At a Glance
- The No. 1 Broncos and Seahawks already secured championship berths
- Sunday’s double-header decides who joins them
- Bo Nix is out for Denver with a broken ankle
- Why it matters: Conference title matchups hinge on today’s outcomes
The NFL’s Divisional Round concludes Sunday with two games that will complete the conference-championship bracket. Denver and Seattle punched their tickets Saturday, but both No. 1 seeds now know their potential foes. The Broncos will meet either New England or Houston, while the Seahawks await the winner of Chicago-Los Angeles.
AFC Showdown: Texans at Patriots, 3 p.m. ET
New England returns to the postseason after a six-year playoff-win drought. Drake Maye amassed 334 total yards and a touchdown in his postseason debut against the Chargers, but Houston brings the league’s stingiest defense.
The Texans allowed 277.2 yards and 17.2 points per game during the regular season, then held Pittsburgh to 175 yards and scored twice on defense in their first-ever road playoff victory. Nico Collins, who posted 1,370 receiving yards in the regular season, is in concussion protocol and will not face the Patriots.
NFC Finale: Rams at Bears, 6:30 p.m. ET
Chicago erased an 18-point halftime hole against Green Bay, scoring 25 fourth-quarter points for its first playoff win since 2010. Rookie Caleb Williams threw the game-winning 25-yard strike to DJ Moore, the Bears’ seventh comeback this year when trailing inside the final minutes.
Los Angeles survived Carolina thanks to Matthew Stafford, who produced two go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter, including the 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 2:04 left. The Rams have reached the conference title game in three of the last six seasons.
Championship Sunday Schedule
Next week’s matchups are locked in for Sunday, Jan. 25:
| Game | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Championship | 3 p.m. | TBD |
| NFC Championship | 6:30 p.m. | TBD |
The winners advance to Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 8.
How to Watch Today
Texans vs. Patriots
- TV: ESPN, ABC
- Stream: ESPN.com, ESPN app, NFL+ (mobile only)
Rams vs. Bears
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Peacock, NBC.com, NBC app, NFL+ (mobile only)
Kickoff times by zone:
- Texans-Patriots: 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / 12 p.m. PT
- Rams-Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. PT
Key Takeaways
- Denver’s Super Bowl path got tougher with Bo Nix sidelined
- Houston’s defense faces a rising Drake Maye minus its top receiver
- Chicago’s comeback knack meets Stafford’s late-game poise
- By tonight the NFL’s final four-and Super Bowl odds-will be set
