2026-01-25
The New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 7-10 this Sunday and sealed their place in their twelfth Super Bowl in a game marked by an intense snow storm that practically canceled the game in the second half.
The Patriots had never won a playoff in Denver. The Broncos had won the previous four, including the conference finals of the 2013 and 2015 seasons.
But the storm that broke into a game that had started with sunshine and excellent conditions, added to the obstacle for the Broncos of playing with a quarterback without experience or rhythm, made the Patriots change history this 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 twelfth Super Bowl for the Patriots – no one has played as many – who will seek their seventh Vince Lombardi title to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers behind and thus become the most successful team in history.
The Patriots await their rival for the Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seahawks, who will play the National Conference final in Seattle this Sunday.
Storm breaks through Denver
Jarrett Stidham took on an almost impossible mission by taking command of the Broncos that were one 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 had surgery this week.
The challenge for Stidham was enormous, with an almost testimonial playing experience in the NFL despite accumulating seven seasons in the league.
Stidham was very confident at the start and surprised in the Broncos’ second offensive series with two plays of great merit 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’ in a 5-play, 59-yard drive in less than two minutes. Anything was possible in Denver.
After that first score, Stidham had a hard time making plays against the Patriots’ strong defense, while New England, little by little, was generating danger.
The tie came about two minutes before halftime, with a touchdown by Drake Maye on the 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 failed. The wind was beginning to appear in Denver, a prelude to what would be the second half.
When leaving the locker room, snow had begun to fall on Empower Field at Mile High, a snowfall that in a few minutes turned into a strong storm that would prevent visibility and the game.
Venezuelan Andy Borregales scored a field goal from 23 yards in the third quarter, before it was too late. There was time left, but the conditions did not allow for playing.
Both Borregales and Will Lutz each missed another field goal attempt, players were slipping and the offenses were not moving forward. Additionally, the Patriots’ white uniform made them practically invisible.
Stidham could have become a hero in the final moments, but his pass of more than 30 yards to Mims was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez, perfectly blended into the snow.
