Championship Sunday Preview: Patriots-Broncos, Seahawks-Rams Set the Stage for Super Bowl 60
The road to Super Bowl 60 comes down to just four teams. Two games.
One ticket to Santa Clara on the line in each. Welcome to Championship Sunday - where legacies are built, dynasties are tested, and heartbreak is just one play away.
Let’s break down what’s at stake in both conference title games, starting with a heavyweight AFC clash in the Mile High City and ending with a high-stakes NFC West rubber match in Seattle.
AFC Championship: Patriots at Broncos (2 p.m. ET, CBS)
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Broadcast Team: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
For the first time since the 2017 season, the AFC title game won’t feature the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, it’s a showdown between the top two seeds: the No.
1 Denver Broncos and the No. 2 New England Patriots - two storied franchises with plenty of playoff history between them.
The Broncos’ Grit Gets Tested
Denver earned its spot with a gutsy 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, but the celebration was short-lived. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury late in that game, thrusting backup Jarrett Stidham into the spotlight for the biggest start of his career.
Stidham’s task? Take on a Patriots defense that has been playing lights-out football this postseason. New England has allowed just 19 total points across two playoff games, shutting down the Chargers and then handling the Texans with surgical precision.
This is Denver’s first AFC Championship appearance since 2015 - and fittingly, that one also came against the Patriots. In fact, the Broncos’ last two trips to this stage (2013 and 2015) were both home wins over New England. History is on their side, but the quarterback situation changes the equation.
Patriots Back in Familiar Territory
For New England, this marks a return to familiar ground. It’s their first AFC title game since the 2018 season - a stretch that capped off eight straight appearances in the conference championship. While this current iteration of the Patriots doesn’t have Tom Brady under center, they’ve found a new identity built around a stingy defense and efficient offense.
With the Broncos forced to lean on their backup quarterback, oddsmakers have installed the Patriots as 3.5-point road favorites. It’s a rare position for a visiting team in Denver, but given the circumstances, it’s not hard to see why.
AFC Championship Betting Odds (via BetMGM):
- Spread: Patriots -3.5
- Moneyline: Patriots -220, Broncos +180
- Over/Under: 43.0
NFC Championship: Rams at Seahawks (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Broadcast Team: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi (sidelines)
In the NFC, it’s a clash of division rivals with a Super Bowl berth on the line. The top-seeded Seattle Seahawks host the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Rams in what will be the third meeting between these two this season - and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Seahawks Defense vs. Rams Offense - A True Clash of Styles
Seattle comes in riding high after dismantling the 49ers, 41-6, in the divisional round. That performance was a statement from the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense, which has been dominant all season and just put the rest of the league on notice.
But the Rams present a different kind of challenge. They boast the league’s top-scoring offense and have survived two emotional, tight road wins - first in overtime against the Bears, then a gritty 20-17 win over the Bears. Now they’ll try to complete the NFC West gauntlet by taking down the Seahawks in their own building.
This will be the rubber match between the two. The Rams took the first meeting back in Week 11, 21-19, while the Seahawks answered in Week 16 with a 38-37 overtime thriller. Expect more fireworks in Round 3.
Seattle Seeks Return to the Big Stage
This is Seattle’s first NFC Championship appearance since 2015. That season capped a two-year run that included a Super Bowl title and a near repeat. Now, led by a dominant defense and a balanced offense, the Seahawks are one win away from returning to the sport’s biggest stage.
Rams Chasing Another Ring
For the Rams, this is their third NFC title game appearance in the last eight seasons. They’re also the most recent Super Bowl champs among the remaining teams, hoisting the Lombardi in the 2021 season. Their playoff road has been anything but easy, but they’ve shown resilience - and explosiveness - when it matters most.
NFC Championship Betting Odds (via BetMGM):
- Spread: Seahawks favored slightly
- Moneyline/Total: Not listed here, but Seattle enters as the narrow favorite
Recent Championship Game History
Last 10 AFC Championship Results:
- 2024: Chiefs 32, Bills 29
- 2023: Chiefs 17, Ravens 10
- 2022: Chiefs 23, Bengals 20
- 2021: Bengals 27, Chiefs 24
- 2020: Chiefs 38, Bills 24
- 2019: Chiefs 35, Titans 24
- 2018: Patriots 37, Chiefs 31
- 2017: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20
- 2016: Patriots 36, Steelers 17
- 2015: Broncos 20, Patriots 18
Last 10 NFC Championship Results:
- 2024: Eagles 55, Commanders 23
- 2023: 49ers 34, Lions 31
- 2022: Eagles 31, 49ers 7
- 2021: Rams 20, 49ers 17
- 2020: Buccaneers 31, Packers 26
- 2019: 49ers 37, Packers 20
- 2018: Rams 26, Saints 23
- 2017: Eagles 38, Vikings 7
- 2016: Falcons 44, Packers 21
- 2015: Panthers 49, Cardinals 15
NFL Playoff Recap: How We Got Here
Divisional Round:
- Rams 20, Bears 17 (OT)
- Patriots 28, Texans 16
- Seahawks 41, 49ers 6
- Broncos 33, Bills 30 (OT)
Wild Card Round:
- Texans 30, Steelers 6
- Patriots 16, Chargers 3
- 49ers 23, Eagles 19
- Bills 27, Jaguars 24
- Bears 31, Packers 27
- Rams 34, Panthers 31
What’s Next: Super Bowl 60
The winners of today’s conference championships will meet in Super Bowl 60, set for Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California - the home of the 49ers. It’ll be the second time the Bay Area hosts the big game, the last coming a decade ago when the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-16.
We’ll know by tonight which two teams will be heading to the game’s biggest stage. Buckle up - Championship Sunday is here.