Denver backup QB and ex-Patriot Jarrett Stidham is all that’s keeping New England from Super Bowl
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ENGLAND (16-3) at DENVER (15-3)
Series record: Broncos lead 31-24.
Last meeting: Patriots won 26-23 in Denver on Dec. 24, 2023.
Last week: Patriots beat Texans 28-16; Broncos beat Bills 33-30 in overtime.
Patriots offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2).
Patriots defense: overall (8), rush (6), pass (9), scoring (4).
Broncos offense: overall (10), rush (16), pass (11), scoring (14).
Broncos defense: overall (2), rush (2), pass (7), scoring (3).
Turnover differential: Patriots plus-3; Broncos plus-1.
The NFL’s conference championship games feature both No. 1 seeds, two division rivals and a backup quarterback making his first start of the season. The Denver Broncos (15-3) host the New England Patriots (16-3) in the AFC title game on Sunday. It was Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady the previous time they met in the playoffs 10 years ago. Now, it’s backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for the Broncos against second-year standout Drake Maye.
All that stands between the New England Patriots and their first trip to the Super Bowl since Tom Brady left is a backup quarterback that they already know pretty well. The team that Brady led to six NFL titles — and 13 conference title games — will play Denver (15-3) on Sunday for the AFC championship against one of the QBs who filled in as his successor.
Jarrett Stidham, who was selected by New England (16-3) in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, will make his first start since 2023 as a sub for Bo Nix, who broke his ankle near the end of the Broncos’ playoff victory over Buffalo on Saturday. Stidham spent two years in New England as a backup. When New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was coaching in Las Vegas, he gave Stidham a try there; coach Mike Vrabel said he also looked into Stidham when he was in Tennessee and again last summer, before the veteran backup re-signed with the Broncos. “I guess it was kind of ironic,” Vrabel said on Monday, praising Stidham’s accuracy, athleticism and decision-making. “He’s really decisive in the games that we went back and watched.”
The Patriots beat Houston 28-16 on Sunday to return to the AFC championship game for the first time since winning their sixth Super Bowl in the 2018 season, Brady’s second-to-last year in New England. Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns; he also had an interception on an end-of-half desperation pass and fumbled four times, turning it over twice, in a wintry mix that also contributed to the four interceptions thrown by Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
Patriots player to watch
Drake Maye. The MVP finalist had three touchdown passes in the Patriots’ divisional round win over Houston. It marked the 13th time in team history that a quarterback had thrown at least three TD passes in a playoff game. It was also the most since Tom Brady had three in Super Bowl 52 against Philadelphia.
Broncos player to watch
Jarrett Stidham. Bo Nix’s backup hasn’t thrown a pass in two seasons and the only snap he played this season came on a kneel-down at the end of a blowout over the Dallas Cowboys. Stidham has appeared in 20 games with four starts in his six-year NFL career and the Patriots tried to sign him last spring before he re-signed with Denver for $12 million over two years.
Key matchup
Maye versus Denver’s defense. The Broncos led the league with a franchise-record 68 sacks this season and sacked Josh Allen three times. They also forced Allen to turn the ball over four times after he had gone six straight playoff games without a turnover. Allen had two fumbles and two interceptions, including one in overtime. In the playoffs, Maye has been sacked 10 times, thrown two interceptions and fumbled six times, losing three of them.
Key injuries
Patriots: LB Harold Landry III (knee) has been ruled out. CB Carlton Davis (concussion protocol) and LB Marte Mapu (hip) are both questionable. ... WR Mack Hollins, who has been on injured reserve since Dec. 27 with an abdomen injury, was activated on Saturday. He played in the first 15 games of the season prior to going on IR, catching 46 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns.
Broncos: RB J.K. Dobbins, who returned to practice this week for the first time since foot surgery in mid-November, was ruled out. ... WRs Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) both participated in practice this week. C Luke Wattenberg appears ready to return from injured reserve. He went on IR with a shoulder injury last month.
