The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 7-10 on Sunday to seal their passage to their 12th Super Bowl, in a game marked by an intense snowstorm that virtually wiped out the game in the second half.
The Patriots had never won a playoff game in Denver. The Broncos had claimed victory in all four precedents, including the conference finals of the 2013 and 2015 seasons.
Patriots advance to Super Bowl
SUPER BOWL BOUND!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/1AiJpvXeEF
– New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 25, 2026
But the storm that broke into a game that had started with sunshine and excellent conditions, coupled with the obstacle for the Broncos of playing with an inexperienced and unhit quarterback, turned the tide for the Patriots on Sunday.
Super Bowl LX will be played on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
It will be the Patriots’ 12th Super Bowl – no one has played in that many – and they will be seeking their seventh Vince Lombardi title to leapfrog the Pittsburgh Steelers and become the most successful team in history.
The storm breaks in Denver
This 7-yard rush meant everything for the #Patriots with the Super Bowl LX dream in their hearts 💪pic.twitter.com/1kmgu7Fy72
– EssentiallySports (@ES_sportsnews) January 25, 2026
Jarrett Stidham took on an almost impossible mission when he took over the Broncos, who were a step away from the Super Bowl, two years after throwing his last touchdown pass.
Bo Nix, the starting quarterback, suffered a shoulder injury in the previous game and underwent surgery this week.
The challenge for Stidham was daunting, with almost negligible NFL playing experience despite seven seasons in the league.
Stidham looked very confident from the start and surprised on the Broncos’ second offensive series with two big plays that would put Denver ahead.
First with a 42-yard pass to Marvin Mims and then with a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton from the end zone. Touchdown’ on a series of 5 plays and 59 yards in less than two minutes. Anything was possible in Denver.
After that first touchdown, Stidham struggled to make plays against the Patriots’ stout defense, while New England gradually began to create danger.
The equalizer came with about two minutes left before halftime on a Drake Maye touchdown run from the red zone.
Maye, the Patriots’ quarterback, will be the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl since Dan Marino.
There was still time for two long field goal attempts before halftime, one for each team, both missed.
The wind was beginning to pick up in Denver, a prelude to what would become the second half.
As we left the locker room, snow had begun to fall on Empower Field at Mile High, a snowfall that within minutes turned into a heavy storm that would impede visibility and play.
Venezuela’s Andy Borregales kicked a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter before it was too late. There was time left, but conditions were not right to play.
Borregales and Will Lutz each missed another field goal attempt, players were slipping and offenses were not moving forward.
In addition, the Patriots’ white uniform made them virtually invisible.
Stidham could have become a hero in the final moments, but his 30+ yard pass to Mims was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez, perfectly mimicked in the snow.
Filed under: Patriots advance to Super Bowl
With information from EFE
