Overview
- New England advanced to Super Bowl LX after a weather-choked battle in Denver that kept both offenses in check.
- Thrust into the start by Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle fracture, Jarrett Stidham committed a backward-pass fumble that set up the Patriots’ lone touchdown and later threw a late interception.
- Denver’s top-tier defense, which led the NFL with 68 sacks this season, held the Patriots to 206 yards and 12 first downs but could not offset the giveaways.
- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was limited as a passer and sacked five times, yet his 65 rushing yards and a touchdown provided the key offense New England needed.
- The win was the Patriots’ first playoff victory in Denver after entering the day 0-4 there, with the wind and snow also contributing to a 1-for-4 combined performance on field goals.