The New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos stats from the AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026, show how New England earned a narrow 10–7 victory over Denver. The Patriots overcame an early deficit, scored 10 unanswered points, and held the Broncos scoreless after the first quarter. Drake Maye contributed a rushing touchdown, while Andres Borregales kicked the field goal that proved decisive. Denver scored first through a touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Courtland Sutton but could not add another score. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search0″,”turn763499search4”]}/>
The matchup was a defensive battle in which neither offense found consistent passing success. New England relied on its running game to produce 141 rushing yards, while Denver finished with 79. Both teams struggled to convert possessions into points, and the Patriots’ defense made an important interception. This article breaks down the final score, quarter-by-quarter results, quarterback performances, rushing and receiving numbers, team statistics, and the key reasons New England advanced to the Super Bowl.
Quick Answer
The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10–7 on January 25, 2026, in the AFC Championship Game. Drake Maye scored New England’s only touchdown on a six-yard run, and Andres Borregales added a 23-yard field goal. Jarrett Stidham threw a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton for Denver, but the Broncos failed to score again.
Match Overview
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos |
| Date | January 25, 2026 |
| Competition | NFL AFC Championship Game |
| Venue | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver |
| Final Score | Patriots 10–7 Broncos |
| Winning Team | New England Patriots |
| Patriots Head Coach | Mike Vrabel |
| Broncos Head Coach | Sean Payton |
| Patriots Quarterback | Drake Maye |
| Broncos Quarterback | Jarrett Stidham |
New England’s victory came in a low-scoring contest where field position, defensive pressure, and rushing production mattered more than explosive passing plays. The Patriots scored in the second and third quarters to take control after Denver’s opening touchdown. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search0″,”turn763499search3”]}/>
New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos Score by Quarter
| Quarter | New England Patriots | Denver Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| First Quarter | 0 | 7 |
| Second Quarter | 7 | 0 |
| Third Quarter | 3 | 0 |
| Fourth Quarter | 0 | 0 |
| Final Score | 10 | 7 |
Denver opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Courtland Sutton. New England answered in the second quarter when Drake Maye ran into the end zone from six yards out. A 23-yard field goal from Andres Borregales in the third quarter gave the Patriots the lead, and neither team scored in the fourth. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search0″,”turn763499search3”]}/>
New England Patriots Player Stats
The Patriots used their ground game to move the ball and keep the offense productive despite limited passing yards. Drake Maye contributed as both a passer and runner, while Rhamondre Stevenson handled the largest share of rushing attempts.
Patriots Passing Stats
| Player | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 10/21 | 86 | 0 | 0 |
Maye completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards. Although he did not throw a touchdown, he scored on a six-yard rushing play. Denver’s pass rush sacked him five times, making it difficult for New England to build a consistent passing attack. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search2″,”turn763499search4”]}/>
Patriots Rushing Stats
| Player | Carries | Rushing Yards | Average | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 25 | 71 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Drake Maye | 10 | 65 | 6.5 | 1 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 |
| Team Total | 38 | 141 | 3.7 | 1 |
Stevenson led New England with 71 rushing yards on 25 carries. Maye added 65 yards on the ground and scored the Patriots’ touchdown. His running ability gave New England another way to advance the ball when passing opportunities were limited. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search2″,”turn763499search3”]}/>
Patriots Receiving Stats
| Player | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Longest Reception | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mack Hollins | 2 | 51 | 31 | 0 |
| Stefon Diggs | 5 | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Hunter Henry | 2 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Kayshon Boutte | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Mack Hollins led the Patriots in receiving yards with 51 on two catches. Stefon Diggs recorded five receptions, the highest total among New England receivers, but finished with 17 yards. The Patriots did not record a passing touchdown. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search2″,”turn763499search4”]}/>
Denver Broncos Player Stats
Denver’s offense produced the game’s opening touchdown but struggled to sustain scoring drives afterward. Jarrett Stidham connected with Sutton for the team’s only touchdown, while Marvin Mims provided the longest receiving play of the game.
