DENVER — The New England Patriots ruled the NFL for most of two decades, and when they fell, they fell hard. Just not for long.
The celebration for the end of the Patriots' dynasty is over, and now perhaps there will be a new round of complaints about a new era of dominance. The Patriots, led by NFL Coach of the Year favorite Mike Vrabel and NFL MVP finalist Drake Maye, are going toSuper Bowl LXafterbeating the Denver Broncos 10-7in a snowy, messy AFC championship game.
They'll face theSeattle Seahawks, who won the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, on Sunday night.
It wasn't a pretty performance by the Patriots, but the Broncos missed starting quarterbackBo Nix, who was out after suffering a season-ending ankle injury last week.
Jarrett Stidham made one massive mistakeon a turnover near the end of the first half that completely turned the game around. The Patriots got their first touchdown after that and when the weather turned the field into a snowy ice rink as the second half went on, that touchdown was huge because neither team could move the ball. Denver not having Nix was a factor, but the Patriots made sure that Stidham wouldn't beat them. So did the weather.
.@DrakeMaye2ALL YOU 🙌📺 CBSpic.twitter.com/28zN3KKP0D
— New England Patriots (@Patriots)January 25, 2026
New England went 4-13 each of the past two seasons. Its roster was in severe disrepair, though Maye's rookie season in 2024 provided hope. This past offseason, the Patriots hired Vrabel, spent a ton in free agency and had a good draft. Now they're going to the Super Bowl for the 12th time, and their first time since Tom Brady led them to a championship at the end of the 2018 regular season.
[Get more Patriots news: New England team feed]
This is an entirely new cast from that Patriots dynasty. After just a few years trying to retool after the Brady and Bill Belichick era, New England is back atop the AFC. The Brady-Belichick dynasty got its major break in the tuck rule game against the Raiders, which the Patriots pulled out in a wild, snowy game. Maybe that's a sign for this iteration of the Patriots.
Jarrett Stidham impressed and disappointed in first half
Stidham needed a big play early, perhaps to calm himself down but definitely to ease the crowd. He got it on Denver's second drive. Stidham threw incomplete on his first three passes but the fourth one was huge, a 52-yard gain on a nice deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. Stidham's next pass came off play action and he found Courtland Sutton wide open in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. It was Stidham's first touchdown pass since Jan. 7, 2024, when he hit Jerry Jeudy for a 24-yard score against the Raiders.
Meanwhile, Drake Maye had a slow start. He was just 3 of 6 passing for 7 yards in the first quarter, took a sack and probably should have been intercepted on New England's first drive. Maye was the MVP finalist coming in but he didn't look the part early on. The offense with the little-used backup had 92 yards in the first quarter, and the offense with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL through the regular season had 12.
But Stidham made a big mistake in the second quarter. Under pressure he tried to chest pass the ball out to avoid a sack. His pass went backward and was therefore a fumble. The Patriots recovered, though their return for a touchdown didn't count because the play was whistled dead. It didn't matter, as Maye ran 6 yards on a quarterback draw for the touchdown and a tie score.
BALL WAS OUT - GOING THE OTHER WAY‼️📺 CBSpic.twitter.com/swmdTx0TYV
— New England Patriots (@Patriots)January 25, 2026
The Broncos had a few mistakes, Stidham's fumble being the worst. Theydecided against a field-goal attempt on a fourth-and-1, passed it and Stidham threw incomplete under pressure. They missed a field goal with 20 seconds left in the first half. In many ways the Broncos had thoroughly outplayed the Patriots, but they were still tied 7-7 at halftime. New England had to feel pretty good about that after a poor start.
[Get more Broncos news: Denver team feed]
Then the weather turned bad and it made the field into an unplayable mess.
Snow to start second half in Denver
By the time the teams came out of the locker room for the second half, snow had started to fall. New England decided it was time to run the ball. Mostly using the running game, and getting a 28-yard scramble from Maye and a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1, New England had its best drive to start the second half. The Broncos held inside the 10-yard line, but the Patriots got a field goal to take the lead. They were fortunate to get that lead before the field became much worse.
