With only four teams left in the postseason, attention now shifts to conference championship weekend and the final step before Super Bowl LX. The AFC and NFC titles will both be decided on Sunday, with New England traveling to Denver in the early window and Los Angeles visiting Seattle in the night game.
Saturday serves as a quiet buildup day for the NFL, with no playoff contests scheduled and both conferences’ championship matchups locked in. Fans looking ahead need to know who is playing, when, and where, as well as the basic storylines that frame each game.
Who Will Face in the AFC & NFC Championship Games?
The AFC Championship Game features the New England Patriots on the road against the Denver Broncos. New England advanced after a divisional-round win over Houston, while Denver moved on by edging Buffalo in overtime. The matchup pairs an emerging Patriots offense with a defense that just stifled the Texans against a Broncos team that has relied on a strong defense. It now turns to Jarrett Stidham at quarterback after Bo Nix’s ankle injury.
In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams travel to face the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams progressed by surviving a tight divisional game in Chicago, and Seattle reached this stage by convincingly defeating San Francisco.
Both teams have prior Super Bowl experience in their recent histories, but this is a new configuration: Sean McVay now has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in his passing game. At the same time, Seattle is led by Sam Darnold and a defense that just dominated the 49ers.
NFL Championship Games Schedule 2026
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos
Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
TV: CBS
The Patriots arrive in Denver off a 28-point divisional performance that paired Drake Maye’s playmaking with a defense that limited the Texans to 16 points and one third-down conversion. New England’s challenge is to move the ball against a Broncos defense that has been one of the league’s most consistent units and just held Buffalo in check enough to win in overtime.
Denver, now with Jarrett Stidham starting after Bo Nix’s injury, leans on efficiency, field position, and a supportive run game. Turnovers, red-zone execution, and special teams will be central in altitude with a Super Bowl berth at stake.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
TV: FOX
The Rams head to the Seahawks after a 20–17 road win in Chicago, where their defense limited the Bears late, and Matthew Stafford managed key drives. The Rams’ offense features Davante Adams and Puka Nacua as primary targets, with Kyren Williams providing balance on the ground.
Seattle’s defense is coming off a dominant performance against the San Francisco 49ers and will again rely on its pass rush and coverage structure to affect Stafford. Offensively, Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker III operate behind a unit that has found rhythm in recent weeks. Crowd noise, third-down performance, and late-game composure should shape the NFC title outcome.