Series notes
The Broncos have a 4-1 edge in the playoff matchups between the teams, winning all four games in Denver. The two most recent meetings were in the AFC championship games during the 2013 and 2015 seasons, and were both won by the Broncos. Denver’s 20-18 win in the 2015 AFC title game on Jan. 24, 2016, was the final meeting between quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Stats and stuff
This will be the Patriots’ 13th appearance in the AFC title game in the past 25 seasons… The Patriots (Mike Vrabel) and San Francisco 49ers (George Seifert 1989, won the Super Bowl) are the only teams in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated on the road with a new head coach… Vrabel is attempting to become the eighth coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in his first season with a team… Maye has completed 3 of 10 deep passes (20 or more yards) through his first two playoff games. The Broncos didn’t allow Buffalo’s Josh Allen a completion and intercepted him twice on nine deep pass attempts in the divisional round… With a win, Maye would become the first quarterback to win three playoff games against top-five defenses in the same postseason: the Chargers entered the playoffs ranked fifth, the Texans ranked first, and the Broncos ranked second… Maye has been strip-sacked 11 times this season, including the playoffs. The Patriots have recovered six of Maye’s fumbles on sacks, with three recoveries by LT Will Campbell. The only other quarterbacks strip-sacked 10 or more times since 2020 are Matt Ryan (11 in 2022), Derek Carr (10 in 2021) and Kirk Cousins (10 in 2021)… Maye is one of three quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era with five or more turnovers and 10 or more sacks. He joins Russell Wilson (2014, lost in the Super Bowl) and Roger Staubach (1973, lost in the NFC championship game)… WR Stefon Diggs has played in 16 postseason games and has 75 receptions for 965 yards and five touchdowns. He needs 35 yards to become the 18th NFL player to reach 1,000, and the third Patriots player. Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are the only Patriots players to eclipse the mark… Diggs has played in the most postseason games among all Patriots players with 16. CB Carlton Davis III is second with 11 postseason games… LB K’Lavon Chaisson has three sacks this postseason. With another he’ll joint Willie McGinest (five in 2003 and 4½ in 2005) and Garin Veris (four in 1985) as the only Patriots with at least four in a single postseason… The Broncos are 18-5 all time in home playoff games since their first one in 1977 during the “Orange Crush” era… This is Denver’s 11th appearance in the AFC championship game… Stidham is 1-3 in his four NFL starts with his only victory coming against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 31, 2023… K Wil Lutz made all four of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra points against Buffalo last week. His four field goals are one shy of the franchise playoff record of five set by Brandon McManus in the playoffs following the 2015 season… Last week OLB Nik Bonitto became the third player in Broncos history to force two fumbles in a playoff game. By stripping the ball from Josh Allen twice, Bonitto joined Von Miller (against Carolina in Super Bowl 50) and Tom Jackson (against Dallas in Super Bowl 12)… ILB Alex Singleton’s 14 tackles last week, including 11 solo, were the most by a Denver defender in a playoff game this century… DE Malcolm Roach is coming off a big game against Buffalo. He had 1½ sacks and recovered a fumble.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 24, 2026
LOS ANGELES RAMS (14-5) at SEATTLE (15-3)
Series record: Seahawks lead 29-28
Last meeting: Seattle beat the Rams 38-37 in overtime on Dec. 18.
Last week: The Rams beat Chicago 20-17 in overtime in the divisional round on Jan. 18. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round on Jan. 17.
Rams offense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (1), scoring (1).
Rams defense: overall (17), rush (12), pass (19), scoring (10).
Seahawks offense: overall (T-7), rush (T-10), pass (8), scoring (5).
Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (1).
Turnover differential: Rams plus-15; Seahawks minus-4.
The Rams are seeking their third straight road win after eliminating Carolina in the wild-card round and beating Chicago 20-17 in overtime last week. Stafford and coach Sean McVay led them to a Super Bowl title four years ago and this will be the team’s 12th NFC championship game. The No. 1 seed Seahawks routed the 49ers 41-6 to advance to their fifth conference title game and first in 11 years. Darnold has struggled against the Rams. Los Angeles sacked Darnold nine times and intercepted him once in a 27-9 wild-card victory last season when he was with Minnesota. In Week 11, Darnold threw four picks in a 21-19 loss to the Rams. He nearly rallied the Seahawks to victory but Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal at the end. On Dec. 18, Darnold tossed two interceptions and was sacked four times as Seattle fell behind Los Angeles by 16 points in the fourth quarter. But the Seahawks stormed back to tie it up, including a wacky 2-point conversion, and won 38-37 in overtime when Darnold connected with Eric Saubert on another 2-pointer. The Rams had allowed 30 points per game over a five-game stretch before holding Caleb Williams and the Bears to 17. With Stafford, All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua and star wideout Davante Adams, the Rams led the league in yards and scoring at 30.5 points per game. The Seahawks were third in scoring (28.4) and their defense featuring defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon gave up the fewest points (17.2 per game).
