Sport Preview takes a look at this weekend’s NFL Conference Championship as the New England Patriots visit the Denver Broncos. Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks.
The Divisional Round did not disappoint, producing two overtime games and plenty of drama.
The action kicked off with a thriller between the Broncos and the Bills that was eventually settled by a Wil Lutz overtime field goal.
The next two matchups were one-sided, with the Seahawks and Patriots cruising to victory over the 49ers and Texans, respectively.
Another overtime field goal in the final game was enough to see the Rams through at the expense of the Bears.
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
The New England Patriots are a -5.5 favourite to beat the Denver Broncos, with the total set at 41.5 at the time of writing.
NFL purists will be thrilled with this matchup as the number-one seed hosts the number-two seed.
The Broncos earned their berth through a scrappy win over the Bills in which their defense shone bright, forcing a whopping five turnovers against the Bills’ high-powered offense.
Such a memorable day for the Broncos was utterly ruined, however, when news broke following the game that quarterback Bo Nix had broken a bone in his right ankle, meaning Jarrett Stidham will take the reins on Sunday. The former Patriot hasn’t started a game since 2023, so it is easy to see why his over/under is set at 0.5 passing touchdowns.
The Nix news gives an already confident Patriots outfit even more chance of reaching the showpiece game.
They swept aside the Houston Texans 28-16, but were aided massively by a bizarre showing from C.J Stroud that saw him throw 4 interceptions. Last week’s hero, Woody Marks, also lost a fumble, showing us, as the Bills did, that you can’t win a game losing five turnovers.
Drake Maye has thrown for 12 touchdowns over the last five games. His O/U is set at 1.5 passing TDs on Sunday, which could be a tough ask against the Broncos’ unit.
Kayshon Boutte’s one-handed grab was a highlight of the weekend, and a good showing of 75 yards and a touchdown sees him at +270 to score anytime.
The Broncos defense, as incredible as they are, is going to need an all-time performance to back up their new QB and advance to their first Super Bowl since 2015. Restricting the Patriots to less than 20 points will be crucial, as it’s hard to see where they are going to score many points from.
Prediction: Patriots 21-10 Broncos – Patriots -5.5
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a -2.5 favourite to beat the Los Angeles Rams, with the total set at 47.5 at the time of writing.
The Rams edged their way past the Chicago Bears in another overtime game riddled with turnovers. Running back Kyren Williams was the standout performer on offense with 87 yards and two TDs, and he has surpassed this Sunday’s O/U of 54.5 rushing yards in 11 of his last 12 games.
MVP candidate Matthew Stafford didn’t have his finest game, completing less than 50% of his passes with no touchdowns. He did throw for 258 yards, however, and his O/U this week is set at 255.5.
The Seahawks came out all guns blazing against their division foes, the San Francisco 49ers. A 41-6 rout saw them score enough points to win the game within the first 13 seconds when Rashid Shaheed housed the opening kickoff. A continued barrage of scoring put them out of sight, 24-6 up by the half.
Much like the Rams, their rushing attack stole the show with Kenneth Walker III racking up 116 yards and three TDs. Walker is -165 to score anytime on Sunday.
Allowing only six points was a huge statement of intent from this defense, and Stafford will need to get the Rams offense purring quickly if the Rams are to stand a chance come Championship Sunday.
Prediction: Rams 17-38 Seahawks – Seahawks -2.5
How to watch the NFL Conference Championship Games in the USA
The NFL postseason reaches its penultimate stage on Sunday, as the Conference Championship Games decide who advances to Super Bowl LVX.
Both matchups will be shown live across major U.S. broadcast networks, with streaming options available for cord-cutters.
Coverage is split between CBS and FOX, with additional access via Paramount+, NFL+, and FOX’s digital platforms. All kickoff times below are listed in Eastern Time (ET).
| Kick-off (ET) | Game | US TV & Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Jan 25 – 3:00 pm | Patriots @ Broncos | CBS, Paramount+, NFL+ |
| Sunday, Jan 25 – 6:30 pm | Rams @ Seahawks | FOX, FOX One, NFL+ |
