Patriots to Return to Super Bowl After 7-Year Hiatus With Win Over Broncos
‘You have to believe things sometimes before you can see them,’ Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the trophy after the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots in Denver on Jan. 25, 2026. John Locher/AP Photo
Look out, America, the New England Patriots are really back.
New England held on for a 10–7 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. It marked the Patriots’ return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season on the heels of two consecutive 4–13 seasons.
Matthew Davis
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Matthew Davis is an experienced, award-winning journalist who has covered major professional and college sports for years. His writing has appeared on Heavy, the Star Tribune, and The Catholic Spirit. He has a degree in mass communication from North Dakota State University.
