Super Bowl dream ends for Australian NFL rookie punter

Steve Larkin |

Denver’s Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw (16) watches a missed field goal against the Patriots.
Denver’s Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw (16) watches a missed field goal against the Patriots.

Punter Jeremy Crawshaw’s hopes of becoming the second Australian to play in a Super Bowl victory have ended, with his Denver Broncos failing to reach the NFL showcase game.

New England pipped Crawshaw’s Broncos 10-7 on Sunday  (Monday AEDT) in the AFC Championship fixture.

In the Super Bowl, the Patriots will meet the winner of the NFC Championship clash between the Seattle Seahawks, featuring Australian punter Michael Dickson, and the Los Angeles Rams.

Broncos
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz (3) missed this field goal against the Patriots in the second half. (AP PHOTO)

The Patriots advanced to their 12th Super Bowl after overcoming the Broncos – and a second-half snow storm – at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High in Colorado.

After scores were locked 7-7 at halftime in cold but clear conditions, the snow storm and accompanying strong winds hampered both sides.

The Patriots’ Venezuelan-born kicker Andres Borregales nailed a 23-year field goal with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter for the only score of the second half.

The Broncos loss ends a standout season for NFL rookie Crawshaw, who hoped to follow Jordan Mailata in being Australians to play in a Super Bowl triumph.

Mailata won a coveted Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

Crawshaw, 24, was born in Penrith in Sydney and initially played rugby league and Australian Rules football.

He joined the renowned ProKick Australia academy and his punting talents were soon noticed by US college scouts and he was recruited by Florida Gators in May 2019.

The Broncos selected Crawshaw with a sixth-round pick at last year’s NFL draft and he became a mainstay on the Denver team, earning a berth in the All Rookie Team picked by the Pro Football Writers of America body.

Crawshaw continued his strong form in the championship game, with six punts for 309 yards highlighted by a longest punt of 60 yards.

Maye
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was the standout in the win over the Broncos. (AP PHOTO)

But Denver, without injured star quarterback Bo Nix, were collectively unable to quell Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who ran for 68 yards and threw for 86 yards in the sloppy, snowy conditions and scored New England’s only touchdown.

New England became just the third team in the Super Bowl era to win a conference championship game with 10 points or less.

“I’m just proud of this team,” Maye said.

“Don’t have many words, just thankful for this team; love each and every one of them. It took everybody.”

AAP