The first NFL Playoffs start for former Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham ended in a tough defeat.
It was a tight game throughout, but the New England Patriots got the best of the homestanding Denver Broncos on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, 10-7, to advance to Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 5.
Stidham earned the start for the Broncos after another former Auburn quarterback, Bo Nix, went down with an ankle injury on the final drive of Denver’s AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. Stidham got the Broncos on the board early with a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 10:19 remaining in the first quarter. His 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. two plays prior set the Broncos up with the chance to score.
The Patriots answered with a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Drake Maye with 2:10 remaining in the first half to tie the game at 7-7 at halftime. New England took its first and only lead with a 23-yard field goal by Andy Borregales late in the third quarter to cap a 16-play, 9:41 drive to open the second half. The Broncos had a chance to tie the game at 10-10 in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots blocked Will Lutz’s kick to end the threat. The final drive for the Broncos ended with a Stidham interception to Christian Gonzalez.
Stidham’s day ended with 133 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The silver lining from the game is that former Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis will advance to play in Super Bowl 60 with the Patriots. He was the Patriots’ leading tackler in the game with seven stops.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Patriots top Broncos, Jarrett Stidham in AFC Championship Game
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