AFC & NFC Championship Preview: Four Heavyweights, Four Lombardi Pedigrees, One Shot at Glory
We’re down to the final four. And while the NFL’s postseason has already delivered its fair share of drama-six of the ten games decided by four points or fewer, two going to overtime-the stakes only get higher from here.
What makes this year’s conference championship round even more compelling? Every team left standing has hoisted the Lombardi Trophy before.
These aren’t Cinderella stories. These are battle-tested franchises with championship DNA.
Let’s break down what’s ahead on Sunday, starting with a heavyweight showdown in the AFC and a divisional rubber match out west in the NFC.
AFC Championship Game: Patriots (16-3) at Broncos (15-3)
Mile High stakes in Denver
The Broncos are back in the AFC title game for the first time since 2015-the same year they edged out the Patriots 20-18 and went on to win Super Bowl 50. That game was also played in Santa Clara, which just so happens to be the site of this year’s Super Bowl. Déjà vu, anyone?
This time around, the Patriots are chasing their 12th Super Bowl appearance, which would extend their own NFL record. Denver, meanwhile, is looking to punch its ninth ticket to the big game, which would move them past the Cowboys and Steelers (each with eight) and into sole possession of second place all-time.
But let’s talk about what’s happening right now. New England is riding a five-game winning streak, and they’re doing it with defense and resilience.
Since a Week 15 loss to Buffalo, Mike Vrabel’s team has outscored opponents 152-63 and held four straight teams to 16 points or fewer. That’s not just good-it’s championship-caliber football.
Still, the biggest question mark heading into Sunday is under center. Second-year QB Drake Maye has had a rocky playoff run so far.
He’s been sacked 10 times, turned the ball over five times (two picks, three lost fumbles), and is completing just under 59% of his passes. The Patriots have managed to win in spite of that, but against a Denver defense that’s led the NFL in sacks for two straight seasons, those numbers could be a red flag.
And while the Broncos will be without quarterback Bo Nix, they’ve been dominant at home-9-1 this season, including an overtime thriller against Buffalo. But here’s the twist: the Patriots are a perfect 8-0 on the road. Something’s got to give.
This one has all the makings of a slugfest. A young quarterback trying to steady the ship.
A pass rush that doesn’t quit. Two proud franchises with Super Bowl expectations.
Buckle up.
NFC Championship Game: Rams (14-5) at Seahawks (15-3)
A familiar rivalry with Super Bowl implications
The NFC West knows drama, and once again, it’s bringing the heat in January. For the second time in five years, two teams from the division will square off for a shot at the Super Bowl. The Rams and Seahawks split their regular-season series-each winning by razor-thin margins-and now we get the tiebreaker with everything on the line.
The Rams took the first matchup in Week 11, 21-19 in L.A. The Seahawks returned the favor in Week 16, outlasting the Rams 38-37 in an overtime thriller at Lumen Field. These teams know each other well, and they don’t need any extra motivation.
Let’s start with Seattle. Since that Week 11 loss to the Rams, they’ve ripped off eight straight wins by a combined score of 230-105.
That’s dominance. Mike Macdonald’s group is peaking at the right time, and they’ve shown they can win close games-they’ve only lost three times all season, and those defeats came by a total of nine points.
But don’t sleep on what Sean McVay’s Rams are doing, especially on offense. Matthew Stafford has been playing some of the best football of his career.
The 17-year veteran led the league with 4,707 passing yards and tossed a league-best 46 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. And he’s been just as sharp in the playoffs, adding 562 yards and three more TDs with only one pick in wins over the Panthers and Bears.
This is a classic case of strength vs. strength. Seattle’s defense has been flying around, while Stafford and the Rams’ offense have been slicing through opponents with surgical precision.
It’s also a chess match between two of the league’s brightest young coaches. McVay has been here before-he’s already got a ring. Macdonald is trying to take Seattle back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2014.
Championship Sunday Outlook
All four teams have tasted Super Bowl glory. All four have the talent to win two more games and do it again. But only two will survive Sunday.
In the AFC, it’s a clash of styles: a young quarterback trying to navigate the pressure cooker of playoff football, versus a relentless pass rush and a home crowd that knows how to make life miserable for visiting offenses.
In the NFC, it’s a high-stakes rubber match between division rivals-one riding a red-hot win streak, the other led by a quarterback playing at an MVP level.
The stage is set. The history is rich. And the path to the Lombardi Trophy runs through Denver and Seattle.
Let’s play ball.