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Drake Maye made NFL history and did something Tom Brady couldn’t do during his legendary career with the New England Patriots.
Maye led the Patriots to an AFC championship on Sunday with a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos on the road. Brady played the Broncos three times on the road in the playoffs and could never get the job done. He lost to Jake Plummer and Peyton Manning in these matches.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the AFC NFL Championship football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The second-year quarterback became the first quarterback to earn a road start in a conference championship game before his 24th birthday since Ben Roethlisberger did it in 2005 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maye was 10 of 21 with 86 passing yards and five sacks. His rushing touchdown that tied the game after a Broncos turnover also made a huge difference in the victory.
DRAKE MAYE’S CONTROVERSIAL FOURTH GAME CAUSES SOCIAL MEDIA FURARY AS PATRIOTS GO TO SUPER BOWL LX
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the trophy after the AFC NFL Championship football game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/John Locher)
He joins Brady as the only quarterbacks in Patriots history to lead his team to a Super Bowl in his first two NFL seasons. New England and the San Francisco 49ers are the only franchise to have multiple quarterbacks in their first or second year to qualify for the Super Bowl.
“I’m proud of this team,” Maye said. “Don’t say a lot of words. Just grateful for this team. I love each of them. It took everyone.”
It’s been an incredible year for the North Carolina star. He is a finalist for the NFL MVP award.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks toward his bench during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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He has totaled 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions this season. New England won the AFC East title and was the second seed heading into the playoffs.
