Conference Championship Weekend: Former Dawgs Shine, Controversy Reigns, and the Super Bowl Picture Narrows
We’re down to four. After a wild Divisional Round, the NFL’s final four teams are set to battle it out for a ticket to Super Bowl LX.
And if you're a Georgia Bulldogs fan, there’s plenty to keep an eye on-former Dawgs are making their presence felt, from clutch touchdowns to critical trenches work. Let’s break down a weekend that had everything: drama, dominance, heartbreak, and a healthy dose of controversy.
Buffalo vs. Denver: A Thriller with a Twist
Saturday’s opener gave us a rollercoaster in the Rockies. The Buffalo Bills, led by Josh Allen, faced off against a red-hot Denver Broncos team. And while the scoreboard told a story of momentum swings and fourth-quarter heroics, the real headline came in overtime-and not for the right reasons.
First, a shoutout to former Georgia speedster Mecole Hardman. After an injury-plagued season, Hardman made his lone catch of the year count-a four-yard touchdown grab late in the first half that helped the Bills claw their way back into the game. It was a classic Allen-Hardman connection: quick, decisive, and just what Buffalo needed to stay in it.
Trailing 23-10 in the third quarter, Allen put the Bills on his back with two touchdown passes and a field goal drive to give Buffalo a 27-23 lead. It looked like the Bills were on their way to the AFC Championship.
But Bo Nix, the Broncos’ rookie quarterback, had other plans. The former Auburn and Oregon standout calmly led Denver down the field for a game-tying field goal, sending the game into overtime.
Then came the play everyone’s talking about. In OT, Allen targeted Brandin Cooks on a crucial third down.
Broncos safety Ja’Quan McMillan made a contested play on the ball, ripping it away from Cooks in a moment that had fans, analysts, and even players debating whether it was a catch or an interception. Regardless of how you saw it, the ruling favored Denver-and it flipped the game.
The Broncos capitalized on the turnover and kicked a game-winning field goal to escape with a 33-30 victory.
But Denver’s celebration was short-lived. After the game, the team announced that Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
A brutal blow for a rookie who had just led his team to a playoff victory. Stepping in for the AFC title game?
Jarrett Stidham-another Auburn alum-who, incredibly, has yet to complete a pass this season.
Meanwhile, the fallout in Buffalo was swift. On Monday, the Bills parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott, signaling a major shift after another postseason heartbreak. For a team that’s been knocking on the Super Bowl door for years, the window suddenly feels a little foggier.
Seattle Dominates San Francisco in Statement Win
If the first game was chaos, the second was control. The Seattle Seahawks dismantled the San Francisco 49ers in a 41-6 blowout at home, delivering one of the most lopsided playoff wins in recent memory.
Seattle’s defense suffocated the Niners, while their offense clicked in every phase. Unfortunately for Georgia fans, Kenny McIntosh-the lone Dawg on the Seahawks’ roster-has been sidelined all year with a torn ACL suffered last summer. Still, his team is rolling, and he’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines as they head into the NFC Championship.
Patriots Outlast Texans in Turnover-Fest
Sunday’s opener between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans was a defensive slugfest wrapped in a turnover bonanza. Eight turnovers in total, but it was the Patriots who came out on top with a 28-16 win.
Anchoring the offensive line for New England was former Georgia center Jared Wilson, who logged 65 snaps in the trenches. Wilson’s consistency and poise were vital in a game where ball security was at a premium.
He’s now one win away from following in the footsteps of fellow Bulldog David Andrews, who anchored the Patriots’ line during their dynasty years. Wilson’s rise has been steady, and now he’s got a shot to cement his name in postseason lore.
Rams Edge Bears in OT Snow Showdown
The weekend finale brought us to a snowy Soldier Field, where Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams squared off against D’Andre Swift and the Chicago Bears. It was a low-scoring affair, but it packed enough drama to fill a highlight reel.
With under 20 seconds left and the Bears trailing by seven, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams faced a 4th and goal. He heaved a desperation throw into the end zone, where tight end Cole Kmet found himself wide open and hauled in the game-tying touchdown. Soldier Field erupted, and we were headed for yet another overtime showdown.
But Stafford wasn’t done. The Rams defense picked off Williams for the third time-rookie growing pains on full display-and Stafford took over with a chance to win it. What followed was vintage Stafford: a 10-play, 54-yard drive capped by a 42-yard game-winning field goal from Harrison Mevis.
The drive’s signature moment? A laser throw to Davante Adams that might go down as one of the best of Stafford’s career.
Tight window, snowy conditions, high stakes-and he dropped it in perfectly. It was the kind of throw MVP campaigns are built on, and Stafford just added another chapter to his 2025 highlight reel.
What’s Next
So here we are: four teams, two games, and one shot at Super Bowl LX.
In the AFC, Denver will ride with Jarrett Stidham as they try to keep the magic alive against a Patriots team that’s rediscovered its playoff edge. In the NFC, it’s Seahawks vs. Rams in a divisional clash that promises fireworks-and maybe a little snow.
Former Georgia Bulldogs are sprinkled throughout these rosters, and one of them will be adding a Super Bowl ring to their résumé in just a few weeks. Stay tuned-conference championship weekend is shaping up to be a classic.