The Patriots are one win away from the Super Bowl after a gritty, physical Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans. They've played their best football when it matters most. With Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffering an ankle injury late in Denver's win over Buffalo, New England will now face former Patriots draft pick Jarrett Stidham, who has not attempted an NFL pass since 2023.
Despite the loss for Denver, they are elite on both lines of scrimmage, along with a championship-caliber defense. Add to that, Mile High has been a house of horrors for the Patriots franchise in the postseason. If the Patriots want to reach another Super Bowl, they'll need to be even sharper than they've been through two playoff wins.
Here are the three key areas to watch.
1. Keep the Pressure On
The Patriots defense has been outstanding this postseason. They've fixed the red zone issues that plagued them all year, tightened up communication, and dominated up front, thanks in large part to the return of Milton Williams, whose impact has boosted both their interior rush and run defense. New England has played fast, physical, and disciplined, exactly what a playoff defense must do.
But this is their toughest trench test yet.
Denver's offensive line finished the regular season 8th in pass block win rate and 4th in run block win rate, with an elite pairing at the tackle spots in Garrett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey that stabilizes their offense regardless of who plays quarterback.
"They do a nice job with moving the pocket, different throws, and not just standing back there," said Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel this week. "Sean [Payton] and his staff have done a great job of finding the balance of when to throw in the pocket and seven-man protection sometimes on third down. And then, again, when they don't, they block them. They do a nice job of blocking them on the edges. And they try to stay firm in the middle."
It all starts with early-down dominance, where Robert Spillane's return has also had a significant impact. If New England can continue to play stout against the run and put Denver behind the chains, they can force Stidhaminto difficult third-down situations. That's when the Patriots pressure can turn the game one-sided. The defense is rolling. They need another complete performance.
2. Find a Way, Maye
Drake Maye has delivered two playoff wins and several MVP-level throws along the way, proving that the moment has not been too big for him. But the numbers tell a deeper story: Maye has taken a league-leading 10 sacks in the postseason and has fumbled six times. That's the razor's edge New England is living on, and against a defense as complete as Denver's, it's a dangerous formula.
The good news? Maye is still producing. He leads the entire NFL postseason field with four passing touchdowns, 8.0 yards per attempt, and an explosive 13.5 yards per catch. When the protection holds, and Maye gets comfortable, he is one of the best deep-ball throwers in football, and those plays can change games instantly.
The Broncos defense poses the most complete challenge he has faced:
- 3rd in points allowed
- 2nd in yards allowed
- 2nd on third down
- 1st in red zone defense
- 8th in EPA
- 8th in DVOA
They don't create many turnovers, just 14 all season (26th), but last week they forced a season-high five takeaways against the Bills. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II is a legitimate eraser, while edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, along with interior rusher Zach Allen, provide consistent pressure.
"We've got to be firing all cylinders with protection," said Maye this week. "In the run game, they do a good job of getting TFLs and getting after the quarterback in the passing game. So, it's already a tough enough job with the edge guys, the guys up front, and the D-line that they have. So, just knowing if they heat us up, just knowing where these guys are coming from and have an idea that depending on how the game's going, they could heat us up more or heat us up less and just kind of take it from there."
Maye must walk the tightrope, being aggressive without being reckless, and willing to take the short outlets without losing the threat of those deep, momentum-changing shots. And he must protect the football, because in a game where margins shrink, one turnover could be the difference.
3. Play Like Champions
The Patriots have shown remarkable cohesion through two playoff wins. They have come together across the roster and are making the critical plays necessary to win playoff games against quality opponents. Their second-half execution has been outstanding, finishing off the Chargers and Texans with physicality and poise.
But now comes the hardest test of all, going to Denver, a place where the Patriots have historically been humbled.
New England is 8â0 on the road this season, a remarkable feat and a source of enormous confidence. But Denver in January is different. The franchise has dealt the Patriots playoff heartbreak four times before, including twice in the AFC Championship, in 2013 and 2015.
"I think playing on the road is â one of the coolest things is coming off the field at their place, with screaming fans, and coming out with a win," said Maye. "I think it's pretty cool to celebrate and celebrating in an away locker room that's different. Coach [Vrabel] has always been saying, 'Road warriors.' So, we're trying to find that one more time and finish out strong what we've done this year. We've got a tough job and a tough challenge, but I think the guys will be pumped up and ready for it.
This Patriots team can make history of its own, but only if they bring their most complete, most focused, most physical performance of the season. With a chance to reach their 12th Super Bowl, it's time to put it all on the line and play their best football.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
