The NFL heads to the conference championship round this weekend with two intriguing matchups, including one for the third time in the NFC where the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks settle things once and for all, at least for this season. Over in the AFC, the Denver Broncos’ hopes were dealt a severe blow with news that QB Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury in their overtime win against Buffalo.
AFC Championship
Patriots (16-3) at Broncos (15-3)
2 p.m. Sunday CBS
This was setting up to be a classic matchup until Nix broke his ankle. Now a lot of the shine is off the matchup with Jarrett Stidham, who has not thrown a pass in a game since 2023, will try to guide the Broncos into their ninth Super Bowl appearance.
That will be an uphill climb, because you know that Mike Vrabel will have the Patriots defense smelling blood in the water with a backup quarterback at the helm for Denver. The Broncos defense is certainly good enough to keep the Patriots offense and QB Drake Maye in check, so long as the now-hampered offense doesn’t turn the ball over and put them in a bad position with mistakes.
Still, it seems like Nix’s injury could simply be too much for the Broncos to overcome, despite having the home-field edge on Sunday.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Broncos 13
NFC Championship
Rams (14-5) at Seahawks (15-3)
5:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox
The Rams won by the skin of their teeth in Chicago on Sunday, needing an overtime field goal to stave off the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks, on the other hand, dominated the San Francisco 49ers, as the Seattle defense held the injury-riddled Niners in check all game long.
Matthew Stafford has been clutch in the postseason thus far, delivering victories and comebacks in wins against Carolina and Chicago as LA takes to the road in hopes of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in four years. But Seattle’s defense is strong, and offensively, the run game, led by Kenneth Walker, will have to be effective.
Is playoff Sam Darold ready to take the next step and propel his team to the Super Bowl? In the first two meetings, Darnold was up and down. The Rams picked him off four times in the first meeting won by Los Angeles, but Darnold was clutch enough to get the job done in the rematch.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Rams 23