After 18 weeks of regular season action and two weeks of playoff games, one thing is for certain in the road to the Super Bowl: this year's path to the Lombardi Trophy will be a unique one.
Just four of 32 teams are alive after the divisional round, with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots set to meet in the AFC title game, plus the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams meeting in the NFC title game. On paper, the two No. 1 seeds advancing appears typical — but it's been a wild ride.
The Broncos managed to pull out a thrilling 33-30 overtime win over the Bills, but news then followed that starting quarterback Bo Nix was done for the season. Meanwhile, the Seahawks thrashed the 49ers in the divisional round despite injury concerns for Sam Darnold, showcasing a historic defensive performance against the 49ers.
Those top-seeded teams' challengers will be the second-seeded Patriots, who beat the Chargers and Texans already in the postseason, and the fifth-seeded Rams, who have relied on Matthew Stafford's veteran experience to scrape by for two playoff wins.
With just three games left of the 2025-26 season, here is all you need to know about the AFC and NFC championship matchups.
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NFL playoff bracket 2026
AFC
No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 1 Broncos
NFC
No. 5 Rams vs. No. 1 Seahawks
NFL conference championship matchups
AFC
No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 1 Broncos
The Broncos and Patriots have been the best all-around AFC teams all year despite each team facing its own flaws and question marks. Now, they'll meet for a trip to the Super Bowl.
Drake Maye's MVP-like campaign has continued into the playoffs, as he's played well enough to take down the Chargers and Texans through two games. However, it's the defenses between New England and Denver that have really stepped up, as Mike Vrabel and Sean Payton have guided two of the NFL's best defensive units.
The quarterback situation in the AFC Championship for the Broncos will be a massive storyline. With Nix done for the season due to an ankle injury, it will be Jarrett Stidham under-center for Denver, making the biggest start of his professional football career.
Both teams are trying to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since their legendary quarterbacks were around. The Patriots last played for the Lombardi Trophy in 2018 with Tom Brady, while the Broncos last made the Super Bowl in 2015 with Peyton Manning.
NFC
No. 5 Rams vs. No. 1 Seahawks
The NFC West has been the NFL's best division, by far, throughout the 2025 season. It's only right that fans get one last divisional matchup before the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks and Rams split their season series, 1-1, but both games were absolute thrillers. In Week 11, Los Angeles came out on top, 21-19, when Jason Myers' 61-yard field goal attempt was no-good on the final play of the game. Seattle then got some redemption in Week 16, beating the Rams 38-37 in overtime in one of the best games of the year; Matthew Stafford had 457 yards and three touchdowns, while Sam Darnold had 270 yards and two touchdowns.
Seattle's defense and Los Angeles' offense will be the biggest matchup in the NFC Championship Game. With the Seahawks stopping opposing units from scoring at a historic pace, and the Rams owning a potential Hall of Famer in Stafford alongside elite weapons in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, there will be plenty of reasons to catch the NFC title game.
NFL Playoff schedule 2026
For conference championship Sunday, the AFC matchup between the Patriots and Broncos will be in the first game of the day. The AFC title game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET, with the NFC following at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The winners will meet in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8.
Sunday, Jan. 25
| Matchup | Location | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Patriots vs. Broncos | Denver, CO | 3 p.m. | CBS |
| Rams vs. Seahawks | Seattle, WA | 6:30 p.m. | Fox |
Super Bowl
Sunday, Feb. 8
| Matchup | Location | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| TBD | Santa Clara, Ca. | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |