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FOXBORO, Mass. \u2014 New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked about the positives from Sunday\u2019s win: the way the defense played, his team\u2019s aggressive mindset and Kayshon Boutte\u2019s continued emergence. And he talked about the areas where they\u2019ll need to be better, like on the offensive line and keeping the ball off the ground.<\/p>\n
Snow clung to the tree branches outside Gillette Stadium, but otherwise it would\u2019ve been hard to tell this Monday apart from after a game in September. Little about Monday at the facility would\u2019ve given away the still-incredible punchline: that the Patriots are headed back to the AFC Championship Game this weekend.<\/p>\n
More to the point, there\u2019s a feeling that surrounds the Patriots now, an air of inevitability. The road to the Super Bowl is paved, and there\u2019s only the backup quarterback-led Denver Broncos standing in their way. And that has complicated the reality of what remains for New England.<\/p>\n
At this point, everything should be gravy. Coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons and somewhat muted expectations to begin 2025, it should feel like the Patriots are playing with house money. It should feel like this season has been an incredible success, regardless of what happens Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. No one thought they\u2019d get this far, so it should be celebrated for the triumph it was.<\/p>\n
But the season-ending injury to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix changed everything. It\u2019s no longer enough to be happy the Patriots made it this far. For some reason, the football gods have blessed the franchise \u2014 one that has already won six Super Bowls \u2014 by clearing the AFC for New England to win another conference title. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills lost a game that would\u2019ve sent them to Foxboro, and the Broncos lost their starting quarterback in the process. Jarrett Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick by none other than the Patriots, will get the start for Denver.<\/p>\n
So, sure, you could deem this season a success for the Patriots already, regardless of what happens from here. But it also feels like a Super Bowl berth is ripe for the picking \u2014 that it would be a disappointment to make it this far, face this quarterback and get sent packing.<\/p>\n
Yes, the Broncos are a good football team. And, yes, they\u2019ve posed plenty of problems for the Patriots in past playoff matchups. But this is different.<\/p>\n
Stidham hasn\u2019t thrown a pass in a meaningful NFL game in two years. The 29-year-old, once a potential successor to Tom Brady, was eventually traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and then-coach Josh McDaniels in a late-round pick swap.<\/p>\n
The Patriots were interested in a reunion with Stidham this offseason, too, now that McDaniels is back as offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he sees things really well,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cI think he\u2019s athletic enough to extend, like we talk about a lot of quarterbacks. Accuracy. I think the decision-making \u2014 he\u2019s really decisive in the games that we went back and watched. This is even going back to when I was in Tennessee as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
All of that may be true. But it\u2019s also true that the Patriots have been gifted this opportunity to reach the Super Bowl, merely needing to beat a team led by a career backup who has just eight NFL passing touchdowns (and eight interceptions) to his name.<\/p>\n
By the way, the Patriots defense has gotten healthy and is playing like one of the best units in the NFL. It has allowed just one touchdown in its opponents\u2019 24 playoff possessions, while nabbing six turnovers in that span.<\/p>\n
Plus, the Patriots were the only team in the league to go undefeated on the road this season, with a perfect 8-0 mark.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think that they really focus in on the road environment, on starting well, not beating ourselves, trying to be good at the line of scrimmage, the communication offensively that\u2019s required to make sure that everybody\u2019s on the same page, that the snap count is good and that guys are moving when they\u2019re supposed to be moving,\u201d Vrabel said of his team\u2019s success this season away from home. \u201cI think we\u2019ve executed in some critical situations when we\u2019ve needed to on the road, and those are things that are important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, the Patriots are on to Denver. And New England has plenty to worry about. The offense has been in a relative funk for the last two games. The offensive line has struggled. The running game hasn\u2019t been consistent.<\/p>\n
All are legitimate reasons for concern heading into Sunday\u2019s game. Plus, the Broncos have tons of talent \u2014 especially on defense \u2014 even if they\u2019ll have a backup under center.<\/p>\n
But the Patriots are beginning to feel like a team of destiny. There are 2001 vibes with this group, as everything seems to click and break its way. The Pats have won 15 of their last 16 games.<\/p>\n
So, as amazing as it sounds, anything less than a Super Bowl appearance now will probably end up feeling like a major disappointment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n