Jan. 23, 2026

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY PREVIEW

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CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY PREVIEW

Preview of the AFC and NFC championship games. which two teams will punch their tickets to the Super Bowl LX.

can Jared Stindham who hasn't played an NFL game in two years lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl?

why Sean Payton is the perfect coach for this situation with the backup quarterback in the championship game

in the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl

is Drake Maye fumbling a problem

The keys to victory for both teams

Will the Rams be too much for Seattle


Matthew Stafford, having a career year in a Hall of Fame career

Keys to the game for both Seattle and the Rams

We break down:

  • The matchups that decide each game
  • Key players, coaching edges, and game scripts
  • Injuries that matter + what to watch early
  • Vegas lines, best angles, and our final score predictionsto

Drop your picks in the comments and let’s ride.

Locked Up Sports: New York Sports Talk (LockedUpSports.net)

 

AFC Championship — Patriots at Broncos (3:00 PM ET | CBS)

The headline: Denver without Bo Nix, Stidham era for one day

 

  • Nix is OUT (ankle) per the official status list.  
  • What that changes: tempo, risk tolerance, and how Payton calls it

— Matchups to watch (AFC)

Patriots defense vs. Broncos “survive-and-advance” offense

    • Denver is built to grind, but this is where you can’t spot New England freebies.
      Broncos pass rush vs. Patriots QB rhythm game
      • If Denver can make it messy, it becomes a fourth-quarter fight.
  1.  
  2. Field position + hidden yards
    • In games like this, one short field flips the entire script.

 Injury/availability notes (AFC)

 

  • Broncos: Bo Nix OUT, J.K. Dobbins OUT, plus multiple questionable (Franklin/Forsyth/Wattenberg/Skinner).  
  • Patriots: Harold Landry III OUT, several questionable (Jennings/Hollins/Farmer/Davis).  

18:30 — Betting line + what it implies

 

  • DraftKings line referenced by CBS: Patriots -4.5, O/U 42.5.  

22:00 — AFC score prediction

 

  • Patriots 24, Broncos 20
    (Lean: New England defense + enough offense late; Denver keeps it ugly and close.)

 

NFC Championship — Rams at Seahawks (6:30 PM ET | FOX)

26:00 — The headline: Rubber match in the NFC West

 

  • Seattle hosts, and Darnold is off the injury report.  

 

— Matchups to watch (NFC)

 

  1. Rams No. 1 scoring offense vs. Seahawks No. 1 scoring defense
    • Strength-on-strength: who blinks first?  
    • Turnover battle (especially in Round 3)
    • These two know each other — it’s about one mistake at the worst time.  Rams protection vs. Seattle pressure packages
    • Big if the Rams have to adjust without Havenstein.  Injury/availability notes (NFC)

 

  • Rams: Rob Havenstein OUT, Byron Young questionable (team expectation he plays).  
  • Seahawks: Chazz Surratt OUT, OL depth concerns (Kight doubtful; Jones questionable), and Darnold good.  

 

— Betting line + what it implies

 

  • DraftKings line cited by SI: Seahawks -2.5, O/U 46.5.  

 

NFC score prediction

 

  • Seahawks 27, Rams 24
    (Lean: Seattle at home, defense gets one extra stop, Darnold makes enough plays.)

 

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