In a low-scoring AFC Championship game played in brutal conditions, Maye rushed for a first-half touchdown, and painstakingly drove the ball downfield after the break to set up a decisive field goal.
No further scoring was possible in -6 degrees Celsius conditions, with the Patriots’ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.
“We battled the elements. Love this team. How about the defence?” said Maye.
The Patriots will be playing in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8 – their first appearance in the showpiece title game in seven years.
“It wasn’t ideal. The defence, they’ve been stepping up all playoffs,” added Maye. “We will play better. I’m just proud of this team.”
The win underlines a remarkable resurgence for the Patriots.
After the dominant era of the Brady dynasty that yielded six Super Bowl titles, New England have endured a painful rebuild, going 3-14 in both the previous two seasons.
But under new head coach Mike Vrabel – who won three Super Bowls alongside Brady for the Patriots – they were a revelation this season, going 16-3 before Sunday’s clash, having won the tough AFC East for the first time since 2019.
And Maye, 23, now extends a breakthrough year in his second NFL season, vying for Most Valuable Player with the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford. (AFP)
