Punter Bryce Baringer Struggled But Ultimately Helped Patriots Overcome Broncos

From a statistical standpoint, Patriots punter Bryce Baringer’s AFC Championship performance in Denver didn’t stand out. He finished with eight punts averaging just under 38 yards, often kicking from deep in New England territory and seemingly giving the Broncos favorable field position. But behind the numbers was a deliberate strategy centered on one priority: keeping dangerous returner Marvin Mims Jr. from touching the football.

Baringer explained that as snow and wind intensified, the risk of allowing Mims a return outweighed the importance of punt distance. With Mims’ speed and playmaking ability, and the treacherous conditions, New England’s plan was to prioritize placement and safety over yardage. The Patriots trusted their defense, which was playing at a high level, to hold Denver even if field position wasn’t ideal.

That approach was tested late in the game when Baringer punted from his own seven-yard line and the ball traveled just 23 yards, putting Denver immediately in field goal range. While the kick looked poor on the stat sheet, Baringer emphasized that preventing Mims from returning it was still a win in his eyes, even if the execution wasn’t perfect.

Once again, the Patriots’ defense delivered. They forced Denver into a 45-yard field goal attempt in brutal conditions, which was ultimately blocked by Leonard Taylor to preserve the lead. For Baringer, the result validated the game plan.

Unbothered by criticism or raw averages, Baringer made it clear his focus was solely on winning. In playoff football, he said, success isn’t measured by statistics but by execution of the plan and the final score, and by that standard, he believed he did his job.