The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos this Sunday in a very physical, intense conference final, under freezing cold and snow. A game not particularly attractive in technical terms, but remarkable tactically and visually spectacular. Marked by defenses, slips, errors, and small details that will allow the team to return to the Superbowl for the first time in the post-legendary Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick era
The Patriots will face off on February 8th in California against the Seattle Seahawks, who won 31-27 against the Los Angeles Rams in an exciting, close game full of scoring, back and forth action.
Next month's will be the Patriots' 12th participation, more than anyone before, with the goal, the dream, of achieving their seventh ring to tie, curiously, with their most decorated former quarterback. Guided by a rookie coach on the sidelines, but who himself has three rings as a linebacker in the club's golden era, and who hopes to make history by becoming the first manager to win another league for the same franchise while now at the helm.
Last night's first game was actually two different games. A first half with little action, ending in a 7-7 tie with two touchdowns, one rushing and the other with a long pass of over 50 yards. And a completely different second half, even more scarce in points as conditions turned brutal and slips became the norm. Only twice before had a team won the conference title with 10 or fewer points, "I prefer an ugly win to a pretty loss," celebrated receiver Stefon Diggs. "No one is satisfied. We are happy, but not complacent. We feel fortunate to be where we are, but we know we can achieve much more."
The Patriots, terrible on the offensive side (although they have faced three consecutive top 5 defensive teams), won because rookie Andy Borregales, after missing two attempts earlier, was able to convert a kick after a possession that lasted almost 10 minutes and over 15 plays. While the Broncos, burdened by the serious injury to their starting quarterback last week, overwhelmed by the weather, wind, and snow in their faces, missed their best opportunity, another kick that veered off course in the midst of wind, sleet, and a block by a player who until a few days ago was a roster cut. The Broncos are the only team that has not given a single minute to their backup quarterback in the last two seasons and today, under very adverse conditions, paid the price.
In contrast, the Patriots arrived in Colorado with an extraordinary record of eight road victories and no defeats, and managed to improve it while breaking a curse, that of never having been able to win at the Broncos' home in the playoffs. Thanks in large part to the very young Drake Maye, a league MVP candidate and only the third quarterback under 24 to lead his team to the Super Bowl, joining the elite club formed by Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger. And with a first-year coach, Mike Vrabel, fired by the Titans and now aspiring to follow in the footsteps of another legend, Belichick, and turn a ring into the foundation of an era, leading the transformation of a unique franchise.
The other conference final had Sam Darnold as the undisputed protagonist, throwing three touchdown passes, leading the team to their first championship fight since 2014, seeking revenge for the loss in Super Bowl XLIX that still stings.
New England will inevitably present itself in California as the favorite, if only for the numbers and the track record. Between 2001 and 2018, the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick duo made it to the Super Bowl a staggering nine times. Of those, they won six, five with a very close score. Although their offense is not currently at its best (averaging 18 points per game in the playoffs, the lowest for any winning team since 1979), despite not having fought for the cup in seven years and despite their roster being completely renewed, no one has been in a final more times, no one has more playoff victories in history, and no one is hungrier, after two dramatic seasons in 2023 and 2024, with just four wins in the regular season.