Breaking down the Patriots' AFC championship win over Broncos - ESPN

DENVER — Led by their defense, the New England Patriots gutted out a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High.

In some ways, it sparks memories of the Patriots' first Super Bowl championship team in 2001, which was led by the defense. Furthermore, in 2001, the Patriots' «Snow Bowl» win over the Raiders in the divisional round was epic and the second half of Sunday's win over the Broncos was played in similar extreme conditions.

One of the keys to Sunday's win, given the conditions, was terrific ball security, as the Patriots had no turnovers. Quarterback Drake Maye, who had fumbled six times in the first two playoff games, had talked about the importance of cleaning things up.

The Patriots are the first team in NFL history to finish 9-0 or better on the road (including playoffs). Now, they advance to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.

What to make of Maye's performance: Maye's knack for making plays with his legs was one of the best things he had going for him, as the passing game struggled for extended stretches against the Broncos' highly rated defense. Maye's 28-yard run on third-and-9 was a critical play on the Patriots' opening drive of the second half, which lasted 16 plays and chewed up 9 minutes, 31 seconds before ending in a field goal. He also had a 6-yard touchdown run. One of the biggest points of emphasis coach Mike Vrabel had for Maye was taking care of the football after Maye had six fumbles in the previous two playoff games. Maye finished the game with 86 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and no turnovers.

Turning point: The Patriots were on their heels for much of the first half, trailing 7-0, and the Broncos had the ball at their 33 facing