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Drake Maye went down in 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 those games.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the AFC Championship NFL 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 turning 24 since Ben Roethlisberger did so in 2005 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maye was 10-for-21 with 86 passing yards and five sacks. His game-tying rushing touchdown after a Broncos turnover also made a big difference in the victory.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the trophy after the AFC Championship NFL 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 their team to a Super Bowl in their first two NFL seasons. New England and the San Francisco 49ers are the only franchise that has multiple quarterbacks in their first or second year to reach the Super Bowl.
“I’m proud of this team,” Maye said. “I don’t have many words. Just grateful for this team. Love each and every one of them. It took them all.”
It’s been an incredible year for the North Carolina standout. He is among the finalists for the NFL MVP award.
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)
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He had 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions this season. New England won the AFC East title and was the second seed heading into the playoffs.