Broncos Passing Stats
| Player | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrett Stidham | 17/31 | 133 | 1 | 1 |
Stidham completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked three times for a loss of 31 yards. His touchdown pass gave Denver an early lead, but the offense could not produce another scoring drive. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search0″,”turn763499search3”]}/>
Broncos Rushing Stats
| Player | Carries | Rushing Yards | Average | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RJ Harvey | 13 | 37 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Jarrett Stidham | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 0 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Tyler Badie | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
| Adam Prentice | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Pat Bryant | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Team Total | 24 | 79 | 3.3 | 0 |
RJ Harvey led Denver with 37 rushing yards. Stidham added 23 yards on four carries, but the Broncos could not find the end zone through their running game. Denver finished with 79 team rushing yards, 62 fewer than New England. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search0″,”turn763499search3”]}/>
Broncos Receiving Stats
| Player | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Longest Reception | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Mims Jr. | 4 | 62 | 52 | 0 |
| RJ Harvey | 4 | 22 | 11 | 0 |
| Courtland Sutton | 3 | 17 | 6 | 1 |
| Evan Engram | 2 | 19 | 12 | 0 |
| Lil’Jordan Humphrey | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Elijah Moore | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Pat Bryant | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Mims led Denver in receiving yards with 62, including a 52-yard reception. Sutton scored the Broncos’ only touchdown, finishing with three catches for 17 yards. The team needed more successful plays in the red zone to turn its offensive possessions into points. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search3″,”turn763499search4”]}/>
Team Stats Comparison
The team statistics show why New England won despite producing fewer passing yards. The Patriots ran the ball more often, gained more total yards, and controlled possession for longer. Denver recorded more passing yards but could not turn that advantage into additional points. <Cite refs={[“turn763499search3″,”turn763499search20”]}/>
| Team Statistic | Patriots | Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 10 | 7 |
| Total Yards | 206 | 181 |
| Passing Yards | 86 | 133 |
| Rushing Yards | 141 | 79 |
| Rushing Attempts | 38 | 24 |
| First Downs | 12 | 11 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 0 | 1 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks Allowed | 5 | 3 |
| Time of Possession | 33:09 | 26:51 |
Passing and rushing yardage may not add up exactly to total offensive yardage because passing totals can reflect sack losses and different statistical conventions.
Why Did the Patriots Win?
1. Stronger Rushing Attack
New England recorded 141 rushing yards on 38 carries. Stevenson provided steady production, while Maye’s mobility created an additional threat. Denver managed only 79 rushing yards, limiting its ability to balance the offense.
2. Maye’s Rushing Touchdown
Maye’s six-yard touchdown run tied the score at 7–7 in the second quarter. The play was especially important because New England’s passing game struggled to gain yards against Denver’s defense.
3. The Decisive Field Goal
Borregales converted a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to give New England a 10–7 lead. Since neither team scored in the fourth quarter, that kick became the winning score.
4. A Timely Defensive Interception
The Patriots intercepted Stidham and prevented Denver from turning its passing opportunities into further points. New England also kept the Broncos scoreless over the final three quarters.
Common Mistakes When Reading NFL Player Stats
NFL box scores can be confusing if different types of statistics are treated as the same thing.
- Passing yards vs. total yards: Passing yards measure the team’s passing production, while total offensive yards include rushing and passing.
- Completions vs. attempts: A completion is a successful pass; an attempt includes passes that are incomplete.
- Rushing touchdowns vs. passing touchdowns: Maye scored on a run, so his touchdown was recorded as a rushing touchdown rather than a passing touchdown.
- Interceptions vs. sacks: An interception occurs when the defense catches a pass intended for the offense. A sack occurs when a defender tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage during a passing play.
- Possession vs. efficiency: Holding the ball longer does not automatically mean a team will score more points.
Understanding these differences makes it easier to explain why New England won despite Maye’s limited passing numbers.
FAQs
1. Who won the New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos game?
The New England Patriots won 10–7 against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026.
2. How many passing yards did Drake Maye have?
Drake Maye recorded 86 passing yards, completing 10 of 21 attempts. He also rushed for 65 yards and scored a touchdown.
3. How many passing yards did Jarrett Stidham record?
Jarrett Stidham threw for 133 yards, completing 17 of 31 passes with one touchdown and one interception.
4. Who scored the Patriots’ touchdown?
Drake Maye scored New England’s touchdown on a six-yard run in the second quarter.
5. Who scored the Broncos’ touchdown?
Courtland Sutton caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham in the first quarter.
6. Who led the game in rushing yards?
Rhamondre Stevenson led all players with 71 rushing yards. Drake Maye followed closely with 65.
7. What was the decisive score?
Andres Borregales kicked a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter, putting New England ahead 10–7. Neither team scored again.
Remember This
The most important figures from the AFC Championship Game are the 10–7 final score, New England’s 141 rushing yards, and Denver’s 133 passing yards. Drake Maye scored the Patriots’ touchdown, Courtland Sutton scored for Denver, and Andres Borregales delivered the decisive field goal. New England’s defense preserved the narrow lead through a scoreless fourth quarter.
Conclusion
The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10–7 in a closely contested AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026. Denver scored first, but New England responded with a rushing touchdown from Drake Maye and a field goal from Andres Borregales. The Patriots’ ground game, led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Maye, helped them gain more total yards and control possession.
Jarrett Stidham and Courtland Sutton connected for Denver’s only touchdown, while Marvin Mims provided a key long reception. However, Denver’s offense could not score after the opening quarter. New England’s defensive performance and effective rushing attack secured the victory and sent the Patriots through to the Super Bowl.
William Noah is a spiritual writer at BibLoft, exploring hidden meanings, symbols, and divine insights. He shares thoughtful interpretations that inspire self-awareness, inner growth, and spiritual understanding.
