Charlotte’s Drake Maye and Garrett Bradbury help Patriots clinch Super Bowl berth in AFC Championship
New England advances with defense, field position and a decisive late quarterback run
The New England Patriots secured a trip to Super Bowl LX with a 10–7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. The win sends New England to its 12th Super Bowl appearance and sets up a Feb. 8 matchup at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, against the Seattle Seahawks.
The result carried a Charlotte-area imprint. Quarterback Drake Maye, who attended Myers Park High School in Charlotte, accounted for New England’s lone touchdown on a 6-yard keeper and finished as the game’s leading rusher for the Patriots. Center Garrett Bradbury, a Charlotte native and former NC State standout, anchored an offensive line that leaned on the run game and managed difficult conditions in a contest defined by defense and limited possessions.
Maye’s legs and a single touchdown provided the separation
Maye’s passing numbers reflected the environment and the style of the game: 10 completions on 21 attempts for 86 yards, with no interceptions. His impact came primarily on the ground. He rushed for 65 yards, including the touchdown run that put New England ahead and a 7-yard scramble on third-and-5 late in the fourth quarter that helped the Patriots run out the clock.
Denver, forced to play without injured starting quarterback Bo Nix, started Jarrett Stidham. The Broncos reached the end zone once through the air, but struggled to sustain offense as the game tightened in the second half.
Turnovers and missed kicks shaped a low-scoring championship
Both teams played through snowy, cold conditions that affected footing and visibility, contributing to conservative play-calling and missed opportunities in the kicking game. New England’s defense and situational execution proved decisive, capitalizing on Denver mistakes and limiting explosive plays.
The pivotal sequence came in the final minutes. With Denver trying to mount a go-ahead drive, cornerback Christian Gonzalez intercepted Stidham with 2:11 remaining, giving the Patriots possession and allowing Maye and the offense to close out the win with a clock-draining series.
What comes next: Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara
New England will face Seattle in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium. The Patriots reached the title game under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and arrive with a postseason profile built on defense, takeaways and field position.
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026
- Site: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Matchup: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
The AFC title game underscored a familiar playoff formula: protect the football, win late downs and let defense dictate terms when weather turns scoring into a premium.