The New England Patriots got the ball to start the second half against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
With the snow flurries beginning in the second half, Drake Maye and the Patriots took
over at their own 30 yard line. Maye hit Stefon Diggs on a quick pass outside for five, then a short run for a yard brought up a third and four. Rhamondre Stevenson took the handoff and just reached the first down marker to move the chains.
Two plays later, Stevenson then plowed forward for a huge gain of 12 yards and into Broncos’ territory. The run defense showed up on the next two plays to force a third down and nine where Drake Maye would escape to turn it up field for a 28-yard run into the red zone.
The play of the drive would come on a fourth and a short one at the Broncos’ eight yard line. Maye would sneak it in and just barely got the first down. Sean Payton would challenge the call as the replay appeared to show Maye was stopped short from a camera angle from above. Predictably, they ruled the call stands and the Patriots looked like they would score a touchdown to go up big on the road over Denver.
Instead, the Broncos defense woke up with a goal line stand. Talanoa Hufanga had a tackle for a loss, then Jonathon Cooper sacked Maye on third down to force the field goal instead.
Patriots 10, Broncos 7.
The Patriots held the ball for 9:31 to start the second half and ran 16 plays, but only came away with a field goal. The bad news is the Broncos offense continued to be completely out of sync and punted it right back to New England.
A trick play appeared to be the back-breaker for the Broncos defense in the third quarter.
They would not let the Patriots make another play and would force a field goal. The back-breaker turned into a missed field goal to keep the game close for the Broncos after three quarters.
