The punt only got out as far as the 33-yard line so surely Denver will have a shot at a field goal reagrdless of whether they earn a single yard or not.

It'd be about a 51 yarder from here, in tough conditions but with the wind at their backs.

Image source, Getty Images

This Broncos fan / Predator has the right idea in these baltic conditions.

Tony Romo
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on CBS

They threw the ball away as if to say 'I don't believe this other team can score, let them have the ball'.

Not exactly an attacking call from New England - with Drake Maye given the ball but then throwing it away when his first read wasn't open.

The Pats will punt it away from inside their own end zone and this won't reach midfield in these conditions.

Greg Brady
NFL pundit on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The Patriots have played clean. They haven't played well, they have punted the ball six times - but with no interceptions and fumbles.

Rhamondre Stevenson slips and he tries to get going for a run, Drake Maye holds the ball and then slips himself as he goes down for a loss of three!

You see? The punt did the trick.

And here we go, Denver going nowhere but after that punt all of a sudden they have New England pinned back inside their own 10 with the crowd up and the snow driving into Drake Maye's face.

Game on.

Just a short gain over the middle from a dump-off pass by Jarrett Stidham and Denver have to punt.

And the punters could be the best offensive weapons in this game now given the distance they can move the ball, and Denver's Jeremy Crawshaw does the trick by pinning the Pats back on their own eight.

I'm not sure if he meant it, but he hit a beautiful touch finder that you'd see in rugby all the time, a low runner that bobbles out of bounds deep in Pats territory. I seriously don't know why more teams don't punt like that in the NFL and play for field position.

Jarrett Stidham was almost picked off then going for one of those quick throws outside - this time to tight end Evan Engram but the Pats are all over it.

Engram's actually got his back to the ball as it smacks into a Pats defender and it's third down.

First time Denver have moved the chains in the second half! It is seriously hard work out there and Denver have been right up against it this half, but with the score as it is just one play could win this game for either side.

We've seen snow games before and the key is most definitely is being able to run the ball - especially getting the ball out wide if you can and turning the corner.

Running back usually have a lower centre of gravity and will be able to make cuts and sharper turns than defensive ends, linebackers or even safties coming after them, so watch out for some shovel passes out wide or even quick throws with some screens.

Ndamukong Suh
Former NFL defensive tackle and 2021 Super Bowl winner on Sky Sports

Footing is huge when you have a big snow game like this.

Drake Maye drops back to pass but he can't find anyone open - he may not be able to see anyone at all as the Patriots are decked out in all white uniforms and there's driving, swirling snow around Mile High Stadium - they'll be almost invisible out there.

Anyway, he's dropped again for a loss of eight yards and New England have to kick it away - and only down to the Denver 30 so decent field position for the Broncos.

Rhamondre Stevenson with a first-down run, and they keep him in for a couple more plays but they're four yards short of a first.

Jarrett Stidham fires a nice pass out to the sideline on third down for Lil'Jordan Humphrey but he can't make the catch under pressure.

Denver have to punt it away.

It is tough sledding out there - quite literally now in that driving snow.

That missed field goal could be huge. Yes, in these conditions it's tough but you have to make those kicks if you want to make a Super Bowl.

And now Denver have the wind at their backs and seemingly the best end to attack in conditions, let's see what they can do.

Now then, this is proper play-off weather.

In the space of a few minutes, Mile High has been covered in snow.

Denver and New England are heading into the most important 15 minutes of their season, and it seems whoever handles these conditions better will be heading to the Super Bowl.

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback on Sky Sports

I like that the Patriots have leaned back into the running game. But superb top defences stiffen up in the red zone and that's what the Broncos did there.