Patriots’ 14‑yard line cost Denver the lead; Payton admits the call was “a slip or naked (bootleg) that we have run pretty well,” expressing “always regrets” about the decision[6].

The Broncos’ defense posts five sacks and limits New England to three points, but a Stidham chest‑pass turnover after a sack proves decisive, ending Denver’s season with a third conference‑title loss in eleven attempts[6].

Feb 8, 2026 (future) – Super Bowl 60 will be contested at Levi’s Stadium, featuring the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks, capping a postseason defined by backup‑quarterback breakthroughs and historic coaching milestones[28].

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