NFL Championship Preview for 2026
The upcoming NFL Final Four will kick off in 2026. On Sunday afternoon, the Denver Broncos will face off against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, while the Seattle Seahawks will compete against the Los Angeles Rams, with the victors from both games moving on to the Super Bowl.
At the season’s outset, it would have been hard to predict this top four. Among these teams, the Rams were the highest ranked, but even they only placed ninth in the preseason Super Bowl odds. It certainly feels like anyone could take the title this year.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks Predictions, NFC Championship Game
This year, the matchups between the Rams and Seahawks have been tightly contested. Their Week 16 encounter, which saw the Seahawks clinch victory in overtime, might just be one of the best games this season. Game 3 promises to be another memorable encounter. Seattle holds the advantage of playing at home and boasts a stronger special teams unit along with a formidable defense that rivals the best. The Rams, by comparison, haven’t truly hit their stride in the playoffs yet. They had a narrow escape against the Panthers in the wild card round, and faced a surprising comeback from the Bears in the divisional round. Still, the Rams have won two road games this postseason, so they should be confident going into Seattle. With Matthew Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua, their passing game looks strong. Additionally, I have faith in Stafford and head coach Sean McVay to deliver in critical moments, as they’ve often done before. Although the Seahawks’ defense is solid, I’m not entirely convinced that Sam Darnold can rise to the occasion as a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. The Rams will need to score effectively and avoid mistakes on special teams, which I believe they can manage.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots Predictions, AFC Championship Game
The news about Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury was both shocking and devastating when Sean Payton announced it. Jarrett Stidham will step in as the Broncos’ quarterback, marking his first start since the last week of the 2023 season, where he filled in for Russell Wilson. The Broncos this year have leaned heavily on their defense, and now we might start to see a contrast between Nix and his successor-level quarterbacks. I’m a tad anxious about Stidham facing off against Drake Maye, who has had a challenging season but didn’t shine in last week’s divisional win over the Texans. There seems to still be some standout performances left in Maye’s arsenal before the playoffs conclude, and if he can deliver in Denver, that would be remarkable. The Patriots’ offensive line will have a tough time, especially on the left side, against a Denver defense that tops the league in sacks. Maye has the potential to prove himself, but I’m not sure Stidham can keep pace scoring-wise. The Patriots have had the benefit of an unusually easy schedule this year, and Nix’s injury seems like yet another stroke of luck for them. I’m hesitant to fully buy into the Pats as a great team, but it’s challenging to pick Stidham’s squad against a talent like Maye.
