With the conference championship games set, the NFL’s final four presents a fascinating contrast in quarterback narratives - from seasoned stars to unexpected starters - and defenses that are more than capable of flipping the script. The Rams and Patriots both feature quarterbacks with MVP-level seasons, while their opponents, the Seahawks and Broncos, are leaning on defenses and less-proven signal-callers to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Let’s start in the NFC, where Matthew Stafford and the Rams head to Seattle for a rematch with a Seahawks team that knows firsthand how dangerous the veteran quarterback can be. Back in December, Stafford lit them up for 457 yards and three touchdowns in a game where he wasn’t sacked and didn’t turn the ball over. It was a masterclass in pocket poise and precision - the kind of performance that reminds you why Stafford already has a ring and is chasing a second, a feat only 13 quarterbacks in NFL history have accomplished.
But this isn't December anymore. This is for a trip to the Super Bowl.
And while Stafford has already proven he can handle the moment, the Seahawks believe they can flip the narrative. In their first meeting this season, they held him to just 130 passing yards - a season low.
Stafford still managed two touchdown passes and a win, but Seattle’s defense showed it can at least make things uncomfortable.
That’s the mindset the Seahawks are bringing into this one. As outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu put it, the key is consistency.
“If we just keep doing what we do, keep everything the same, don’t tweak nothing, don’t panic, we’ll be all right,” he said. Seattle’s defense is built on discipline and physicality, and they’ll need both at full throttle to slow down a Rams offense that’s clicking at the right time.
Of course, Stafford isn’t the only variable. Sean McVay’s presence on the sideline can’t be overlooked.
McVay’s already won a Super Bowl with Stafford, and his game-planning in the postseason has been consistently sharp. That experience gives the Rams a clear edge over Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who’s in uncharted waters at this stage.
Then there’s Sam Darnold. The journeyman quarterback wasn’t supposed to be here, but here he is, starting in the NFC Championship Game with a chance to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
His track record against the Rams? Not great.
He was sacked nine times last season when he faced them as a Viking, and earlier this year, he threw four interceptions in a game against L.A. That’s the kind of history that’s hard to ignore.
Still, Darnold showed some resilience in a wild 38-37 regular-season win over the Rams, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns - though he also tossed two more picks. That’s the dilemma with Darnold: he can make plays, but he can also give the ball away. And against a team like the Rams, turnovers are a death sentence.
In the AFC, the quarterback dynamics flip. Drake Maye, the Patriots’ second-year star, is already playing like a seasoned vet.
He’s 17-12 in his career, and this postseason, he’s added two more wins to his resume. In those games, Maye has thrown for 447 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions - solid numbers for a young quarterback in his first playoff run.
But there’s a catch. Maye has also fumbled six times in those two games. Ball security is a real concern, and if the Broncos can win the turnover battle - especially by a margin of three or more - it could be the difference in the game.
Still, Maye has earned the trust of his teammates. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had his quarterback’s back this week, saying, “I watch him, and his demeanor and his temperament throughout the game, it never changes.
I think he’s consistent. The more people that band behind him, you see it.
Once he gets rolling, he’s real scary.”
For the Broncos, Jarrett Stidham is the wild card. He’s been in the league for six years, but this will be just his fifth career start - and his first since 2023.
That’s a steep hill to climb, especially against a Patriots defense that’s been suffocating against the run. New England allowed just 101.7 rushing yards per game during the regular season, sixth-best in the league, and they’ve only gotten stingier in the playoffs, holding the Chargers to 87 yards and the Texans to just 48.
That puts a lot of pressure on Stidham to make plays through the air - something he hasn’t been asked to do much in his career. And if the Patriots can bottle up the Broncos’ ground game, Maye will have a clear edge in this matchup.
So where does that leave us?
It’s tempting to fall back on the old adage - defense wins championships. And there’s no doubt that both Seattle and Denver bring serious defensive firepower to the table. But when you look at the full picture - the quarterbacks, the coaching, the playoff experience - it’s hard to ignore the edge that Stafford and Maye bring.
Of course, the NFL rarely sticks to the script. One of these games might come down to a defensive stand.
The other might hinge on a quarterback putting the team on his back. If that’s the case, a Rams-Broncos Super Bowl could be the result - one team riding its quarterback, the other riding its defense.
Either way, it’s going to be a weekend where every snap matters.