All articles tagged with #stidham
Denver rolled to a 27-7 preseason win over Atlanta, led by Jarrett Stidham's efficient 9-for-15 for 131 yards and a TD with a deep strike to Courtland Sutton, Jahdae Barron’s pick-6, and Jonah Coleman grinding out yardage; Davis Webb impressed with the offense in the first half, while the second half grew a bit sloppy.
Denver Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham is drawing trade interest ahead of the March 11 window, with teams like the Jets checking in on a cost-effective backup; other potential destinations include the Packers, Bills, Commanders and Bengals. Stidham, who will turn 30 in August, is under contract through next season with an $8 million cap hit and would hit unrestricted free agency in 2027. He started the AFC Championship game, finishing 17-for-31 for 133 yards with two plays that directly led to touchdowns (including a 52-yard Broncos TD and a late fumble that led to a Patriots score). With head coach Sean Payton giving up play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb, Denver is also undergoing major offensive changes.
The Patriots beat the Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship thanks to stout defense and three pivotal sequence plays: Marcus Jones's third-down hustle that set up a fourth-down stop, Jarrett Stidham's turnover that Christian Elliss capitalized on, and Maye's late scramble with help from Rhamondre Stevenson that sealed the final points.
Denver's Sean Payton faced a pivotal second-quarter decision in the AFC Championship, opting to go for it on fourth-and-1 with Jarrett Stidham instead of kicking a field goal; the gamble helped the Patriots win 10-7, and Payton attributes the loss to that choice, taking responsibility himself.
Jarrett Stidham, stepping in after Bo Nix's injury, sparked a touchdown drive early, but a late interception, a costly second-quarter fumble, and a failed fourth-down attempt doomed the Broncos in a 10-7 loss to the Patriots in snowy AFC Championship play. Denver's season ends short of the Super Bowl despite a stout defensive effort and a brief offensive spark; Stidham downplayed weather as a factor and said he spoke with Nix afterward, while acknowledging the critical mistakes that hampered Denver's chances.
In the AFC Championship, referee Alex Kemp admitted an officiating error on a Jarrett Stidham fumble, where a backward pass was ruled incomplete instead of a fumble, costing the Patriots a potential defensive touchdown; after input from other officials, possession was awarded to New England with no advance, and Kemp emphasized the play should have continued since replay could have corrected the mistaken call.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said he passed on a field goal in the second quarter to keep the offense on the field and ride the momentum, noting he believed they could move ahead; a fourth-and-1 pass from Jarrett Stidham was under pressure and incomplete, and Denver later missed two longer field-goal attempts in windy, snowy conditions as the game slipped away.
Patriots (16-3) travel to Denver (15-3) for the AFC Championship at Empower Field with a 3 p.m. kickoff in cold, gusty weather and possible light snow. New England is healthier with Mack Hollins back; Broncos activate Luke Wattenberg and place Bo Nix on IR amid several roster moves. Key elements include ball security, ending drives with a kick, pressuring Stidham, and exploiting the Broncos’ defense as the line sits Patriots -3.5 (O/U ~42.6). Bedard projects a close game with the Patriots prevailing 20-17.
Jarrett Stidham hit Courtland Sutton for a short TD to cap a quick Broncos drive and give Denver a 7-0 lead early in the AFC Championship; Marvin Mims Jr. followed with a 52-yard gain to put Denver in the red zone, while New England opened with a three-and-out and Denver’s defense pinned the Pats deep as the game began.
Patriots Gameplan: 3 Keys to Victory in Sunday's AFC Championship vs. Broncos — offense must prepare a sharp pressure plan to counter Denver’s elite pass rush; defense must not overlook backup Jarrett Stidham and should apply pressure while disguising coverages; and the matchup focus highlights Will Campbell vs. Nik Bonitto, Jared Wilson vs. Zach Allen, Kayshon Boutte vs. Riley Moss, and Christian Gonzalez vs. Courtland Sutton as pivotal one-on-one battles to swing the game.
The Patriots’ defense is preparing to face Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship with limited recent film available. They’ll study what tape exists and lean on intel from Josh McDaniels, while adjusting their game plan as Stidham, who has about 400 regular-season snaps, is deemed capable and potentially unpredictable. New England won’t underestimate him as they pursue a Super Bowl berth.
Denver is a 5.5-point underdog at home to New England in the AFC Championship—the largest home underdog spread in conference championship history—after Bo Nix is out and Jarrett Stidham starts following a long layoff.
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, stepping in for a playoff start for the first time in over two years, faces a daunting matchup against the Patriots as New England’s defense has allowed only 19 points in the first two playoff rounds. Ex-Patriots QB Scott Zolak warns Stidham must handle complex presnap and post-snap reads, and the physicality of game conditions, while the Patriots press Denver’s receivers to force big throws.
New England heads to Denver for the AFC Championship, with Patriots rookie quarterback Maye leading the offense against a Broncos team that will start Jarrett Stidham in place of Bo Nix. The piece highlights the importance of protecting Maye from Denver’s strong pass rush, notes the Patriots’ defending ability in the playoffs, and threads through fan questions about the left side of the line, Hollins’ activation status, and how Stevenson and Henderson will be used. It suggests no major offensive-line reshuffle is planned and that the outcome will hinge on protection, QB decision-making, and the defense’s ability to limit big plays.
In the AFC Championship, the top seeds meet with Denver starting Jarrett Stidham at QB after Bo Nix injures his ankle, reshaping a matchup built around Denver’s league‑leading pass rush and stout defense. The Broncos’ offense has been solid but not explosive, while New England aims to leverage Stidham and the run game to counter Denver’s defensive strength as Payton’s squad pursues a Super Bowl berth.