The stage is officially set for Super Bowl LX. After a pair of hard-fought Conference Championship matchups on Sunday, it’s the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks who punched their tickets to Santa Clara, where they’ll battle for the Lombardi Trophy on February 8th at Levi’s Stadium.
Let’s break down how we got here.
AFC Championship: Patriots 10, Broncos 7
This one was a defensive slugfest from start to finish. The Patriots, seeded No. 2 in the AFC, went into Denver and edged out the top-seeded Broncos in a low-scoring, physical affair that was more about grit than flash.
New England leaned heavily on its defense, which has been their identity all season-and it showed again in the biggest moment. Despite being without standout defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, who’s on injured reserve, the Patriots’ front seven held strong, keeping Denver’s offense bottled up and limiting explosive plays. They forced the Broncos into long third downs and capitalized on key mistakes, doing just enough to protect a narrow lead.
For Denver, the loss is a tough pill to swallow. As the No. 1 seed, they had been rolling, but couldn’t find rhythm against a disciplined Patriots unit. Their defense held up its end, limiting New England to just 10 points, but the offense couldn’t break through when it mattered most.
NFC Championship: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Now this one? A completely different story. The NFC title game delivered fireworks, with the top-seeded Seahawks outlasting the No. 5 seed Rams in a back-and-forth thriller.
Seattle’s offense was sharp, but it was the defense that came up with key stops late to preserve the win. The Seahawks also got a roster boost with running back Cam Akers elevated from the practice squad. While he didn’t record any stats, his presence gave Seattle another option in the backfield and added depth to a position that’s been tested throughout the season.
On the Rams’ side, the story was all about the rookies up front. Defensive end Braden Fiske and outside linebacker Jared Verse both got the start-and they made their presence felt in a big way.
Fiske was disruptive all game, tallying two solo tackles, a sack for an eight-yard loss, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry. Verse brought the heat off the edge as well, finishing with three tackles (one solo), a sack for eight yards, another tackle for loss, and three quarterback hurries.
That’s high-impact production from two young defenders on the biggest stage of their careers so far.
Unfortunately for the Rams, even with that defensive pressure, they couldn’t quite slow down Seattle’s offense enough to flip the outcome. And with outside linebacker Keir Thomas on injured reserve, the Rams were down a key contributor in their rotation.
Super Bowl LX: Patriots vs. Seahawks
So now, it’s New England and Seattle-two franchises with recent Super Bowl pedigree-set to clash under the lights at Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and if these Championship games were any indication, we’re in for a battle between two teams that know how to win in very different ways.
The Patriots bring a hard-nosed, defense-first mentality that’s carried them through the postseason. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are playing with confidence, balance, and a knack for making big plays in big moments. It’s a matchup that pits discipline against dynamism-and it should make for a compelling finish to the NFL season.
Pro Bowl Notes
Before the big game, the 2026 Pro Bowl Games will take place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Four former Seminoles earned Pro Bowl honors this year: Giants linebacker Brian Burns, Rams linebacker Jared Verse, Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey, and Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. That’s a strong showing from Florida State alumni, and it’s a testament to how much talent they’ve produced on the defensive side of the ball in recent years.
Circle the date. Super Bowl LX is coming. And with the Patriots and Seahawks both looking locked in, this one has all the makings of a classic.