Insider Identifies Patriots’ ‘Biggest Fear’ For AFC Championship Game Vs. Broncos

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye committed a career-high four fumbles during the team’s AFC Divisional Round win against the Houston Texans.

Patriots insider Chad Graff wrote Thursday about how Maye’s ball security and the team’s offensive line could be a concern heading into Sunday’s AFC Championship Game vs. the Denver Broncos.

Graff cited rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s recent struggles in his breakdown of the matchup. The senior writer for The Athletic said that Campbell will be “one of the most important players for the Patriots” for the third straight game on Sunday.

“The Denver Broncos don’t have quite as dangerous a pass rush as the Texans, but they’re not far from it. The Texans ranked second in the NFL this season in pressure rate. The Broncos were third,” Graff said. “And, more to the point, heading into an AFC Championship Game in which the Patriots are favorites and have several meaningful advantages (none bigger than at quarterback, where Jarrett Stidham, a 2019 draft pick of the Patriots, is set to start for the injured Bo Nix), the Broncos could end this magical run by dominating them up front and forcing Maye into some turnovers.”

While Graff admitted that “so much has gone right” for New England in the playoffs, Maye “suddenly having issues hanging onto” the football is a “troubling trend.”

He opined that the Patriots offensive line — particularly Campbell and fellow rookie Jared Wilson — has had some “frighteningly weak moments” over the past two contests.

“That will get even more difficult in Denver. The Broncos boast one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. Even if they didn’t have one of the league’s best pass rushes, it could still be difficult for the Patriots O-line to be on the same page, given the noise,” Graff said. “But the biggest fear for the Patriots in this matchup is a suddenly turnover-prone offense with a front five that’s coming off two of its worst games of the season, going up against a really good pass rush.”

New England is understandably favored to beat Denver on Sunday, but there is a path for the Broncos to pull off the upset and advance to their first Super Bowl in 10 years.