New England Patriots QB Drake Maye is headed to the AFC Championship Game in only his second NFL season.
The New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship Game, this time with Mike Vrabel as head coach and Drake Maye as QB.
The Patriots beat the Houston Texans to advance to the AFC Championship Game, where they will face the Denver Broncos in Denver.
"We knew it was going to be a battle," Maye said after beating the Texans. "We knew this was a great football team coming in here. Happy for the guys. This is one to enjoy. It was tough. Battle of the elements. Props to our defense, they played great.
"We made enough plays on offense and we cleaned some stuff up. We knew they were going to be a good defense. Like I said, our defense helped us all night and special teams as well, enjoy this one, and we're back on the road."
Maye finished with 179 passing yards and three passing touchdowns against the Texans. The UNC product also fumbled the ball four times.
To beat the Broncos, Maye has to do a better job of protecting the football.
"Credit to the defense," Maye said. "We knew they were going to be good and they lived up to the hype and all the statistics and all the ball hunting that we saw on film. They ball hunt. The edges are tough. Got to do a better job of stepping up and hit guys downfield when we had chances.
"But like I said, we made enough plays, scored 21 and the defense helped us out with seven. And we did what we had to do in the game. The elements were a little tough. I have to be better with the football when I'm taking off and running. From there, just know that the football is the prized possession. And when we don't turn the ball over and put the team in the best spots, I like our chances."
The Patriots are favored to beat the Broncos, who won't have starting QB Bo Nix. It will be fascinating to see if Maye and Co. can beat Denver to advance to the Super Bowl in only Maye's second NFL season.
"Back on the road in an AFC Championship game," Maye said. "That speaks for itself. I'm just trying to enjoy these playoff wins."
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