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The New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl, and a controversial play that ultimately led to the game-winning score has football fans debating on social media.
A blizzard in the second half kept both teams to just three points, but it was the decisive field goal by the Patriots that ultimately sent them to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. But a fourth-and-1 play comes into focus now because some believe quarterback Drake Maye shouldn’t have converted.
After a third-and-10 screen to tight end Hunter Henry came up a yard short, head coach Mike Vrabel called to go for it. It was a quarterback sneak, but after tripping off the snap, Maye looked like he was short.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks toward his bench during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
But officials deliberated and began moving the chains on first-and-goal, prompting Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton to throw the red challenge flag.
After reviewing the overhead tape, it looked like Maye was either right at the line to win or just short. But given the lack of strong evidence to overturn the refs, the call stood and the Patriots had a Grade-A chance to take their first lead of the game.
New England failed to find the end zone, but a 23-yard field goal was a chip shot that at least gave them three points.
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The debate subsequently followed on social media.
“Definitely short, but according to NFL rules (which are not good), I understand the play is called on the field,” said one X user. “What I don’t understand is why they didn’t use the new digital measurement to determine the location of the ball.”
They didn’t use that technology to find the ball’s spot, but some X users pointed out that the side officials rushed to the center of the field to suggest that Maye was short. However, an official downfield appeared to be the one that called for the first down.
“The umpires actually agreed that they were clearly short of 1st, then adjusted the path and just awarded them a first down,” said another X user.
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots is pressed by Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter of the AFC Championship Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The weather got much worse from there, and Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham stepped in after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury. He did well to score the first touchdown of the game on a deep ball to Marvin Mims Jr., who made a play-action touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
But those were the only points the Broncos could muster, especially after the snow and wind made the field a mess at Mile High.
In the end, the Patriots were able to come up with two clutch plays on defense to make it so they are AFC champions. The first was a fourth-and-1 for the Broncos that resulted in a turnover on downs.
Then Stidham decided not to take a sack and tried a desperation pass, but it was ruled a reverse throw and the Patriots scooped it up. A few plays later, Maye ran it in to tie the game at seven apiece.
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter of the AFC Championship Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Now, the Patriots will watch the NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams to see who they will play at Levi’s Stadium in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Broncos will be thinking about what ifs, including this critical game.
