Drake Maye Reflects on Clinching Patriots' Super Bowl 60 Berth With Clutch Run vs. Broncos

Drake Maye put the finishing touches on Sunday's 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, taking a naked boot seven yards to convert on 3rd-and-5 and ensure the New England Patriots could kneel out the clock.

"We were in big personnel, running the same deal to the right, a little stretch play," Maye told reporters about the play in question. "You know, at some point they get lackadaisical and I got a chance to get around the edge. I thought he was gonna track me down but got enough to pick up the first. Coach [Mike] Vrabel was probably mad about running out of bounds, but at that point it doesn't matter. Just wanted to get the first down. Cool moment, and cool to celebrate with those guys. It's always cool finishing in victory formation. Pretty sweet."

It was revealed after the game that New England's offensive line was unaware that Maye was keeping the ball.

"After the game, Drake's like, 'I debated telling you guys if I was gonna [keep] it or not. But I just decided not to,'" Patriots center Garrett Bradbury said, per the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper). "I'm expecting Rhamondre to try and hit a hole. And I turn around, Drake's over there with the ball, and I'm like, 'Go, go, go!' Because we didn't know.'"

In a game that was largely played in a snowstorm, Maye didn't exactly light up the stat sheet through the air, finishing 10-of-21 for 86 yards. But he did make a difference with his legs, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown.

▶️ Full Patriots-Broncos Recap

05:52

More importantly, Maye protected the football. While Broncos' backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw an interception and lost a fumble (in rather controversial fashion), Maye didn't turn the ball over. With Denver struggling to do much of anything on offense, the New England game plan in the second half seemed to be avoiding any huge offensive blunders, and Maye obliged.

"Going to the Super Bowl, that sounds pretty good, that sounds pretty cool," he told reporters. "Just proud of this team. Proud of the defense. We didn't play our best ball in the first half, second half came out and just battled the elements. Snow, and the elements, it was a gritty win, and our defense stepped up. It was fun to watch."

It's all been quite the story. A year ago the Patriots were 4-13 and fired Jerod Mayo after just one season in charge. Vrabel was hired and set to work turning around the Patriots. While the easiest schedule in football helped them earn the No. 2 seed—and the offenses from the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Broncos stumbled over themselves during the playoffs—the Patriots found their way to the Super Bowl.