Bailey’s Predictions
AFC Champions: New England Patriots
After much anticipation from fans, the New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship. This will be the 15th consecutive year that either the Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs have played in the conference championship.
The Patriots have emerged as one of the most successful teams in the league this season with quarterback Drake Maye leading the way, resulting in him being named an MVP finalist. During the playoffs, Maye guided his offense through difficult matchups, taking down an impressive Houston Texans defense in a 28-16 win.
Most notably, the Denver Broncos will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a fractured ankle in the second-to-last play in his team’s 33-30 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills. Jarrett Stidham will step in as the backup, having played in just one game this season, in which he did not complete nor attempt a pass or pick up any yards. On top of Stidham’s lack of experience, New England’s defense boasts the second-best postseason stats – allowing 224 yards per game.
The Patriots losing this game would be nothing short of a blunder. The team has taken on far more difficult opponents through the course of the regular season and the offseason. Yes, Denver’s defense will be difficult to navigate; however, as long as New England’s defense can stop drives, they should have no issue dispatching the Broncos.
NFC Champions: Los Angeles Rams
Predicting which team will claim the NFC Championship is a much more difficult decision as the Los Angeles Rams hit the road to face off against the Seattle Seahawks.
On one hand, the Rams have a dynamic duo of MVP finalist and quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua. On the other hand, Seahawks wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba is one of the best, if not the best, at his position in the league.
Los Angeles’ biggest asset is its quarterback. Even if quarterback Sam Darnold was not being held back by an oblique injury, Stafford is the better player. In Seattle’s decisive divisional round victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle relied heavily on the run-game, with running back Kenneth Walker III scoring three touchdowns.
The NFC Championship is likely to be a heavily contested match. Both teams will be exchanging touchdowns and leads. That being said, the Rams seem to have more firepower that could propel them to victory.
Aadit’s Predictions
AFC Champions: Denver Broncos
This prediction might be a surefire way to be kicked out of Boston. The Denver Broncos are back in the penultimate game of the season after 11 years. In 2015, the Broncos clinched a victory over the New England Patriots, and are headed for the same fate in 2026.
While the odds of history repeating itself is rare, there is always a chance. The Broncos will be severely limited by Nix’s injury at the end of the divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills. The Broncos defense, however, will be at its best. The Broncos jointly lead the NFL in postseason forced fumbles with the Buffalo Bills, a strength they look to use against Maye, who fumbled the ball eight times in the regular season and six times in the playoffs.
Maye was able to rely on his defense and play a scrappy game against Houston. Against a hard-hitting defense with a world-class pass rush, Maye will have his best chance. But even without Nix, the Broncos have enough talent to challenge the Patriots and come out with an upset in a highly anticipated matchup.
Even if this seems like wishful thinking, the Patriots of all teams will know the consequences of underestimating a backup in a crucial postseason game. Maybe we’ll even see Sean Payton pull out a “Denver Special.”
NFC Champions: Los Angeles Rams
In a blockbuster game that will pit a high flying offense against a lockdown defense, the Los Angeles Rams will come out on top in a fiercely contested game.
Both teams seem well balanced, as MVP finalist Stafford and star wide receivers Nacua and Davante Adams will matchup against Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon and second-team All-Pro linebacker Ernest Jones IV. The Rams defense will also have to focus on containing Nacua’s fellow first-team All-Pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Rams are given the edge here because of the quarterback play. Stafford, a previous Super Bowl winner, knows how to play when the lights shine brightest, whereas Seattle quarterback Darnold has only experienced these games as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Seattle will also be fettered by an injury suffered by backup running back Zach Charbonnet, increasing the workload for lead running back Walker. The Seahawks already relied heavily on Walker against the 49ers in the divisional round, and workload management may force offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to ask Darnold to throw the ball more frequently, a risky strategy considering Darnold may not have fully recovered from an oblique injury.
While the game will be a rollercoaster, the Rams’ health and strength on offense may propel them to the top of the NFC and a trip to San Francisco in February.
