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Here are my NFL Conference Championship Games predictions, both straight-up and against the spread and my results from last week and the season totals.
You’ll also find an array of fantastic notes down below for the two Conference Championship Games, courtesy of NFL Communications press releases.
There are 4 VFLs on teams alive in the NFL Conference Championship Games with 8 of them on active rosters. Darrell Taylor was released a few days ago by New England from their practice squad. Below with each game you’ll find the active roster VFLs in that game. Look for a VFL in the NFL, ex-Vol and local player update blog soon on this feed and website, 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Vince’s Picks Results
Wildcard Round: 3-1 straight-up & 4-0 spread
Season: 190-92 (67%) straight-up & 160-122 (57%) spread
Winners are in bold. Pick against the spread selection is listed to the side.
New England (-3.5) at Denver – Denver +3.5
VFLs: QB Joshua Dobbs (NE)
LA Rams at Seattle (-2.5) – Seattle -2.5
VFLs: DE Byron Young (LAR), S Jaylen McCollough (LAR), RB Velus Jones Jr. (Sea)
NEW YORK — Jan. 20, 2026 — For the first time in 14 seasons (since 2011) and 11th time since 1970, four new teams are in the Conference Championships compared to the previous season. On Sunday, New England will travel to Denver for the AFC Championship Game (3 p.m. ET, CBS) and the Los Angeles Rams will visit Seattle in the NFC Championship Game (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
This postseason, there have been 15 fourth quarter lead changes, the most in any postseason in NFL history, and six games decided by four points or fewer, tied with 2021 and 2006 for the most such games in NFL postseason history.
The Conference Championship games feature the top three scoring offenses (the Los Angeles Rams, New England and Seattle) and three of the top four scoring defenses (Seattle, Denver and New England) from the regular season.
For the Conference Championship capsules, click here.
AFC Championship Game (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 2 New England Patriots (16-3) at No. 1 Denver Broncos (15-3)
Championship history: The Patriots are 11-5 (.688) in Conference Championship games, tied with the Green Bay Packers (11) for the most in NFL history. The Broncos are 8-2 (.800) in their previous 10 Conference Championship appearances, the highest winning percentage in Championship games all-time.
Postseason history: Denver is 4-1 against New England in the postseason, including home Conference Championship wins in 2013 (Denver 26, New England 16 on Jan. 19, 2014) and 2015 (Denver 20, New England 18 on Jan. 24, 2016).
Game notes:
- The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-3, on Wild Card Weekend and the Houston Texans, 28-16, in the Divisional playoffs. New England has appeared in 11 Super Bowls (6-5), the most in NFL history.
- The Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills, 33-30, in overtime in the Divisional playoffs. Denver has eight Super Bowl appearances (3-5), tied for the second-most among all teams.
- This season, New England can become the fifth team since 2003 to go from “worst to first” and make the Super Bowl in the same season, joining the 2021 Bengals, 2017 Eagles, 2009 Saintsand 2003 Panthers. The 2017 Jaguars and 2006 Saints also followed a last-place finish with an appearance in the Championship Game.
- New England’s Mike Vrabelis the third head coach to win 16 games, including the playoffs, in his first season with a club in NFL history, joining George Seifert (17 wins with San Francisco in 1989) and Jim Caldwell (16 with Indianapolis in 2009).
- Vrabel can become the eighth coach in NFL history and first since 2015 (Gary Kubiakwith Denver) to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance in his first season with a club.
- Denver’s Sean Payton, who led New Orleans to the Super Bowl XLIV title following the 2009 season, can become the eighth coach ever to lead multiple franchises to a Super Bowl appearance, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Bill Parcells (the New York Giants and New England), Don Shula (the Baltimore Colts and Miami) and Dick Vermeil(Philadelphia and the St. Louis Rams) as well as John Fox (Carolina and Denver), Mike Holmgren (Green Bay and Seattle), Dan Reeves (Denver and Atlanta) and Andy Reid (Philadelphia and Kansas City).
- Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who has started four career games, can become the first quarterback ever to start a Conference Championship game with fewer than five career starts. He can also become the seventh quarterback in the Super Bowl era to make his first start of the season in the playoffs and first since 2020 (Taylor Heinickewith Washington).
- Stidham, selected by New England in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, can become the fourth quarterback to start a Conference Championship or Super Bowl against the team that drafted him, joining Daryle Lamonica(Super Bowl II with the Oakland Raiders against Green Bay), Craig Morton (Super Bowl XII with Denver against Dallas) and Joe Theismann (Super Bowl XVII with Washington against Miami).
NFC Championship Game (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (14-5) at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (15-3)
Championship history: The Rams are 7-9 all-time in Conference Championship games but have won four consecutive Championship appearances since 1999. The Seahawks are 3-1 in Conference Championship appearances (3-0 in the NFC, 0-1 in the AFC).
