The NFC and AFC conference championship games take place on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots at 3 p.m. ET on CBS in the AFC, while the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox in the NFC.

The NFL divisional playoff weekend delivered thrilling action, narrowing the field to four elite teams. The Seattle Seahawks crushed San Francisco 49ers 41-6, with their No. 1 scoring defense limiting the 49ers to two field goals and a total of nine points across back-to-back meetings. Their special teams sparked with Rashid Shaheed's 95-yard kickoff TD return, and the run game racked up 175 yards despite QB Sam Darnold nursing an oblique injury.

Los Angeles Rams edged the No. 2 NFC seed Chicago Bears 20-17, showing poise in late comebacks learned from regular-season close losses. Coach Sean McVay noted his team grew "calloused," vital for road tests like their Week 16 collapse at Seattle where they blew a 30-14 lead.

No. 1 AFC seed Denver Broncos survived Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime, their 13th comeback including playoffs and NFL-record 12 in regular season, six from fourth-quarter deficits. CB Ja'Quan McMillian's pick ended Buffalo's potential game-winner, but tragedy struck as QB Bo Nix fractured his right ankle on a kneel-down, sidelining him for the playoffs.

The New England Patriots dominated the Houston Texans amid snow, with WR Kayshon Boutte's one-handed 32-yard TD grab vs. All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. proving pivotal, his fourth deep TD this year. They forced five turnovers, holding more playoff wins (two) than TDs allowed (one), like past Super Bowl champs.

AFC Championship: (2) New England Patriots @ (1) Denver Broncos

When: 3 p.m. ET Sunday

No. 2 Patriots challenge No. 1 Broncos at Empower Field, Broncos seeking fourth Super Bowl. Jarrett Stidham starts for Nix, 749 days since his last pass (Jan. 7, 2024 vs. Raiders), over double the prior playoff QB record of 370 days by Joe Webb. Stidham's career: modest 20/37 for 101 yards rushing in limited action.

Patriots' Drake Maye dominated 2025: 354/492, 4,394 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs, 72% comp, NFL-best QBR and completion % over expectation, 10.3% scramble rate. Boutte: 33 rec, 551 yds, 6 TDs on 55.4% snaps; his highlight TD tied for NFL's second-most deep fades. New England led the AFC East at 14-3, 490-320 scoring.

Broncos' resilience shone: 68 sacks (NFL lead), fifth in blitz rate. Secondary stars Pat Surtain II, McMillian, safety Talanoa Hufanga; pass rush third in win rate via Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen vs. Pats' 13th pass block. Best O-line protects Stidham.

History: Broncos 4-1 playoffs vs. Pats, including 2015 AFC title 20-18 (failed Pats 2-pt) and 2013 win; last regular: Pats 26-23 in 2023 (Wilson's finale).

Why Patriots Could Win AFC

The Broncos are starting backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. This gives the Patriots a big edge, especially in passing the ball, the key part of football games. Denver's passing attack will struggle badly.

It's not just Stidham. The Patriots' young star, Drake Maye, was the NFL's best quarterback this season. He topped the league in key stats like QBR and completion rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Denver's defense is tough, but Maye is great at scrambling (he led all QBs at 10.3%). Plus, they're not as strong as the Texans, who the Patriots just beat.

Maye doesn't need to play perfectly. With Stidham leading Denver, New England's top passing offense should take over. The Pats' defense has improved too, thanks to players like tackle Milton Williams and cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Unless something crazy happens, the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl.

Why Broncos Could Win AFC

With starter Bo Nix out for the season, the Broncos face long odds. But they have a real chance thanks to their strong defense. It can stop the Patriots' best plays and push Denver to the Super Bowl.

Denver's defense shines in the secondary with star cornerback Pat Surtain II, tough nickel back McMillian, and hard-hitting safety Talanoa Hufanga. Their pass rush is elite too, ranked third in the NFL. Players like edge rusher Nik Bonitto and tackle Zach Allen give them an edge over New England's offensive line, which ranked just 13th in pass protection.

