With 2:11 remaining in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez intercepted Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham to seal a 10-7 victory and propel the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl berth in franchise history.

Stidham was starting in place of an injured Bo Nix. The interception was New England's second takeaway of the game—a defensive clinic that defined the Patriots' path to the championship.

Maye Makes History, Patriots Head to Santa Clara

First-year head coach Mike Vrabel will lead the Patriots to Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California, where they'll face the winner of the NFC Championship.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, 23, becomes the second-youngest starting quarterback to reach the Super Bowl, behind only Miami's Dan Marino.

"What an atmosphere out here," Maye said after the game. "Battle of the elements. Love this team. How about the defense? I love each and every one of them."

Defense Dominates in Historic Fashion

The Patriots have allowed just 26 points across three playoff games—a staggering defensive achievement. The only team to allow fewer points over three playoff games before reaching a Super Bowl was the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who surrendered just 16 points.

Gonzalez, reflecting on the game-sealing play, told FOX: > "Went up, saw the ball in the air, and at that point… you know, went and got it. We're resilient. You know, we just come out—we've got our identity no matter where [we're] at [and no matter] the weather."

Harsh Conditions in Foxborough

The game began sunny at 26 degrees but deteriorated quickly. Snow fell after halftime, forcing grounds crews to deploy snowblowers to mark hash marks and yard lines. Temperatures dropped to 16 degrees by the fourth quarter.

Historic Turnaround

New England's resurgence is remarkable. The team finished 4-13 last season under former head coach Jerod Mayo before the dramatic Vrabel-led turnaround.

The Patriots' 10-point victory made them the third team in the Super Bowl era to win a conference championship with 10 points or fewer. More significantly, their 40th playoff victory breaks a tie with the San Francisco 49ers for the most in NFL history.

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a linebacker for the Patriots, could become the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and head coach for the same franchise.