Postseason history: The Rams are 2-0 against the Seahawks in the postseason, with both victories coming in the Wild Card round on the road (2004 and 2020).
2025 regular season: The NFC West rivals split their regular season meetings this season, with each team winning at home. The Rams earned a 21-19 win in Week 11 as their defense recorded four interceptions. In Week 16, the Seahawks recorded a 38-37 overtime victory, overcoming a 16-point fourth quarter deficit, including a game-tying two-point conversion in the fourth quarter and game-winning two-point conversion in overtime.
Divisional opponents in Championship games since 2002: The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle will mark the sixth Conference Championship game between divisional opponents since 2002. In the previous five such matchups, the division-winning team won four times and each of the five winners went on to win the Super Bowl. The previous matchups: 2024 NFC Championship (Washington, 23 at Philadelphia, 55), 2021 NFC Championship (San Francisco, 17 at L.A. Rams, 20), 2013 NFC Championship (San Francisco, 17 at Seattle, 23), 2010 NFC Championship (Green Bay, 21 at Chicago, 14) and 2008 AFC Championship (Baltimore, 14 at Pittsburgh 23).
Game notes:
- The Los Angeles Rams defeated Carolina, 34-31, on Wild Card Weekend and earned a 20-17 overtime win at Chicago in the Divisional playoffs. The Rams have five Super Bowl appearances (2-3), most recently winning Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season.
- Seattle defeated San Francisco, 41-6, in the Divisional playoffs for its first postseason win since the 2019 Wild Card round (at Philadelphia). The Seahawks have played in three Super Bowls (1-2), including consecutive appearances following the 2013 (won Super Bowl XLVIII against Denver) and 2014 season (lost Super Bowl XLIX to New England).
- The Seahawks will become the sixth team since 1970 to face multiple division opponents in the same postseason, joining the 2021 Los Angeles Rams, 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1985 New England Patriots, 1983 Seattle Seahawksand 1982 Miami Dolphins.
- The Rams can become the fifth Wild Card team since realignment in 2002 to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers.
- The Rams – who led the NFL in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) – and the Seahawks – who led the NFL in scoring defense (17.2 points per game allowed) – during the 2025 regular season will mark the third Championship Game since 1970 to feature the No. 1 scoring offense against No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season, joining 2014 NFC Championship Game (Green Bay vs. Seattle) and 1980 NFC Championship Game (Dallas vs. Philadelphia).
- With head coaches Mike Macdonald(age 38) and Sean McVay (turns 40 years old on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026), it will mark the second Championship game ever to feature two head coaches age 40-or-younger, joining the 2019 NFC Championship game between San Francisco and Green Bay (Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur, both age 40).
- Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was named Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player while with the Rams, will become the fifth player ever to face the team he won Super Bowl MVP with in the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Richard Dent(1994 with San Francisco against Chicago) and Peyton Manning (2014 with Denver against Indianapolis) as well as Santonio Holmes (2010 with the New York Jets against Pittsburgh) and Von Miller (2024 with Buffalo against Denver).
- Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnoldcan become the eighth quarterback ever to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance in his first season with a team and first since Matthew Stafford in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
New England is 11-5 (.688) in Conference Championship games, the most such wins in NFL history.
Denver is 8-2 (.800) in their previous 10 Conference Championship games and with a win on Sunday against the Patriots (3 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass the Dallas Cowboys (eight wins), Pittsburgh Steelers (eight) and San Francisco 49ers (eight) for the second-most Conference Championship wins in NFL history.
The teams with the most Conference Championship wins in NFL history:
| TEAM | CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WINS |
| New England Patriots | 11 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8 |
| Denver Broncos | 8 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8 |
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver led the league with 68 sacks this season, tied with the New York Giants (68 sacks in 1985) for the fifth-most sacks in a regular season in NFL history.
With at least two sacks against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), the Broncos, who have 71 sacks this season, including the playoffs, can surpass the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders (72 sacks) and the 1985 New York Giants (72) for the fifth-most sacks in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history. Only the 1984 and 1985 Chicago Bears (82 sacks in 1984; 80 in 1985), the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles (78) and the 1967 Oakland Raiders (74) have more.
The teams with the most sacks in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| TEAM | SEASON | SACKS |
| Chicago | 1984 | 82 |
| Chicago | 1985 | 80 |
| Philadelphia | 2022 | 78 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1967 | 74 |
| L.A. Raiders | 1983 | 72 |
| N.Y. Giants | 1985 | 72 |
| Denver | 2025 | 71* |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | ||
LOS ANGELES RAMS
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), the No. 5 seed Rams, can become the fifth non-division winning team since realignment in 2002 to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers.
