New England Patriots' Road to Super Bowl LX: From AFC title game snow win to Santa Clara showdown

It may have been the season of New England, a road-tested march, slow-burning, that ended with a snow-swept victory to earn the ticket to the Bay Area. The New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a tight defensive battle at Empower Field to win the AFC Championship and secure a spot in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.

The roller coaster of a campaign has transformed into one of the more resilient playoff runs in franchise history.It was also an accomplishment with a historic flavor. The Patriots capped off a perfect 9–0 road record, the first such mark in NFL history, but doing so required beating the conference's top team on the road to win the conference title. That toughness away from Foxborough has become the defining trait of this group and now serves as the foundation for its championship hopes.

Defense carries New England Patriots through AFC title battle

What the AFC Championship Game presented was just a classic winter matchup. Shortly after the third quarter began, the atmosphere changed as snow began to fall, turning the field into a slippery, treacherous battleground. Both sides struggled offensively, making for more of a field position and patience battle than anything else. New England's defense played its best game of the year, stuffing the run, pressuring the quarterback, and creating turnovers in key situations.

Instead, Denver could manage just one touchdown, struggling to string together drives as it normally does. The Broncos kept getting bogged down by turnovers and penalties, while the Patriots played the style that best suited the weather: conservative. New England set the tempo and made their signature short passes, grinding runs, and good clock management. A late field goal ultimately provided the margin of victory, and the defense closed the door in the final minutes to secure the conference crown.Along the road to Santa Clara, several pivotal games shaped the Patriots’ postseason journey:

Each contest tested the team in a different way, but the common thread was poise in high-pressure moments. Whether protecting slim leads or grinding out yards in difficult weather, New England consistently found ways to survive and advance.

Super Bowl matchup with Seattle Seahawks awaits in Santa Clara

But for Super Bowl LX, Levi's Stadium will look like a whole new place. The Patriots will emerge from a wintry haze of frost and snow and into the bright lights of a neutral-site title game in California.

Their next opponent, the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, is essentially the worst non-practicing high school football team they could ever face, with a philosophy built around explosive playmakers and an end-to-end offensive approach.The challenge for New England is adjusting its well-traveled formula to the higher tempo, more wide-open game. That includes the Patriots' defense versus Seattle's slew of playmakers, quarterback Drake Maye throwing the football in key situations, and field position in the kicking game.3. Those three things will have a huge impact on things like red-zone efficiency, third-down execution, and turnover margin.