Wil Lutz, Andy Borregales missed kicks highlight ugly first half of Broncos-Patriots AFC championship

Wil Lutz, Andy Borregales missed kicks highlight ugly first half of Broncos-Patriots AFC championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The AFC championship game was never expected to be the prettiest game for offenses, but special teams units also took their lumps early in Sunday’s contest.

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Both kickers missed a potential go-ahead field goal in the final minute of the first half, with Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missing from 54 yards out and New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales missing a longer 63-yard try after some heroics by Drake Maye just to get in position.

Lutz and Borregales are both coming off impressive regular seasons, but those missing three points could haunt either team when all is said and done.

Here’s a look at how the first half of the AFC championship game ended on Sunday.

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Wil Lutz missed field goal

The Broncos started their final drive of the first half near midfield and felt strongly about their ability to tack on points before the break, but a sack of Jarrett Stidham turned a 52-yard attempt into a 54-yard try for the veteran Lutz.

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With the wind only lightly blowing, Lutz’s kick hooked just to the right, marking a rare miss for the former New Orleans Saints kicker.