TOP SCORING OFFENSE AND TOP SCORING DEFENSE
On Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Seattle, who led the NFL in scoring defense during the 2025 regular season (17.2 points per game allowed), will host the Los Angeles Rams, who led the NFL in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) in 2025, marking the third Championship Game since 1970 to feature the No. 1 scoring offense against the No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season, joining 2014 NFC Championship Game (Green Bay vs. Seattle) and 1980 NFC Championship Game (Dallas vs. Philadelphia).
The Championship Games to feature a matchup between the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season:
| DATE | NO. 1 OFFENSE | NO. 1 DEFENSE | RESULT |
| Jan. 25, 2026 | L.A. Rams | Seattle | ??? |
| Jan. 18, 2015 | Green Bay | Seattle | GB 22 at SEA 28 (OT) |
| Jan. 11, 1981 | Dallas | Philadelphia | DAL 7 at PHI 20 |
MIKE VRABEL
New England head coach Mike Vrabel has 16 wins, including the playoffs, in his first year as head coach with the Patriots.
With a win on Sunday against Denver (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Vrabel can become the eighth coach in NFL history to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance in his first season with a club, joining Gary Kubiak (2015 with Denver), Jim Caldwell (2009 with Indianapolis), Bill Callahan (2002 with the Oakland Raiders), Jon Gruden (2002 with Tampa Bay Buccaneers), George Seifert (1989 with San Francisco), Red Miller (1977 with Denver) and Don McCafferty (1970 with the Baltimore Colts).
The head coaches to lead their team to a Super Bowl appearance in their first season with a team in NFL history:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM | SEASON |
| Gary Kubiak | Denver | 2015 |
| Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis | 2009 |
| Bill Callahan | Oakland Raiders | 2002 |
| Jon Gruden | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2002 |
| George Seifert | San Francisco | 1989 |
| Red Miller | Denver | 1977 |
| Don McCafferty | Baltimore Colts | 1970 |
With a win on Sunday, Vrabel can tie George Siefert (17 wins in 1989 with San Francisco) for the most wins by a coach in their first season with a team in NFL history, including the playoffs.
The head coaches with the most wins in their first season with a team, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM | SEASON | WINS |
| George Seifert | San Francisco | 1989 | 17 |
| Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis | 2009 | 16 |
| Mike Vrabel | New England | 2025 | 16* |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | |||
SEAN PAYTON
Denver head coach Sean Payton led the Broncos to 14 wins this season, tying a franchise record and earning an AFC West title, as well as the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015.
With a win against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Payton, who led New Orleans to the Super Bowl XLIV title following the 2009 season, can become the eighth coach ever to lead multiple franchises to a Super Bowl appearance.
The head coaches to make the Super Bowl with multiple franchises:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM & SEASON(S) | TEAM & SEASON(S) |
| John Fox | Carolina (2003) | Denver (2013) |
| Mike Holmgren | Green Bay (1996-97) | Seattle (2005) |
| Bill Parcells HOF | N.Y. Giants (1986, 1990) | New England (1996) |
| Dan Reeves | Denver (1986-87, 1989) | Atlanta (1998) |
| Andy Reid | Philadelphia (2004) | Kansas City (2019-20, 2022-24) |
| Don Shula HOF | Baltimore Colts (1968) | Miami (1971-73, 1982, 1984) |
| Dick Vermeil HOF | Philadelphia (1980) | St. Louis Rams (1999) |
SEAN MCVAY
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has 10 career playoff wins, including a Super Bowl LVI victory with the Rams.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), McVay, who turns 40 years old on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula (10 wins) for the most postseason victories by a head coach under the age of 45 in NFL history.
MIKE MACDONALD
Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald led the Seahawks to 14 wins during the 2025 regular season, a single-season franchise record.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Macdonald, who is 38 years old and has 15 wins this season, including the playoffs, can tie Sean McVay (16 wins in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) for the most wins by a head coach under the age of 40 in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history.
DRAKE MAYE
New England quarterback Drake Maye led the NFL with a 113.5 passer rating and has 447 passing yards and four touchdowns in two career playoff games.
With a win at Denver on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Maye, who is 23 years old, can become the third starting quarterback under the age of 24 to reach the Super Bowl all-time, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (1984) and Ben Roethlisberger (2005).
Maye, who has won each of his first two career playoff games, can become the fourth quarterback since 2000 to win each of his first three career playoff starts, joining Tom Brady (won first 10 starts), Joe Burrow (three) and Jake Delhomme (three).
Additionally, Maye can join Ben Roethlisberger (five wins) as the only quarterbacks to win three playoff starts prior to their 24th birthday in NFL history.
