The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years after they beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a brutal AFC Championship game.
The second half of the dogged contest was played in farcical wintery conditions, with relentless snowfall and swirling winds ensured both teams’ offenses were completely ineffective.
Andres Borregales’ field goal, which finally put the Patriots ahead in the third quarter, was the only scoring play in the entirety of the second half.
But Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye will not care as they now wait to see whether they will face the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in San Francisco on February 8.
It has been a remarkable first season in charge for Vrabel, who has taken the Patriots from two consecutive 4-13 seasons to just one victory away from the franchise’s seventh Super Bowl title.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a playmaking linebacker for the Patriots, could become the first person in NFL history to also win as a head coach for the same franchise.
Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye celebrate after leading the Patriots back to the Super Bowl
The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years after beating Denver
Relentless snowfall and swirling winds ensured both teams’ offenses were completely useless
Staff had to use snowblowers to mark hashmarks and yard lines by the fourth quarter
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Broncos and their back-up quarterback Jarrett Stidham
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player for the Patriots, could become the first person in NFL history to also win as a head coach for the same franchise.
Defeat on Sunday was a heartbreaking end to the season for Sean Payton and the Broncos, who had to rely on back-up quarterback Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix fractured his ankle in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills.
Despite that, the Broncos made a fast start to the game with Stidham finding wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the end zone for a touchdown to go 7-0 ahead.
Maye bundled himself into the end zone with two minutes left in the second quarter to tie things up before the weather turned over half time and early into the third quarter.
It was sunny at kickoff with a temperature of 26 degrees, but by halftime the snowflakes began falling and grounds crews had to use snowblowers to mark the hashmarks and yard lines by the fourth quarter, when it was 16 degrees.
That made it almost impossible for either team to affect the scoreboard with Borregales’ 23-yard field goal in the third quarter proving to be the difference.
‘I’m just proud of this team,’ Maye said. ‘Don´t have many words. Just thankful for this team. Love each and every one of them. It took everybody.
‘What an atmosphere out here. Battle of the elements. Love this team. How about the defense? I love each and every one of them.’
