Patriots are back in the Super Bowl as they beat the Broncos 10-7 in farcical second-half weather in Denver

The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years after they beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a brutal AFC Championship game.

The second half of the dogged contest was played in farcical wintery conditions, with relentless snowfall and swirling winds ensured both teams’ offenses were completely ineffective.

Andres Borregales’ field goal, which put the Patriots ahead in the third quarter, was the only scoring play in the entirety of the second half.

But Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye will not care as they now wait to see whether they will face the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in San Francisco on February 8.

It has been a remarkable first season in charge for Vrabel, who has taken the Patriots from two consecutive 4-13 seasons to just one victory away from the franchise’s seventh Super Bowl title.

It was a heartbreaking end to the season for Sean Payton and the Broncos, who relied on back-up quarterback Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix fractured his ankle in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills. 

The Broncos made a fast start to the game with Stidham finding wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the end zone to go 7-0 in front.

Maye bundled himself into the end zone with two minutes left in the second quarter to tie things up before the weather turned over half time and early into the third quarter.

That made it almost impossible for either team to affect the scoreboard with Borregales 23-yard field goal in the third quarter proving to be the difference.

More to follow.