Broncos lose heartbreaker in AFC Championship

DENVER — The Denver Broncos had a chance to do the impossible with their backup quarterback, but a few tough breaks went the New England Patriots’ way, and they won the AFC Championship Game 10-7 to earn a trip to Super Bowl LX.

A Sean Payton decison and a Jarrett Stidham mistake did the shorthanded Broncos in.

The Bronocs were first on the board when Bo Nix’s backup, Stidham, threw one of the longest passing plays of his team’s season, finding Marvin Mims Jr. for over 50 yards. That set up a touchdown toss to Courtland Sutton.

Denver’s defense kept it up against the Pats, setting up the Broncos’ offense in the red zone again. With a chance to go up two scores, Sean Payton rolled the dice by rolling Stidham out on a fourth and short. The play was blown up immedarly and the Pats kept Denver from going up two scores.

While New England did nothing with the ball on the ensuing possession, the Broncos were pinned back deep because of the sequence. A panicked Stidham, looking for a screen pass, threw the ball backward and gave the Pats the ball just a few yards from the end zone. Drake Maye ran in a touchdown to tie the game.

The teams traded missed long field goals to end the second quarter.

To start the second half, the snow started and kept coming in. The Pats used a bruising drive to go down the field in 9:31 over 16 plays to get a 23-yard-yard field goal from Andy Borregales. The Broncos went 3-and-out, and then the Pats again worked down the field for a 46-yard field goal, but he missed.

So the Broncos got the ball down three to start the fourth quarter. They went 3-and-out again. Then the teams traded quick drives in the snowstorm. It set up the Pats deep in their own territory with 8:21 left. It was all set up for them to run through the whole field and run out the clock. But a miscue on first down led to another quick Pats punt.

Again, the Broncos got the ball this time at the Pats 32, with seven minutes to play after a shanked punt. But Denver went nowhere, leaving a tough field goal for Lutz in the snow, which was blocked from 45 yards and just missed to the left.

The Broncos again got the ball back quickly, starting from their own 31-yard line with one timeout and 3:05 to play, but Stidham was picked on the drive — ending the Broncos’ hopes.

The question with this one will always be what if Nix didn’t get hurt at the end of the Divisional Round win against Buffalo.

The Pats will take on the winner of the NFC in Super Bowl LX, which will be played in Santa Clara on Feb. 8 at 4:30 p.m. on NBC.

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