Patriots vs. Broncos weather: How snow in Denver negatively impacted Patriots-Broncos AFC championship showdown

Jake Mozarsky

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Patriots vs. Broncos weather: How snow in Denver negatively impacted Patriots-Broncos AFC championship showdown image

In the second half of the AFC championship game, Empower Field at Mile High turned into a snow globe. As temperatures plummeted into the teens and wind chills dipped toward zero, a reinforcing shot of arctic air transformed the gridiron into a slick, white canvas that fundamentally altered the game's high-stakes.

For the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, the championship evaporated under the weight of the heavy, swirling flakes, forcing both squads to abandon their vertical passing attacks in favor of a physical game between two of the league's top defenses. Every snap became a gamble in ball security, and every yard gained was a testament to the grit required to navigate a blizzard with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Both offenses could not get much going in the second half, but it was New England who got the lone field goal, which was enough to advance to Super Bowl LX in a 10-7 victory.

Here's how the weather played an impact in the AFC championship game.

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Weather for Patriots-Broncos

For the 2026 AFC Championship in Denver, the weather lived up to its frozen tundra billing.

After a clear kickoff at 26°F (feeling like 17°F), the second half saw temperatures plummet into the teens with wind chills dropping toward zero. Light, fluffy snow began accumulating on the field during the third quarter, making the hash marks difficult to see and forcing both teams to navigate a slick, white-out environment. 

By the time the fourth quarter came, the field was covered in snow as both teams tried to navigate the harsh conditions.

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How weather impacted Patriots-Broncos

In the second half of the AFC championship game, the high-altitude air grew thick with heavy, swirling flakes that quickly blanketed the hash marks. With the wind whipping through the stadium at over 20 mph, the passing attacks of both New England and Denver were effectively neutralized, replaced by a desperate, old-school struggle for traction and survival.

The elements proved particularly cruel to the kicking games, where the biting cold and swirling winds turned routine attempts into adventures. Footing became a nightmare on the snow-dusted turf, leading to critical missed field goals that left points on the board and shifted the momentum of the game; kickers were a combined 1-for-5 on the day, with Andy Borregales' 23-yard attempt the only successful one.

Visibility dropped significantly as the game went on, forcing both the Patriots and Broncos to abandon deep-threat strategies for a punishing ground war, where every yard was a testament to survival in some of the most brutal conditions in AFC Championship history.

It was summed up by a series of plays late in the fourth quarter: a New England punt was kicked short, setting up the Broncos on the opponent 33. Then, Wil Lutz missed a 46-yard attempt that would have tied the game, with Leonard Taylor getting a hand on the ball.

Then, the next Broncos drive, with the snow piling down, Stidham's downfield pass went right into the hands of Christian Gonzalez. It was the play that essentially sent New England to Super Bowl LX.

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What is the snowiest game in NFL history?

While several games contend for the title, the 2017 "Snow Bowl" between the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills is widely considered the snowiest in NFL history. A massive lake-effect storm dumped roughly 8 to 9 inches of snow during the game alone, adding to the several inches already on the ground for a total accumulation of nearly 17 inches at the stadium.

Another legendary contender is the 1985 "Snow Bowl" at Lambeau Field, where over a foot of snow fell as the Green Bay Packers dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in front of a stadium that was two-thirds empty due to the blizzard. The 2013 "Blizzard Bowl" between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles is equally iconic, as an unexpected snowband dumped 8 inches of snow during the game and famously allowed LeSean McCoy to rush for a franchise-record 217 yards in the slush.

Finally, the 1948 NFL Championship remains one of the most extreme weather events in league history, with players from both the Eagles and Cardinals having to help groundskeepers pull a heavy, snow-laden tarp off the field before a scoreless battle finally ended with a 7-0 victory in a foot of snow.

Has an NFL game ever stopped due to weather?

While the NFL famously plays through rain and snow, games are strictly stopped or delayed for lightning and severe weather that poses an immediate threat to life.

League policy mandates a mandatory 30-minute suspension if lightning is detected within a 10-mile radius, a rule that turned a 2018 Titans-Dolphins matchup into a seven-hour ordeal and recently paused the 2025 season opener between the Eagles and Cowboys.

Beyond lightning, the league has suspended or postponed games for hurricanes, tornado warnings, and extreme blizzards, though these decisions are usually made due to public travel safety rather than the conditions on the field itself.

In the rare event a game cannot be finished, the Commissioner has the authority to reschedule it or, if the outcome is essentially decided, terminate it and declare the current score final.

Senior Editor