The NFL conference championship round weekend came to a close with one Maryland alumni seeing the field.
On Sunday, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs reached Super Bowl LX after a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos. This is Diggs’ first Super Bowl appearance in 11 years in the NFL.
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“I always wanted to be a Super Bowl champion, and the opportunity is right in front of us. For me I’ve been in the league 11 years, I fell short so many times,” said Diggs. “I can’t say anything else, but perfect timing coming off of an ACL [tear]. New team, new situation, new coaches, new teammates and it all happened how it was supposed to. [I’m] just appreciative.”
In a game impacted by snow for most of the second half, Diggs caught five passes on six targets for 17 yards. With the entire team managing just 86 yards of passing offense, New England was able to outlast Denver due to their strong defensive efforts.
The 32-year-old veteran had been chasing the Super Bowl his entire career. In the 2018 NFC Divisional Round, Diggs, then a member of the Minnesota Vikings, was a part of the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’ when he caught a 27-yard walk-off touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. That run ended in the NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles would then go on to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Still in pursuit, Diggs moved on and joined the Buffalo Bills in 2020. While Diggs had the best statistical years of his career, he still fell short of the big game. During his four seasons in New York, Buffalo lost three times in the playoffs to the Kansas City Chiefs and once to the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Three losses came in the divisional round, and one was the 2021 AFC Championship.
He would then leave the Bills and join the Houston Texans. While the team sat at 6-2, he tore his ACL in October 2024. After uncertainty, he landed in New England, and the breakthrough finally came.
Diggs caught four touchdowns this season, and after Sunday, he passed 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh time. With the team sitting at 17-3, all eyes are on Diggs as he looks to capture his first Vince Lombardi Trophy in year one as a Patriot.
“I’m just truly thankful to be around this team, this coaching staff [and] this organization,” Diggs said. “Life, injuries, shortcomings, [I’m] taking this moment in and just being thankful for where I’m at right now.”
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The Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks. This is the Patriots’ 12th trip and Seattle’s fourth in the franchises’ respective histories. This is also a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX from 2014, where New England beat Seattle 28-24.
Super Bowl LX is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
