At a Glance
- Denver and Seattle already punched tickets to their conference title games
- Texans-Patriots and Rams-Bears decide remaining semifinalists
- Broncos will host AFC winner; Seahawks await NFC winner
- Why it matters: Sunday’s double-header sets the Super Bowl path
The NFL’s final four will be complete by Sunday night. After No. 1 Denver and No. 1 Seattle survived Saturday, two more teams will join them in the conference championships. Everything hinges on a Divisional Round double-header: No. 5 Houston at No. 2 New England (3 p.m. ET) and No. 5 Los Angeles at No. 2 Chicago (6:30 p.m. ET).
Saturday’s Shockwaves
Denver advanced by outlasting No. 6 Buffalo 33-30 in overtime, but the victory came at a steep cost. Quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle and is out for the rest of the postseason. Seattle had an easier night, routing division rival No. 6 San Francisco 41-6.
The outcomes locked the Broncos into an AFC Championship Game at home and the Seahawks into an NFC Championship Game at home. Their opponents will be determined by Sunday’s results.
Texans vs. Patriots: 3 p.m. ET
New England enters off its first playoff win since the 2018 title run, a 16-3 victory over No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers. MVP candidate Drake Maye debuted with 268 passing yards, a touchdown and 66 rushing yards.
Houston brings the league’s stingiest defense:
- No. 1 in yards allowed (277.2 per game)
- No. 2 in points allowed (17.2 per game)
- Two defensive touchdowns in a 30-6 road rout of No. 5 Pittsburgh
The Texans held the Steelers to 175 total yards but will be without top receiver Nico Collins, who left with a concussion. Houston has never advanced beyond the Divisional Round in franchise history.
Rams vs. Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET
Both teams pulled off late escapes in the Wild Card Round.
Chicago trailed No. 7 Green Bay 27-9 at halftime before scoring 25 fourth-quarter points for a 31-27 win. Rookie Caleb Williams‘ 25-yard TD to DJ Moore capped the comeback-the Bears’ seventh this season when trailing inside the final minutes.
The victory was Chicago’s first playoff win since 2010, the last time the franchise reached the conference championship.
Los Angeles needed Matthew Stafford to author two go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter against No. 4 Carolina. Stafford’s 19-yard strike to Colby Parkinson with under three minutes left sealed a 31-27 win.
Championship Sunday Schedule
Next week’s match-ups are already penciled:
- AFC Championship: Jan. 25, 3 p.m. ET – Denver hosts Texans-Patriots winner
- NFC Championship: Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m. ET – Seattle hosts Rams-Bears winner
The winners meet in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
How to Watch
Texans at Patriots (3 p.m. ET)
- TV: ESPN, ABC
- Stream: ESPN.com, ESPN app, NFL+ (mobile)
Rams at Bears (6:30 p.m. ET)
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Peacock, NBC.com, NBC app, NFL+ (mobile)
Key Takeaways
- Denver and Seattle control home-field in title games
- Houston’s top-ranked defense faces its biggest test in Drake Maye
- Chicago’s comeback magic meets Stafford’s fourth-quarter clutch gene
- By Sunday night, the Super Bowl LV field will be set
