DENVER — The Patriots had just survived and advanced.

They survived a ferocious Denver defense and blizzardlike conditions late Sunday afternoon that made Mile High Stadium look like a real-life snow globe.

And they advanced to Super Bowl 2026 with a gritty 10-7 AFC Championship victory over the No. 1 seed Broncos.

In the minutes before he entered the postgame interview room, Mike Vrabel first was standing outside the visitors locker room greeting every one of his players on their way in from the field with a hug — as is his ritual after games, win or lose.