NFL Final Four: Seahawks vs Rams and Patriots vs Broncos Clashes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The NFL’s Championship Sunday is officially locked in. The Patriots will travel to Denver to face the Broncos, while the Seahawks will host the Rams in a high-stakes NFC West battle.
Dramatic finishes, key injuries, and stunning performances shaped this weekend’s playoff picture.
NFL Conference Championships: Quick Looks
- AFC: Patriots vs Broncos — rematch of legendary Brady-Manning clashes
- NFC: Seahawks host Rams in an all-NFC West showdown
- Rams beat Bears 20-17 in OT after Caleb Williams’ late TD and INT
- Patriots beat Texans 28-16 with 3 TDs from Drake Maye, 5 forced turnovers
- Broncos survive Bills 33-30 in OT, but lose QB Bo Nix to injury
- Seattle dominates 49ers 41-6, advances to NFC title game for first time in 11 years
- Rams’ Matthew Stafford leads game-winning OT drive in snowy Chicago
- Jarrett Stidham to start for Broncos after Nix ankle injury
- Drake Maye leads New England to 16th AFC title game appearance
- Patriots, Seahawks listed as slight favorites by BetMGM
Deep Look: NFL Conference Championship Matchups Set as Rams, Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks Advance
Championship Sunday is set, and the NFL’s four remaining teams are locked in for a pair of matchups with Super Bowl dreams on the line. The New England Patriots will head west to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game, while the NFC will be decided in a fierce division showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.
The stage is set after a thrilling weekend of divisional-round action that included game-winning field goals, overtime drama, and heartbreak for perennial contenders like the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.
AFC Championship: Patriots vs Broncos (Sunday)
The Patriots are back in familiar territory. Behind rising star quarterback Drake Maye, head coach Mike Vrabel has guided New England (16-3) to its first AFC Championship Game since the Brady-Belichick dynasty.
Maye threw three touchdowns in Sunday’s 28-16 win over the Houston Texans in cold, rainy Foxborough, while the defense forced five turnovers to smother rookie standout C.J. Stroud.
“They bring it every week,” said Maye. “It’s fun to watch. Proud of the guys.”
It’s New England’s 16th appearance in the AFC title game. They’re 11-4 all-time and looking for their first Super Bowl trip since 2019.
The Broncos (15-3) punched their ticket in dramatic fashion — a 33-30 overtime victory against the Bills — but lost rookie quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle late in the game. Former Patriots backup Jarrett Stidham will start against his old team.
“I feel like I have a No. 2 who could start for a bunch of teams,” said Denver coach Sean Payton. “Watch out.”
Denver is 8-3 in conference championship games, with their last win coming in 2015 when Peyton Manning outdueled Tom Brady in a 20-18 classic.
NFC Championship: Seahawks vs Rams (Sunday)
The NFC West will crown the conference champion.
The Seattle Seahawks (15-3) crushed the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers 41-6 Saturday night, reaching their first NFC Championship Game in 11 years. Quarterback Sam Darnold was efficient, and Seattle’s defense stifled everything the 49ers tried.
The Rams (14-5) earned their place with a hard-fought 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears. In a game marked by swirling snow and late drama, Caleb Williams looked like a hero after launching a miracle fourth-down TD to Cole Kmet with just 18 seconds left in regulation.https://newsroom.ap.org/topic?id=bae7e8164b944d8986332200e510c7b8&mediaType=text&navsource=explore&parentlnk=false
But overtime told a different story. Williams threw his third interception of the night, picked off by Kam Curl, setting up Matthew Stafford for a 54-yard game-winning drive capped by Harrison Mevis’ 42-yard field goal.
“It’s playoff football,” Stafford said. “Tough conditions, a gritty win. Proud of our team.”
Los Angeles is in its 12th NFC title game, its third under Sean McVay. The Rams are 5-6 all-time but have won their last four appearances — including their 2021 Super Bowl run.
Key Matchup History & Storylines
- Patriots vs Broncos is a nod to the historic Brady vs. Manning rivalry, rekindled in a new era
- The last Pats-Broncos AFC title matchup was in 2016, a 20-18 Denver win
- Stidham, drafted by New England in 2019, faces his old team
- Patriots were 4-13 last season before hiring Vrabel, now on the cusp of the Super Bowl
- Rams vs Seahawks will be their third meeting this season; each team won at home
- Week 16: Seattle overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Rams 38-37 in OT
- Rams last played in NFC title game in 2021; Seahawks’ last trip was in 2013
Controversy in Buffalo
The Bills (13-6) were eliminated in yet another gut-wrenching finish, denied a shot at their first Super Bowl.
After Denver punted to open overtime, Josh Allen connected with Brandin Cooks on a long pass — but the ball was ripped away mid-air by Ja’Quan McMillian for a game-changing interception.
The quick review upheld the call, sparking criticism from Buffalo coach Sean McDermott.
“Too big of a play not to slow it down,” McDermott said.
\Two pass interference calls against Buffalo helped set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning chip shot.
By the Numbers
- Patriots: 11-4 in AFC title games
- Broncos: 8-3 in AFC title games
- Rams: 5-6 in NFC title games, 4-game win streak
- Seahawks: 3-1 in NFC title games
- Drake Maye: 3 TDs, 0 INT vs Texans
- Caleb Williams: 2 TDs, 3 INT vs Rams
- Jarrett Stidham: 1-3 as career starter
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