DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 25: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos runs onto the field prior to the AFC Championship Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Patriots won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos offense started with the ball from their own 35 after the touchback. After a couple of quick runs, the Broncos faced a 3rd and 9 and Stidham's pass fell incomplete after pressure from the Patriots. Jeremy Crawshaw boomed a punt that went out of bounds at the New England 8 yard line.
After a couple of runs that gained a combined 6 yards, Talanoa Hunfanga ALMOST had a pick 6 but Stefon Diggs broke up the INT and the Patriots ALSO went 3 and out. Following the punt, Broncos offense went back to work at their own 41 yard line.
Facing a 3rd and 10, Stiddy found a streaking Marvin Mims down the seam for a MASSIVE 52 yard completion!!! Two plays later, Stidham rolled out and hit Courtland Sutton for a wide open 6 yard touchdown! Broncos take an early lead 7-0 with 10:19 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Patriots offense went back to work at their own 32 yard line. After an initial first down, Ja'Quan McMillian blew up a screen for a 2 yard TFL and then Pat Surtain had a brilliant PBU deep down the field covering Diggs. The 3rd down pass was complete but came up short of the sticks.
Broncos started from their own 32 yard line. Harvey gained 9 yards on 1st down and then Pat Bryant caught a short pass to get the initial first down of the drive. Stidham gained 8 yards on a QB keeper and then Harvey got the next first down as the Broncos marched to mid field. On 3rd and 9, Sutton was unable to haul in the pass over the middle and Denver was forced to punt. Punt ended up being a touchback, Pats would start from their own 20 with 2:20 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Henderson gained 4 yards on first down but then on 2nd and 6, Que Robinson chased down Drake Maye for a 9 yard sack that effectively ended the drive! Denver offense would start their next drive from their own 43 yard line with 54 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter.
McLaughlin carried the ball for 3 yards to start the drive. Evan Engram caught a pass in the flat and took it up field for a 7 yard gain to get the Broncos into NE territory as the first quarter wound down. Stidham completed a 3rd down pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey to move the sticks again. Patriots rushed 7 on 3rd and 6 and Stidham was able to scramble for 5. On 4th and 1, Stidham rolled out but was pressured immediately and his pass fell incomplete. Patriots took over at their 14 yard line with 9:22 remaining in the 1st half.
After a DJ Jones Sack and Hufanga PBU, Maye delivered a dime to Mack Hollins for 20 yards on 3rd and 13 to move the sticks. That would be the only 1st down of the drive though as Zach Allen sacked Maye on 3rd and 3, forcing another Patriots punt. Broncos started their next drive from their own 17 yard line.
Harvey gained 5 yards on first down. Facing a 3rd and 5, Marvin Mims caught a crossing route pass and took it upfield for 5 yards and a first down. Facing a 3rd and 4, initially Stidham was called for intentional grounding but then it was called a fumbled backwards pass and the Patriots took over at the Denver 12 yard line. Two plays later, Drake Maye with a designed QB run for a 6 yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 2:10 remaining in the 1st half.
Starting from their own 35 yard line, Stiddy hit RJ Harvey for a 10 yard gain on an angle route to get the initial first down of the drive as we hit the 2 minute warning. Unfortunately, the Broncos were only able to work the ball to the 35 yard line and Lutz would miss the 54 yard attempt.
Drake Maye scrambled on 3rd down for 16 yards to give the Pats a 63 yard fg attempt but they would miss that as we headed to halftime tied at 7.
Patriots started from their own 31 yard line and quickly got 5 yards on a screen to Diggs. Facing a 3rd and 3, Rhamondre Stevenson gained 3 yards to get the initial first down of the drive. Stevenson then gained 12 yards to the Denver 46 yard line for another 1st down. Facing a 3rd and 4, Drake Maye scrambled for 28 yards down to the Denver 17 yard line. Patriots would work down inside the 10 yard line and went for it on 4th and 1 with a QB sneak. Broncos thought they got the stop but not enough to overturn. Talanoa Hufanga would come up with a huge TFL on Stevenson and then Cooper sacked Drake Maye on 3rd down to force a chip shot 23 yard field goal to take their first lead of the game 10-7. It was a 16 play, 64 yard drive that took 9:31 off of the clock.
Broncos offense started from their own 23 yard line but were unable to get a 1st down and quickly went 3 and out. Patriots would start their next drive from their own 21 yard line after a terrific special teams play by Kris Abrams-Draine to stop the PR for minimal gain.
Drake Maye scrambled for 13 yards and got the Patriots their initial first down of the drive to the NE 34. On a flea flicker, Maye hit Mack Hollins for 31 yards and the Patriots were quickly into Denver territory. Pat worked it all the way to the Denver 28 yard line but Borregales 46 yard attempt was wide right and the Broncos offense got the ball back at their own 37 yard line near the end of the 3rd quarter.
Humphrey couldn't come down with a 3rd down pass attempt so the Broncos were forced to punt again and after the touchback, Pats started at their own 20. On 3rd and 4, DJ Jones came up with the sack and forced the Patriots to punt. Broncos went back to work at their own 30 yard line, down 3.
Broncos got their initial first down of the drive on a couple of runs from RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie. On 3rd and 10 from the DEN 42, Stidham hit Moore over the middle but not enough for the 1st down. Broncos punt pinned NE inside their own 8 yard line with 8:21 remaining in the game.
Broncos defense did their job and forced a quick 3 and out as the Patriots 3rd and 11 pass fell incomplete. The Patriots punt was SHANKED and the Broncos took over at the NE 32 yard line!
The Broncos couldn't gain a 1st down and the 46 yard attempt was blocked. Patriots took over at their 36. Broncos defense did their job and forced a quick 3 and out but time was starting to work against Denver. Stidham and the offense went to work at their own 31 yard line with 3:05 remaining in the game.
Christian Gonzalez picked off Stidham on 2nd down and then Maye was able to scramble for 7 yards on 3rd down to give the Patriots a 10-7 win, ending the Broncos season.
Postgame interviews with Jarrett Stidham and Mike McGlinchey