After five straight weekends of Saturday football - from the stretch run of the regular season through the first two rounds of the playoffs - the NFL is shifting gears. Championship Sunday is here, and with it, the final four teams standing in the hunt for Super Bowl 60.
Here’s what you need to know heading into a massive Sunday slate that will decide who punches a ticket to Santa Clara.
AFC Championship: Patriots vs. Broncos - 2 p.m. CT, CBS
In the AFC, it's a heavyweight clash between the conference’s top two seeds: the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. This is the kind of matchup you circle on the calendar the moment the bracket is set.
Denver has looked every bit the No. 1 seed, surviving a thriller in the divisional round with a 33-30 overtime win over Buffalo. Their offense has been dynamic, but it’s their defense that has quietly been the backbone of this playoff run - timely stops, pressure in the trenches, and a secondary that doesn’t give up much.
New England, on the other hand, is peaking at the right time. After handling the Chargers in the wild-card round and then dispatching Houston 28-16 last weekend, the Patriots look like a team that’s rediscovered its postseason pedigree. Their defense has been opportunistic, and the offense - while not flashy - has been efficient and smart with the football.
This one could come down to the battle up front. Can the Patriots' offensive line keep Denver’s pass rush at bay? Or will the Broncos' front seven take over and tilt the field?
NFC Championship: Rams vs. Seahawks - 5:30 p.m. CT, FOX
Over in the NFC, we’ve got a familiar showdown: the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks hosting division rival Los Angeles Rams. These two know each other well - and there’s no love lost between them.
Seattle has been dominant. Their 41-6 dismantling of the 49ers in the divisional round wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Offensively, they’ve been explosive and balanced, and defensively, they’ve looked like the classic Seahawks units of old - fast, physical, and relentless.
The Rams, meanwhile, have been road warriors. As the No. 5 seed, they’ve gone into Carolina and Chicago and come out with gritty wins - the latest, a 20-17 overtime victory over the Bears.
They’ve shown they can win ugly, and in the playoffs, that counts for a lot. The question now is whether they can go into Seattle and do it again, this time against a team firing on all cylinders.
Expect a physical, emotional battle. These teams have history, and with a Super Bowl berth on the line, the intensity will be through the roof.
No Saturday Football This Week
For fans who’ve gotten used to Saturday playoff games, this weekend’s schedule will look a little different. With just two games left before the Super Bowl, everything shifts to Sunday - no games on Saturday, Jan.
- It’s all about Championship Sunday.
Here’s the full schedule (all times Central):
- AFC Championship: Patriots at Broncos - 2:00 p.m. on CBS
- NFC Championship: Rams at Seahawks - 5:30 p.m. on FOX
Looking Ahead to Super Bowl 60
The winners of Sunday’s games will meet in Super Bowl 60, set for Sunday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and will air on NBC.
It’s the biggest stage in football, and after this weekend, we’ll know who’s headed there.
How We Got Here: Playoff Results So Far
Divisional Round
- Sunday, Jan. 18 Rams 20, Bears 17 (OT) Patriots 28, Texans 16
- Saturday, Jan. 17 Broncos 33, Bills 30 (OT) Seahawks 41, 49ers 6
Wild-Card Round
- Monday, Jan. 12 Texans 30, Steelers 6
- Sunday, Jan. 11 Patriots 16, Chargers 3 49ers 23, Eagles 19 Bills 27, Jaguars 24
- Saturday, Jan. 10 Bears 31, Packers 27 Rams 34, Panthers 31
With just two games left before the Super Bowl, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Four teams, two spots, one shot at history. Buckle up - Championship Sunday is here.