Backup QB Jarrett Stidham is a big step down from Nix. But Denver's offensive line is one of the league's best and will protect him. The rest of the team is stacked, giving them a slim shot to move on.

Matchup History: The teams last met in 2023, with the Patriots winning 26-23 in Russell Wilson's final game for Denver. In the playoffs, Denver leads 4-1, including AFC Championship wins after 2013 and 2015. The 2015 game was a tight 20-18 victory after New England missed a last-second tie.

Key Stat: Stidham's last pass was on Jan. 7, 2024, against the Raiders. By kickoff, it'll be 749 days, a playoff record, more than double the previous mark of 370 days by Joe Webb in 2012.

NFC Championship: (5) Los Angeles Rams @ (1) Seattle Seahawks NFC

When: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday

No. 5 Rams at No. 1 Seahawks, Lumen Field hostile, Rams blew lead there Week 16. Split regular: Rams 21-19 Week 11, Seahawks 38-37 OT Week 16. Playoffs: Rams 2-0, latest 2020 wild-card. Seahawks lead series 29-28.

Rams: No. 1 EPA/play offense, 50% run success; Stafford 4,707 yds (1st), 46 TDs (1st), 8 INTs, 71.1 QBR (4th). Nacua WR1; defense 10th EPA, 30.5 PPG scored (NFL lead). McVay's growth from close losses is key for road grit.

Seahawks complete: No. 1 D (17.2 PPG allowed), top vs. designed runs (Rams strength); Darnold 4,048 yds (5th), 25 TDs, 14 INTs despite oblique. Run emerging, special teams elite (Shaheed return).

Seahawks 3-0 home conference titles, 3-0 NFC champs (only loss 1983 AFC road).

Why Rams Could Win NFC

The Rams have the edge at the most important spot: quarterback. Matthew Stafford could be the NFL's MVP this season. Sam Darnold ranks just 27th in QBR since Week 11, even after a solid divisional round game.

What changed in Week 11? Darnold first faced the Rams. LA's defense didn't get tricked by heavy formations. They stuck to nickel coverage and shut him down. Since then, Darnold's passing yards per target and accuracy have dropped.

The Rams' offense leads the NFL in EPA per play heading into the game. Stafford and receiver Puka Nacua dominate through the air. Their run game has the league's best success rate at 50%. The defense ranks 10th in EPA per play, despite some rough spots. QB advantage isn't the only reason, they'll win on both sides of the ball.

Why Seahawks Could Win NFC

The Seahawks are the hottest team right now. They just crushed San Francisco's strong offense in back-to-back games, holding them to nine points total. Seattle split with the Rams in the regular season, but their defense is playing better than ever.

They can stop LA's powerful offense. The Rams led the NFL in success rate on designed runs, but Seattle ranked first in stopping those runs. The Seahawks also pressure the QB when teams fall behind.

On offense, Sam Darnold played well last Saturday, easing doubts about his late-season form. Seattle's run game has improved too. With home-field advantage and an extra rest day, they're set to win big.

Matchup History: The teams split their regular-season games: Rams won 21-19 at home in Week 11; Seahawks took a 38-37 overtime thriller in Week 16. In the playoffs, Rams lead 2-0, including a wild-card win after 2020.

Key Stat: Seahawks are 3-0 at home in conference championships and 3-0 in NFC Championships. Their only conference title loss was on the road in 1983.

These games decide Super Bowl LX teams, with chalky matchups but huge stakes.

These NFL conference championship clashes, Broncos' Bo Nix injury crisis handing Stidham a 749-day drought start against Patriots' Maye MVP fireworks and Boutte grabs, Seahawks' Darnold defense dominance over Stafford's Rams in Lumen Field rematches packed with regular-season splits, comeback grit, and Super Bowl stakes, expose QB edges, defensive showdowns, home-field legends, and playoff heartbreak paths from divisional thrillers to title glory.

Bankroll U tracks NFL shakeups and sports integrity edges in real time, cutting through playoff failures, team injuries, betting trends and matchup rebuilds. Our Playmakers monitor these stories, how they shift futures odds, and QB legacies like Maye's rise. Take your postseason strategy to the next level with Bankroll U.

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