Snow had covered the field by the end of the third quarter. For a Broncos offense with its backup quarterback, the weather didn't help Denver's struggles moving the ball. After a couple Broncos punts to start the second half, Stidham's deep throw to Mims and the touchdown to Sutton when the skies were sunny and clear seemed like it happened in a different game weeks earlier.
The Broncos had a shot to tie the game with less than five minutes left. A bad punt set them up with good field position but the offense couldn't get a first down. The Broncos tried a 46-yard field goal in miserable conditions and it was deflected.
GOT A HAND ON IT 🙅♂️📺 CBSpic.twitter.com/qQXfoCAsVu
— New England Patriots (@Patriots)January 25, 2026
The Broncos got the ball back when the Patriots decided to run three times and punt, but the odds of them going all the way downfield and scoring seemed very low. Denver had to try something, and when Stidham threw deep, it was picked off by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez with 2:11 left. That practically punched New England's ticket to the Super Bowl. Maye's first-down run with 1:51 left iced the game.
The Broncos will spend the offseason wondering how things might have been different if Nix had stayed healthy, or if the snow had at least given Stidham and the offense a chance in the second half. The Patriots were just thrilled to be moving on, with much better weather in Santa Clara for their next game.
Drake Maye takes three kneeldowns after Denver's 5-yard encroachment penalty to run out the clock and the Patriots finish a 10-7 victory over the Broncos to win the AFC championship.
Christian Gonzalez gets the interception on the underthrown pass and the Patriots take over on their 36-yard line with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Patriots have to punt
The tough sledding continues for both offenses in the snow. New England can't get a first down after three Rhamondre Stevenson rushing attempts result in 1 yard gained.
A 31-yard punt by Bryce Baringer pushes the Broncos back to their 32-yard line with 3:05 remaining in the game.
Ian Casselberry
Broncos miss 45-yard field goal try
Wil Lutz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt through the snow after the Broncos can't get a first down. Leonard Taylor III appeared to tip the kick for New England.
The @Patriots tip the field goal and hold the lead!
The Patriots take over at their 36-yard line with 4:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Patriots' turn to punt
New England loses 1 yard on its next possession, with Rhamondre Stevenson gaining 2 yards following Drake Maye rushing for a 3-yard loss. Maye throw incomplete on third-and-11 and the Patriots have to punt.
Denver takes over on the New England 33-yard line following a 26-yard punt by Bryce Baringer.
Ian Casselberry
Broncos have to punt again
Offense is still difficult for the Broncos to generate.
Denver got some push in its running game and got a first down, but two incompletions by Jarrett Stidham and a 4-yard gain on third-and-10 forces the Broncos to punt again.
RJ Harvey's turn to pick up a first down in the snow 😤
The Patriots take over at their 8-yard line after a 45-yard punt by Jeremy Crawshaw.
Ian Casselberry
Evan Washburn snow cap
CBS reporter Evan Washburn letting snow collect on his magnificent head of hair is a bold choice. Football players aren't the only tough ones on the field today.
Denver gets the ball back at its 30-yard line after a 40-yard punt by Bryce Baringer.
Ian Casselberry
Another 3-and-out for Denver
Denver can't generate much offense in the snowy conditions right now. Jarrett Stidham throws incomplete on third-and-7 to Lil'Jordan Humphrey and the Broncos have to punt.
Jeremy Crawshaw kicks 60 yards for a touchback and the Patriots take over at their20-yard line with 14:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Andy Borregales misses 46-yard field goal in snow
The Patriots' drive stalled after that big 31-yard pass to Mack Hollins. Three subsequent plays result in 3 yards gained and New England has to settle for a field goal.
However, Andy Borregales' 46-yard attempt through the snow tails wide right.
Denver can't answer New England's field goal, gaining only 6 yards in three plays on its next possession.
The Patriots take over at their 21-yard line following a 52-yard punt by Jeremy Crawshaw and 2-yard Marcus Jones return.
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Patriots 10, Broncos 7
After a first down was ruled, the Patriots couldn't push any further to the end zone. Two Rhamondre Stevenson rushes — including a direct snap to him on a trick play — gained 4 yards.
But Drake Maye was sacked by Jonathan Cooperfor a 2-yard loss on third-and-3 from the Denver 3-yard line and New England has to settle for a field goal.
