Lead
At halftime of the AFC Championship at Empower Field at Mile High on Jan. 25, 2026, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots were deadlocked 7-7. Denver’s backup QB Jarrett Stidham completed 12 of 21 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown but also lost a fumble that set up New England’s tying score. Both teams missed long field-goal attempts late in the half — Wil Lutz from 54 yards and Andres Borregales from 63 — leaving the game level heading to the locker rooms. The second half will determine which club advances to Super Bowl LX.
Key Takeaways
- Halftime score: Broncos 7, Patriots 7 — game tied at the break in Denver on Jan. 25, 2026.
- Stidham first-half line: 12-for-21, 121 yards, 1 TD and a fumble that led directly to New England’s score.
- Big plays: a 52-yard deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. set up Denver’s early touchdown (Courtland Sutton TD two plays later).
- Crucial short-yardage stop: Denver failed on a fourth-and-1 from New England’s 14, turning momentum over to the Patriots.
- Kicking miscues: Wil Lutz missed a 54-yard attempt and Andres Borregales missed a 63-yarder before halftime; both teams left points on the board.
- Drake Maye responded under pressure with a QB draw TD that tied the game at 7 late in the first half.
- Defensive tempo: the teams combined for six sacks in the first half, a pace noted by league observers.
Background
The AFC title matchup pits Denver against New England with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line. Denver started Jarrett Stidham at quarterback after injuries higher on the depth chart altered their plans; New England started Drake Maye following a postseason run that emphasized a ground-and-play-action mix. Both teams entered the game with distinct game plans: Denver leaned on quick strikes and deep shots to stretch the field, while New England prioritized tempo, QB mobility and short-yardage conversion.
Historically, conference championship games often hinge on field-position battles and special teams execution; that backdrop magnified the significance of the long field-goal attempts that were missed before halftime. Coaches on both sidelines had to weigh aggressive fourth-down decisions versus cautious play in near-goal situations. The stadium conditions — snow and wind in Denver — also shaped play-calling and influenced both kicking attempts and scrambling decisions.
Main Event
The opening quarter saw Denver take an early lead when Stidham connected for a 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr., quickly followed by a play-action bootleg where Courtland Sutton caught a short touchdown to make it 7-0. New England’s offense struggled early, producing multiple three-and-outs while the Patriots’ defense generated pressure that led to several negative plays.
Midway through the second quarter Denver drove into New England territory and elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the 14; the attempt failed as Stidham came under immediate pressure and his pass fell incomplete. That goal-line stand kept the Broncos from extending their lead and proved pivotal in momentum terms.
Later in the half, Stidham tried to escape pressure on a third-and-long and attempted to throw the ball away but instead produced what was ruled a backward pass and a fumble recovered by New England. Two plays after that turnover Drake Maye ran a quarterback draw into the end zone to tie the game at 7 with 2:10 remaining in the half.
Both teams had late opportunities before the break but missed long field-goal attempts: Wil Lutz’s 54-yard try for Denver and Andres Borregales’ 63-yard attempt for New England both left the stadium without points, sending the teams to halftime even.
Analysis & Implications
Special teams accuracy has been a decisive factor in playoff games for years; the two missed attempts here altered expected scoring and preserved a one-possession game. In neutral conditions, each make would have produced separation; in snow and wind, each miss underscores the risk of relying on long kicks in championship settings. Coaches will likely re-evaluate late-game field-position strategy in the second half.
Denver’s offense showed both upside and fragility. Stidham’s 52-yard connection and the ensuing Sutton touchdown demonstrated vertical explosiveness, but the fumble under pressure and conservative second-half offense (multiple three-and-outs) reveal execution gaps. If Denver wants to advance, play-calling must create more consistent rhythm and better protection on obvious passing downs.
New England has leaned on Drake Maye’s mobility to create big plays when pass protection breaks down. Maye’s QB draw touchdown and several scramble gains highlight how the Pats can manufacture points without long, sustained drives. However, New England’s early offensive stagnation points to areas for adjustment — particularly third-down efficiency and ball-security under duress.
Comparison & Data
| Stat (First Half) | Broncos | Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7 | 7 |
| Leading passer (yards) | Stidham — 121 | Maye — (scramble TD included) |
| Sacks (combined) | 6 (combined in first half) | |
| Missed FGs | Lutz 54-yd miss | Borregales 63-yd miss |
The table summarizes key first-half snapshots: a tied score, a noticeable pass yardage edge for Stidham, and a high number of backfield disruptions. The combination of sacks and missed kicks left expected points lower than either offense would prefer; defensive disruption and weather were decisive contributors.
Reactions & Quotes
“Broncos and Patriots combined for six sacks in the first half,”
Jori Epstein / Yahoo! (media note)
“Stidham’s turnover directly preceded New England’s tying touchdown,”
CBS Sports live updates (media)
“Odds entering the game listed New England as 4.5-point favorites,”
DraftKings Sportsbook (odds listing via media)
Unconfirmed
- The claim that the whistle originally nullified what would have been a Patriots touchdown is based on in-game reporting and has not been independently confirmed by officiating reports.
- Any suggestion that a tipped kick altered Wil Lutz’s missed 46-yard attempt is observational from broadcast replays and not an official ruling.
Bottom Line
This AFC Championship through 30 minutes is a one-possession game shaped by a handful of high-leverage moments: a deep connection to Marvin Mims Jr., Denver’s failed fourth-and-1, Stidham’s fumble, and two long missed field goals. Weather and pass-rush pressure have kept scoring down and turned special teams and turnovers into decisive factors.
Coaches must adjust protections, short-yardage strategy and fourth-down calculus in the second half; whichever team minimizes mistakes and converts red-zone opportunities will have the clearer path to Super Bowl LX. Keep watching for halftime adjustments, kicker decisions, and how each sideline manages field position in the closing stages.