The Denver Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Coach Sean Payton pointed to a fourth-down decision in the second quarter as one of his main regrets after the team failed to build on an early lead before a snowstorm took over.
Background
The Broncos entered the game with high hopes after a strong season. They started fast, scoring a touchdown on a 6-yard pass from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to Courtland Sutton in the first quarter. That put them up 7-0, and their defense held the Patriots to short drives. The Broncos piled up 125 yards on their first four possessions, looking like they could pull away.
But things shifted quickly. The offense slowed down as drops hurt the passing game and the run plays gained little ground. A big 52-yard catch by Marvin Mims Jr. set up their only score, but after that, they struggled. The weather stayed clear at first, but snow began to fall by halftime, tying the game at 7-7.
Payton later said the team had good field position in the first half but did not turn it into enough points. Three drives started from their own 40 or better, yet only one ended in points. A fumble by Stidham on a backward pass deep in their territory gave the Patriots a short field. Drake Maye then ran in for a touchdown to tie it.
Stidham said after the game he thought he had thrown forward but the replay showed otherwise. He added he should have just taken the sack.
Key Details
The key moment came with 9:28 left in the second quarter. The Broncos faced fourth-and-1 from the Patriots' 14-yard line, leading 7-0. Payton first called for a run but changed it to a pass after a timeout. Stidham rolled right on a bootleg but faced heavy pressure from Patriots defenders Cory Durden and Milton Williams. His pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
The Call and Its Aftermath
Payton said he wanted to be aggressive to go up 14-0, given the defense's strong play. The Patriots had not moved the ball well. But the failed conversion stalled Denver's momentum. They did not get inside the New England 20 again for the rest of the game.
"Decisions like that. The tough ones," Payton said. "The fourth-and-1. Frustrated."
Wil Lutz missed a 54-yard field goal right before halftime, drifting wide right. In the second half, snow made everything harder. The Broncos managed just 32 net yards, one first down, and 22 rushing yards. Their longest play was 12 yards. Stidham completed passes for only 10 yards after halftime.
The Patriots took a 10-7 lead on a long third-quarter drive that ate up 9:31. It kept Denver's offense off the field as the snow picked up. Lutz had a 45-yard attempt late to tie it, but Leonard Taylor III blocked it. The Broncos could not recover.
Payton noted the run plan was solid on paper, but it did not work. He also mentioned the original run call might have been better in hindsight.
"There's always regrets," Payton said. "I felt like here we are fourth-and-1, close enough."
Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey called it an unfortunate day. He said mistakes before the weather flipped the game, but he was grateful for the season.
What This Means
The loss ends Denver's season and sends the Patriots to Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. For the Broncos, it highlights how small choices can change everything in tight games. Payton will review the tape, focusing on first-half chances missed and the fourth-down call. The snow turned a potential shootout into a battle of field position and special teams.
Players and coaches hurt for the locker room. Payton said it starts with him and the staff. They did not do enough to win a hard-fought game. The team had momentum and position but let it slip. Turnovers and failed conversions proved costly.
Stidham faced pressure often, and the run game never broke big. The defense kept them close, but the offense could not answer in the storm. This defeat stings because it was so near. A field goal there might have changed the path to the Super Bowl.
Payton emphasized points became key once the weather hit. Each possession mattered more. The Broncos learned they need to cash in advantages, especially against a defense like New England's. Fans saw a gritty effort cut short by execution errors and Mother Nature.
The offseason brings changes. Payton must build on this run while fixing the regrets. Players like Sutton and Mims showed promise. Stidham stepped up with the starter out, but consistency remains a question. Denver stays hungry after coming so close.
