The road to Santa Clara has narrowed to four teams. Following a dramatic Divisional Round weekend that saw the top seeds hold serve in the NFC and a stunned silence fall over Mile High with a quarterback casualty, the matchups for the 2026 NFL Conference Championships are officially set. On Sunday, January 25, the Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots in the AFC, while the Seattle Seahawks welcome their divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, for the NFC crown. With a trip to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher.
AFC Championship: Battle of the 14-Win Titans
The AFC Championship Game features a clash between the conference's two 14-3 juggernauts, but the headline isn't just the record—it's who won't be under center. The top-seeded Denver Broncos secured their spot with a gritty 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills, but the win came at a steep cost. Rookie sensation Bo Nix, who piloted Denver's resurgence this season, suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter and has been officially ruled out for Sunday's title game.
This leaves the Broncos' fate in the hands of backup Jarrett Stidham, who faces his former team. Stidham managed the game efficiently in relief against Buffalo, but he now faces a New England Patriots defense that has been suffocating down the stretch. Led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are back in the AFC Championship for the first time in the post-Belichick era. Maye has been a revelation, throwing for 2,200+ yards in a balanced offense that relies heavily on its defense to close out games.
Despite playing on the road at Empower Field at Mile High, the Patriots have opened as 4.5-point favorites, a line that swung heavily following the news of Nix's injury. The matchup pits New England's opportunistic secondary, anchored by All-Pro Christian Gonzalez, against a Denver offense that must now simplify its game plan. For Denver, the path to victory relies on their own elite defense, led by Patrick Surtain II, forcing Maye into rookie mistakes.
NFC Championship: A fierce NFC West Trilogy
In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks are one win away from returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since the mid-2010s. After securing the NFC's No. 1 seed and dismantling the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, Seattle prepares to host the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. This will be the third meeting between these NFC West rivals this season, with the teams splitting their regular-season series 1-1.
The storyline centers on the quarterback duel: the veteran Matthew Stafford, seeking perhaps one last ring at age 37, versus the redemption arc of Sam Darnold. Darnold, who took over the reins in Seattle after Geno Smith's departure to Las Vegas, has played the best football of his career, guided by a potent run game featuring Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks have opened as 2.5-point favorites, buoyed by the deafening "12th Man" advantage.
The Rams, however, carry a dangerous momentum. Stafford has been surgical in the playoffs, connecting repeatedly with record-breaking receiver Puka Nacua. Los Angeles's defense, though younger than their 2021 championship squad, has found its stride, particularly in the pass rush. The key to this game will be whether Seattle's offensive line can hold up against the Rams' front; if Darnold is given time, Seattle's explosive receivers, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, could overwhelm the Rams' secondary.
Key Injuries and Weather Factors
Aside from the massive Bo Nix news, the NFL injury report today highlights several key situations. Rams running back Kyren Williams is listed as questionable with a hamstring tweak but is expected to play. For New England, defensive tackle Christian Barmore returned to practice in a limited capacity and should be active to help stuff the Broncos' run game.
Weather could also play a significant factor. Early forecasts for Denver predict temperatures in the low 20s with a chance of snow, conditions that favor New England's physical ground attack. In Seattle, rain is almost a certainty, potentially forcing a slower, run-heavy game script that suits Kenneth Walker III perfectly.
Super Bowl LX Predictions and Stakes
The winners of Sunday's games will book their tickets to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. A victory for the Rams would give Matthew Stafford a chance to bookend his career with a second title in his home state's stadium (Levi's Stadium is just north of his LA home base). For the Patriots, a win would signal the official arrival of the Drake Maye era and a return to the franchise's dominant ways.
Current Super Bowl LX predictions heavily favor the winner of the NFC Championship, given the quarterback uncertainty in Denver. However, if Stidham can pull off a "Nick Foles-esque" miracle run, or if Drake Maye continues his rapid ascent, the AFC representative will be no pushover. Sunday's games promise not just elite football, but the final chapters of a season defined by resilience and new beginnings.
