The NFL’s Conference Championship Sunday is locked in after a dramatic Divisional Round weekend that saw the top seeds advance despite major injuries and blowout wins.
At a Glance
- No. 1 seeds Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks advanced with contrasting victories
- Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in overtime win against Bills, ending his postseason
- Seattle dominated San Francisco 41-6 in the most lopsided game of the playoffs
- Why it matters: The championship games will feature backup quarterbacks and historic opportunities for underdog teams
The opening Divisional Round games Saturday delivered everything fans expected – and more. Denver outlasted the No. 6 Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime, but the victory came at a steep price. Quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle that will sideline him for the remainder of the postseason, forcing the Broncos to turn to their backup for the AFC Championship Game.
Seattle made a statement against their divisional rival, demolishing the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers 41-6. The Seahawks’ dominant performance sets up a home conference championship game, where they’ll face either the No. 2 Chicago Bears or No. 5 Los Angeles Rams.
Sunday’s Decisive Double-Header
The Divisional Round concludes with two games that will determine the final playoff matchups. Denver will host either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans in the AFC title game, while Seattle awaits the winner of the Bears-Rams showdown.
The action begins in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where the Patriots welcome the Texans. New England enters off their first playoff victory since their 2018 championship season, having defeated the No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers 16-3. MVP candidate Drake Maye showcased his dual-threat ability in his playoff debut, throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown while adding 66 rushing yards.
Houston presents a formidable challenge with the league’s top-ranked defense. The Texans allowed just 277.2 yards and 17.2 points per game during the regular season, then held Pittsburgh to 175 total yards while scoring two defensive touchdowns in their 30-6 victory. However, they’ll be without their top offensive weapon – Nico Collins suffered a concussion and won’t play against New England.
The Texans are seeking their first-ever appearance beyond the Divisional Round in franchise history.
Bears and Rams Battle for NFC Supremacy
The Divisional Round finale features Chicago hosting Los Angeles in primetime. Both teams survived dramatic Wild Card games that required late-game heroics.
The Bears overcame an 18-point halftime deficit against the No. 7 Green Bay Packers, scoring 25 fourth-quarter points for a 31-27 victory. Quarterback Caleb Williams connected with DJ Moore on a 25-yard touchdown pass to complete Chicago’s seventh comeback win this season when trailing with under two minutes remaining. The victory marked Chicago’s first playoff win since 2010 – also the last time they reached the conference championship.
Los Angeles needed Matthew Stafford to engineer two go-ahead touchdown drives in the fourth quarter against the No. 4 Carolina Panthers. After Carolina took a four-point lead with under three minutes left, Stafford led a game-winning drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson, securing a 31-27 victory.
Championship Sunday Schedule
The conference championship games are scheduled for Sunday, January 25, with the AFC title game at 3 p.m. ET followed by the NFC championship at 6:30 p.m. ET. The winners will advance to Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
Viewing Information
Sunday’s Games:
Texans at Patriots: 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT/12 p.m. PT
- TV: ESPN and ABC
- Stream: ESPN.com, ESPN app, NFL+ (mobile/tablet)
Rams at Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Peacock, NBC.com, NBC app, NFL+ (mobile/tablet)
The playoffs continue with four teams vying for two spots in the NFL’s ultimate game, setting up what promises to be an unforgettable championship weekend.
