The New England Patriots are on to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season. They defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ playoff victory.
DT Milton Williams and ED Elijah Ponder: The Patriots pass rush continued their hot streak and largely kept them in the game early on as Jarrett Stidham was under pressure on 35 percent of his drop backs. That effort was led by Milton Williams and Elijah Ponder, who tallied four pressures each — even with Williams drawing double teams on 40 percent of his pass rush snaps. Ponder also had a key fumble recovery to help set up New England’s first score.
CB Christian Gonzalez: While New England’s top corner allowed a 52-yard completion that led to Denver’s opening score, Gonzalez rebounded with a game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter. In his 21 matchups against Broncos’ top receiver Courtland Sutton, Gonzalez limited him to just two catches for 11 yards.
S Brenden Schooler and DT Leonard Taylor III: It was a busy day for New England’s punt unit, and Schooler led the way in minimizing elite returner Marvin Mims. Schooler had two tackles on their first three punts holding Mims to zero yards.
As for Taylor, the defensive lineman had perhaps the play of the game with a field goal block on Wil Lutz’s 45-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter to preserve a three-point lead that ultimately was the difference.
