As Tony Romo envisioned, one massive mistake made a major difference in the AFC Championship Game.
The New England Patriots survived a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Their only touchdown came with the benefit of a substantially shortened field.
Denver led 7-0 late in the second quarter when facing a third down at New England’s 34. Before the snap, CBS color commentator Tony Romo stressed the importance of Jarrett Stidham protecting the football in a low-scoring contest.
“It’s like anybody who gets to 20 points wins this game,” Romo predicted. “It’s being played that way. Each play is so huge, A turnover would be catastrophic.”
Seconds after Romo’s warning, Stidham backpedaled before losing control of the football. A review ruled it a fumble recovered by the Patriots at the 12.
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Two plays later, Drake Maye scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game following an ensuing extra point. Andy Borregales gave the Patriots a go-ahead field goal in the third quarter, and that 10-7 score stuck as the snow intensified at Mile High.
Romo actually undersold the significance of that fumble, as neither team sniffed 20 points on Sunday. Sean Payton could be preparing the Broncos for a Super Bowl XLVIII rematch against the Seattle Seahawks if Stidham took a sack or successfully threw the ball away.
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Payton’s decision to forgo an early field-goal try for a fourth-down try also cost the Broncos three potential points they couldn’t afford to lose. The Patriots prevailed despite totaling 206 yards, but they didn’t turn the ball over after a sloppy start to the postseason for Drake Maye.
New England will face Seattle in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Featured image via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