Rams player to watch
RG Kevin Dotson returned after missing three games because of an ankle injury, and Los Angeles’ top offensive lineman didn’t miss a beat, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ best run-blocking interior lineman during the divisional round. The Rams finished with 111 yards rushing, and coach Sean McVay regretted going away from his successful ground game. Dotson was hurt on the first drive of the wild 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks, and the drop-off from Dotson to backup Justin Dedich was a key factor in swinging the NFC West and top seed in the conference to Seattle.
Seahawks player to watch
RB Kenneth Walker III. Not only did Walker tie Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in last week’s victory, but he also rushed for a season-high 116 yards. Because Zach Charbonnet is out for the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury, Seattle will turn almost exclusively to Walker to churn out yards on the ground.
Key matchup
WR Cooper Kupp against the Rams secondary. Kupp had his most receiving yards in a game since Nov. 9 in the Seahawks’ 41-6 win over the 49ers in the divisional round. In two games against the Rams, his former team, Kupp has six catches for 62 yards this season.
Key injuries
Rams: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been limited because of a shoulder injury but is expected to play Sunday. Los Angeles’ secondary is already short-handed after Ahkello Witherspoon sustained a season-ending shoulder blade injury against Carolina in the wild-card round… OLB Byron Young was held out of practice this week as a precaution because of knee soreness… S Quentin Lake missed practice Wednesday because of illness.
Seahawks: QB Sam Darnold (oblique) was limited in practice on Wednesday, after injuring it last week. TE Elijah Arroyo (knee) and LB Chazz Surratt (ankle) were both full participants after being ruled out for last week’s game. T Charles Cross (foot) did not practice on Wednesday, nor did fellow tackles Josh Jones (knee, ankle) nor Amari Kight. RB George Holani (hamstring) was a full participant on Wednesday. LB Uchenna Nwosu (hamstring) was a limited practice participant, as was FB Robbie Ouzts (neck).
Series notes
The Rams have won four of the past six games played in Seattle, but fell in an overtime thriller last month… Each of the past five games between the Rams and Seahawks have been decided by one score, including Seattle’s 38-37 overtime win on Dec. 18… The Seahawks are 17-8 against the Rams in Seattle. These franchises seldom played until realignment in 2002, when the Seahawks moved from the AFC West to the NFC West… The Rams are 2-0 against the Seahawks in the playoffs, with both victories coming in Seattle following the 2004 and 2020 seasons… Coach Sean McVay led Los Angeles to a 30-20 win in an NFC wild-card playoff game on Jan. 9, 2021, but there were no fans at Lumen Field because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stats and stuff
Rams: They’re in the conference championship game for the 12th time after going 5-6 record in their previous trips. Sean McVay is 2-0 in such games, guiding Los Angeles over the New Orleans Saints after the 2018 season and the San Francisco 49ers after the 2021 season… This is the first time McVay is facing a repeat opponent in the playoffs, having seen 15 different opponents in his first 15 postseason games… The Rams are 3-0 against NFC West opposition in the playoffs under McVay, knocking off the Seahawks after the 2020 season and the Arizona Cardinals and 49ers en route to their Super Bowl title following the 2021 season… QB Matthew Stafford failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in nine playoff games with the Rams and the second time in his postseason career overall when he failed to find the end zone last week against the Bears… RB Kyren Williams had two rushing touchdowns in Chicago, his first playoff scoring runs in five career playoff games… CB Cobie Durant can become the first Rams defender to intercept a pass in three straight playoff games. He picked off Bears QB Caleb Williams twice, giving him three interceptions this postseason… The Rams are converting 27.6% of third downs in the playoffs, the lowest mark among the four remaining teams. They were 5 for 16 (31.3%) against Chicago.
Seahawks: Seattle earned its first division title since 2020, and 12th in franchise history… The Seahawks have 14 regular-season wins for the first time in franchise history. The Seahawks’ previous franchise record for wins in a season was 13, which happened in the 2013 and 2005 seasons. Seattle won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll… The Seahawks had five players selected to the 2025 All-Pro team, matching a franchise record, with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning first-team honors and DT Leonard Williams, CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Ernest Jones IV, and P Michael Dickson making the second team… Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL in receiving yards this season, has also had 100 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He had 119 catches in the 2025 season… Seahawks TE A.J. Barner has set single-season career highs in receptions (52), yards (519) and touchdowns (six)… Ernest Jones IV had five interceptions this season for Seattle, tied for second most in the NFL. Jones also had one in Seattle’s divisional round win over the 49ers… Kenneth Walker III tied Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in last week’s victory.
