Championship Sunday — January 25, 2026
Two divisional round finales have set the stage for the NFL Conference Championship games, with four teams competing for a berth at Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara. The AFC and NFC title matchups will be decided on a single Sunday, with dramatic late-game moments and injury setbacks reshaping the playoff landscape.
This interactive guide breaks down the matchups, key moments, and what’s at stake for Denver, New England, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
AFC Championship: Patriots Travel to Denver — A Decade Later
The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos meet for an AFC Championship on January 25, marking the first time these franchises have faced off for a conference title since January 24, 2016 — exactly 10 years ago. In that 2015 season meeting, Denver’s dominant defense held Tom Brady to a single touchdown, winning 20-18 to advance to Super Bowl 50.
This time, the narrative is different. The Patriots, the #2 seed, secured their spot with a 28-16 divisional round win over Houston. Denver, the #1 seed, survived a 33-30 overtime thriller against Buffalo — but paid a steep price. Denver’s second-year quarterback Bo Nix fractured his right ankle on the third-to-last play of the game, requiring surgery and ending his season. Backup Jarrett Stidham will now start for Denver, shifting the strategic approach significantly. Head coach Sean Payton has expressed confidence in Stidham’s experience and composure.
NFC Championship: Rams Return to Seattle — Unfinished Business
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are meeting for a third time this season, with the NFC Championship on the line. The #5 seed Rams advanced with a dramatic 20-17 overtime win over Chicago, while the #1 seed Seahawks dominated the 49ers 41-6 in their divisional round matchup. The season series is tied 1-1, but the emotional and statistical advantage swings in different directions.
In Week 11, the Rams defeated Seattle 21-19, intercepting Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold four times. However, in Week 16, Seattle engineered a historic comeback, scoring 24 unanswered points to win 38-37 in overtime after trailing 30-14 with eight minutes left. That Week 16 triumph was the first time in franchise history that the Seahawks rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit of at least 15 points to win.
Championship Sunday Predictor
Make your picks for both Conference Championship games. Select your predicted winners and submit to see how the math stacks up.
AFC Championship Winner:
NFC Championship Winner:
Key Moments & Stats
Championship Road Timeline
What’s at Stake
Championship Sunday represents the final frontier before the Super Bowl. For the Broncos, it’s a chance to reach the conference title game for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50, despite the injury to their starting quarterback. For the Patriots, an upset road trip to Denver would mark a resurgence after years of rebuilding. The Seahawks, the NFC’s top seed, aim to advance to the conference championship for the first time since 2014, seeking their first Super Bowl appearance since winning the title after the 2013 season. The Rams, despite the #5 seed, are hunting for their second Super Bowl appearance in four years, powered by Matthew Stafford’s ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
Both games will be decided by execution, resilience, and the ability to adapt to adversity. The broadcast details, injury updates, and head-to-head matchup history outline the tactical considerations, but the ultimate outcomes will rest on which teams execute their game plans and who capitalizes on critical moments.
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