There was a point during Drake Maye’s 2024 season when Patriots fans openly booed the team and called for the removal of head coach Jerod Mayo. Now, in the 2025 26 NFL season, the atmosphere could not be more different.

Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's hands went for the Foxborough handwarmers while he was playing catch at the Gillette Stadium.

Despite plenty of rumors on possible veteran quarterbacks Denver could sign ahead of the AFC Championship, all signs point to the Broncos starting Jarrett Stidham against the Patriots. Head coach Sean Payton made this clear after announcing that Nix would miss the remainder of the season.

New England is headed to its first AFC Championship game appearance since the 2018 season and will face the Broncos

Jarrett Stidham will start for the Denver Broncos in Sundays AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots having not thrown a pass in the NFL since 2023; Sky Sports NFLs Ndamukong Suh says S

However, with less than two playoff games under his belt, Maye is already threatening Tom Brady for the record in one all-time Patriots postseason statistic. Through halftime of the Patriots/ Texans game, Maye has 12 rushing yards. After last week's game, this puts Maye's career postseason total up to 78 rushing yards.

NBA’s Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson. Boxing’s Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali. Soccer’s Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi. Likewise, the NFL has Denver Bron.

That wasn’t the case in their 16-3 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Mike Vrabel’s defense was physical and dominant, and even with an erratic Drake Maye, they managed to pull off the win.

Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady explained why his work and kids don’t leave him “much time” for a personal life.

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is set to start next week's AFC Championship Game in another step of a career that once saw him as Tom Brady's Patriots backup