DENVER — Ten years in the past — the final time the Tremendous Bowl was held in San Francisco — Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was a fan within the stands, cheering on his hometown Panthers.
Now, Maye and the Patriots are Super Bowl-bound with the championship sport again within the Bay Space.
“It’s full circle,” Maye stated Sunday after the Patriots’ AFC Championship Sport win. “My dad, once I was possibly in seventh grade, stated if the Panthers made it we have been going to go. It was heartbreaking, they misplaced to the Broncos.
“However no, it was a superb expertise for a child my age who cherished soccer, cherished quarterbacks. That was Peyton’s final sport. What a [Pro Football] Corridor of Fame profession he’s had. Fairly cool to be full circle, going again right here 10 years later, and I believe it’s only a particular second for this complete staff, and we’re simply going to take pleasure in it tonight and head again. We’ve two weeks, so we’ve got some work to do, however I’m trying ahead to seeing who we’re going to play.”
Maye grew up as an enormous Panthers and Cam Newton fan. The Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 in that sport off a robust defensive efficiency.
That’s how the Patriots advanced over the Broncos in Sunday’s AFC title sport. Maye was simply 10-of-21 for 86 yards however added 65 yards and a landing on 10 dashing makes an attempt in snowy, windy situations.
“We didn’t play our greatest ball within the first half, and within the second half got here out and simply battled the weather, snow,” Maye stated. “It was a gritty win. Our protection stepped up. It was enjoyable to look at.”
The Patriots protection held the Broncos to only 181 web yards.
Maye has not performed his finest soccer over three postseason video games, however they’ve additionally confronted three of the NFL’s prime defenses.
“I believe we nonetheless haven’t performed our greatest soccer but in these playoffs. I’m trying ahead to seeing that and hopefully having that click on and win the Tremendous Bowl,” Maye stated.