Maye has 14 games this season with a passer rating of 100-or-higher, including the playoffs, and with a passer rating of 100-or-higher on Sunday, can tie Lamar Jackson (15 games with Baltimore in 2024) and Matt Ryan (15 with Atlanta in 2016) for the most such games in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history. Only Aaron Rodgers (16 games with Green Bay in 2020) has more.
The players with the most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2020 | 16 |
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore | 2024 | 15 |
| Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 2016 | 15 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 2018 | 14 |
| Drake Maye | New England | 2025 | 14* |
| Steve Young HOF | San Francisco | 1994 | 14 |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | |||
JARRETT STIDHAM
Denver quarterback Jarrett Stidham has 1,080 passing yards and six touchdowns in four career starts.
Stidham, who is expected to make his first start of the season against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the seventh quarterback in the Super Bowl era to make their first start of the season in the playoffs, joining Taylor Heinicke (Jan. 9, 2021; NFC-WC with Washington), Connor Cook (Jan. 7, 2017; AFC-WC with the Oakland Raiders), Joe Webb (Jan. 5, 2013; NFC-WC with Minnesota), Frank Reich (Jan. 3, 1993; AFC-WC with Buffalo), Gary Danielson (Dec. 31, 1983; NFC-D with Detroit) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staughbach (Dec. 31, 1972; NFC-C with Dallas).
The quarterbacks to make their first start of the season in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM | DATE (ROUND) | RESULT |
| Jarrett Stidham* | Denver | Jan. 25, 2026 | ??? |
| Taylor Heinicke | Washington | Jan. 9, 2021 (NFC-WC) | TB 31 at WAS 23 |
| Connor Cook | Oakland Raiders | Jan. 7, 2017 (AFC-WC) | OAK 14 at HOU Texans 27 |
| Joe Webb | Minnesota | Jan. 5, 2013 (NFC-WC) | MIN 10 at GB 24 |
| Frank Reich | Buffalo | Jan. 3, 1993 (AFC-WC) | HOU Oilers 38 at BUF 41 (OT) |
| Gary Danielson | Detroit | Dec. 31, 1983 (NFC-D) | DET 23 at SF 24 |
| Roger Staubach HOF | Dallas | Dec. 31, 1972 (NFC-C) | DAL 3 at WAS 26 |
| *expected to start | |||
With only four career starts, Stidham has the fewest career starts by a quarterback entering the Championship Game since 1970.
MATTHEW STAFFORD
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes this season, has 3,558 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes in 12 career postseason starts.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Stafford can become sixth player in NFL history to lead the NFL in both passing yards and touchdown passes and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Tom Brady (2007 with New England), Patrick Mahomes (2022 with Kansas City) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (2013 with Denver), Dan Marino (1984 with Miami) and Kurt Warner (2001 with the St. Louis Rams).
SAM DARNOLD
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold ranked fifth in the NFL with 4,048 passing yards in his first season with the Seahawks.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Darnold can become the fifth starting quarterback since 2000 to make the Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady (2020 with Tampa Bay), Jake Delhomme (2003 with Carolina), Trent Dilfer (2000 with Baltimore) and Matthew Stafford (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams).
DAVANTE ADAMS
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions this season.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Adams can become fifth player since 1990 to lead the NFL in touchdown receptions during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Larry Fitzgerald (2008 with Arizona), Rob Gronkowski (2011 with New England), Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (2007 with New England).
PUKA NACUA & JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua led the NFL with a career-high 129 receptions and ranked second with 1,715 receiving yards in 2025.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Nacua can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receptions during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Todd Christensen (1983 with the Los Angeles Raiders), Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) and Wes Welker (2007 and 2011 with New England).
Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with a career-high 1,793 receiving yards this season.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Drew Pearson (1977 with Dallas) and Jerry Rice (1989 and 1994 with San Francisco).
With Smith-Njigba (1,793 receiving yards) and Nacua (1,715), this will be the first playoff game ever to feature two players with at least 1,700 receiving yards in the regular season and the fourth postseason matchup all-time between the top-two leaders in receiving yards from the regular season, joining the 2020 AFC Championship Game (Stefon Diggs and Travis Kelce), 1993 NFC Championship Game (Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin) and 1971 AFC Divisional playoffs (Otis Taylor and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Warfield).
COOPER KUPP
Seattle wide receiver Cooper Kupp had 634 receptions for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-24).
On Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Kupp, who was named Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player while with the Rams, will become the fifth player ever to face the team he won Super Bowl MVP with in the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Richard Dent (1994 with San Francisco against Chicago) and Peyton Manning (2014 with Denver against Indianapolis) as well as Santonio Holmes (2010 with the New York Jets against Pittsburgh) and Von Miller (2024 with Buffalo against Denver).
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