With the NFL playoffs down to four teams, we’re officially in the home stretch. By the end of today’s conference championship doubleheader, we’ll know which two squads are heading to Santa Clara to battle it out in Super Bowl 60.
Let’s break down where things stand-and what’s ahead-as we look toward the league’s biggest stage.
Familiar Foes, New Faces
In the AFC, it’s a throwback matchup with a modern twist: the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are squaring off in the conference title game for the third time. But this one doesn’t feature the legendary Brady-Manning duel that defined the rivalry in the 2000s and 2010s. Instead, it’s a new generation under center.
Denver’s rookie quarterback Bo Nix had been turning heads before suffering a fractured ankle late in last week’s win. That injury hands the reins to Jarrett Stidham, who now faces the tall task of going toe-to-toe with Patriots phenom Drake Maye-an MVP candidate who’s been the engine behind New England’s postseason run.
Stidham’s challenge? Keep pace with one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses, in a hostile environment, with a Super Bowl berth on the line. No pressure.
NFC West Rubber Match
Over in the NFC, it’s a division rivalry with a ticket to the Super Bowl at stake. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams split their regular-season meetings, each game delivering its own dramatic finish.
Seattle pulled off a wild comeback win in December, capped by Sam Darnold’s game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. But a month earlier, it was Matthew Stafford who got the better of the Seahawks, tossing two touchdowns in a Rams victory at home.
Now, with the season on the line, these two NFC West foes meet for a third time-and this one promises to be the most intense of them all.
Potential Super Bowl Matchups
Three of the four potential Super Bowl pairings would be rematches from the past 12 years, each carrying its own layer of history.
- Seattle vs. Denver: We all remember Super Bowl XLVIII, when the Seahawks steamrolled the Broncos in a 43-8 rout.
It was a defensive clinic that announced the Legion of Boom to the world.
- Seattle vs. New England: Who could forget the heartbreak of Super Bowl XLIX?
With the game on the line, Russell Wilson was picked off at the goal line, sealing a Patriots win and sparking one of the most debated play calls in NFL history.
- New England vs. Los Angeles: These two franchises met in Super Bowl LIII, where Bill Belichick’s defense stifled Sean McVay’s high-octane offense in a 13-3 slugfest.
The only fresh matchup? Denver vs. the Rams-a first-time pairing on the sport’s biggest stage.
Super Bowl 60: What You Need to Know
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Broadcast: NBC (also streaming on Peacock and Fubo)
- Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark (sideline)
Levi’s Stadium will host its second Super Bowl, the first since Super Bowl 50 in 2016. That night, Von Miller and the Broncos shut down Cam Newton and the Panthers in a dominant defensive performance. It was a fitting send-off for Peyton Manning-and a reminder that defense still wins championships.
The Bay Area also played host to Super Bowl XIX back in 1985, when Joe Montana and the 49ers torched Dan Marino’s Dolphins with a then-record 537 yards of offense.
The Halftime Show
This year’s halftime show will be headlined by global superstar Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican artist who’s carved out a unique space at the intersection of reggaeton, trap, and pop. He’s a three-time Grammy winner and one of the most streamed artists in the world, bringing a high-energy performance to what’s already a high-stakes night.
The pregame festivities will have a Bay Area flair, with Green Day-the iconic punk band from Berkeley-set to perform during the opening ceremony honoring past Super Bowl MVPs.
Other musical performances include:
- Charlie Puth singing the national anthem
- Brandi Carlile with “America the Beautiful”
- Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
NFL Playoff Schedule Recap
- Wild Card Round: Jan. 10-12
- Divisional Round: Jan. 17-18
- Conference Championships: Jan. 25
- Super Bowl 60: Feb. 8
Super Bowl Winners: Who’s Got the Hardware?
Here’s a quick snapshot of the teams with the most Super Bowl wins. The teams still alive in this year’s playoffs are in bold.
- 6 Titles: Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots
- 5 Titles: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers
- 4 Titles: Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants
- 3 Titles: Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos
- 2 Titles: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles
- 1 Title: New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks
- 0 Titles: 12 teams, including the Bills, Vikings, Falcons, and Lions
We’re just hours away from finding out who gets to chase history in Super Bowl 60. Whether it’s a battle of rising stars or a clash of seasoned contenders, one thing’s for sure: the road to Santa Clara ends tonight, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.