All articles tagged with #afc championship
Drake Maye shared an honest sideline moment with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels during the AFC Championship in brutal snow, muttering 'It's hard, good God' as McDaniels reassured him; the exchange showcased their growing partnership and Maye's standout season as New England heads toward Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks.
Denver coach Sean Payton says the fourth-and-1 play call in the AFC Championship is his bigger regret, not the decision to go for it; after a third-and-6 scramble by Jarrett Stidham and a timeout to decide, the ensuing incomplete pass looked misfired, and Payton stresses he won’t let critics influence his decisions.
The Patriots rode a dominant defense to a 10-7 win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship, posting a 35.1% pressure rate and holding Denver to 63 rushing yards, while the offense struggled for rhythm as Drake Maye faced pressure; New England will need to rebound offensively for Super Bowl LX against Seattle.
The Patriots beat the Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship thanks to stout defense and three pivotal sequence plays: Marcus Jones's third-down hustle that set up a fourth-down stop, Jarrett Stidham's turnover that Christian Elliss capitalized on, and Maye's late scramble with help from Rhamondre Stevenson that sealed the final points.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said fourth-down decisions are driven by predicting the flow of the game and how many points will be necessary to win. He noted coaches must weigh point value late in games and cited the AFC Championship context where Broncos coach Sean Payton went for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal, highlighting how factors like a backup quarterback and weather influence whether to kick or go for it.
The Denver Broncos fell 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, prompting Broncos defender Nik Bonitto to call the defeat ‘sickening’ and insist Denver was the better team—a claim many saw as delusional after the Patriots prevailed. The game featured adverse weather and the Broncos played without starting QB Bo Nix (ankle injury); New England earned the win and improved to 14-3 on the season, advancing to the Super Bowl.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel deflects credit for the team’s AFC Championship run, praising the players and the culture he’s built. Teammates and opponents alike credit Vrabel’s leadership for transforming a 4-13-era into a Super Bowl LX appearance against the Seahawks, with Diggs lauding him as perhaps the best coach he’s had and Barmore saying he plays hard for Vrabel.
Tom Brady reacted to the Patriots' 10-7 win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship, praising Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and predicting a tantalizing Super Bowl matchup, while confirming he’ll attend the game in San Francisco as a spectator after his Fox duties.
Denver’s AFC Championship run ended 10-7 after costly in-game decisions by Sean Payton—especially going for it on 4th down instead of kicking a field goal—along with a key shovel-pass fumble by backup QB Jarrett Stidham, with winter weather amplifying mistakes and preventing Denver from capitalizing before the Patriots head to the Super Bowl.
A Denver Post opinion piece argues that if Bo Nix had started over Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship, the Broncos would have won by about two touchdowns, citing snow, a costly Stidham miscue, and strong Broncos play, while highlighting Nix’s upside and Denver’s ongoing revival under Sean Payton, with a nod to a potential future Nix–Maye matchup.
With 1:57 left in a blizzard and 7 yards to go, the Patriots faced a clock-sealing drive against the Broncos when Drake Maye kept the ball on a naked bootleg instead of handing to Rhamondre Stevenson. His deception drew the defense away, allowing Maye to race outside for the first down and clinch a 10-7 win to send New England to the Super Bowl. Center Garrett Bradbury praised Maye's block and timing, and Maye said it was a cool moment to celebrate in victory formation after admitting he debated whether to reveal the keeper.
NFL officials admitted a second error in the AFC Championship when a backward-pass ruling on Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham was reversed after a whistle and a Patriots fumble recovery, a sequence that helped New England tie the game before taking the lead; referee Alex Kemp explained the ruling, Stidham said he thought he threw forward, and the Patriots advanced to Super Bowl 2026 to face the Seahawks.
Denver’s season ended 10-7 at home in a blizzard after Sean Payton’s risky 4th-and-1 call that cost points, while Jarrett Stidham struggled in the cold and a late turnover sealed the win. Two missed field goals (including a 54-yarder) and a blocked kick left nine points on the board, illustrating how weather, injuries and missed opportunities doomed Denver’s bid for the Super Bowl.
New England edged Denver 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl, highlighted by a disruptive pass rush from Milton Williams and Elijah Ponder, and a late-game intervention from Christian Gonzalez as Brenden Schooler and Leonard Taylor III boosted special teams. No official losers were named; however, Drake Maye had an uneven day, Mack Hollins delivered a couple of big plays, and Rhamondre Stevenson and the line faced pressure while the Patriots used a six‑man offensive line package to milk clock.
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham said he can’t put the team in a bad position after a second‑quarter mishap when pressure forced him to backpedal and throw the ball backward, leading to New England’s only touchdown and a 10–7 AFC Championship loss. Denver had chances but couldn’t capitalize as weather and stalled offense hampered their effort, and the team now faces an offseason of questions—leaving open whether Bo Nix could have changed the outcome.