Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the glory days of predecessor Tom Brady with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

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 the blizzard-hit contest with the temperature reaching minus-6 Celsius and the Patriots¡¯ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.