The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a snowy AFC championship game on Sunday, booking their place in Super Bowl LX. The victory, secured under new head coach Mike Vrabel, returns the Patriots to the NFL's showpiece event for the first time since 2019.
Quarterback Drake Maye, 23, will become the youngest Super Bowl starter since Dan Marino in 1985 after leading his team through brutal conditions. 'What an atmosphere out here, battling the elements,' Maye told CBS Sports. 'The defence have been stepping up all play-offs.'
Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl winner as a player, is the eighth head coach to reach the Super Bowl in his debut season. He praised his team's adaptability: 'We have found different ways this entire season. Today we did what we had to do to win.'
The Broncos were without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered an ankle fracture in the previous round. Backup Jarrett Stidham, making his first start in 749 days, performed well early but could not sustain the momentum. New England's defence tightened after an initial touchdown, and the Patriots became the first NFL team to go 9-0 on the road in a single season.
