NFL playoffs: AFC, NFC championship picks, schedule, odds | Here’s everything you need to know …

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NFL playoffs: AFC, NFC championship picks, schedule, odds

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Stephen A. Smith sounds off on the ramifications of the Patriots losing to Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham, who hasn't thrown a pass in two years. (1:33)

The NFL playoffs' conference championship round for the 2025 season has two great matchups, and we have you covered with what you need to know for both.

First, Patriots QB Drake Maye heads on the road for the first time in the playoffs to face a Broncos team that will be without QB Bo Nix (ankle) in the AFC title game. And then the weekend caps off with an NFC West battle between the surging Rams and Seahawks for the chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s NFL conference championship games

The theme of the 2025 NFL playoffs has been “out with the old,” with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow all watching from home. That theme continues in the conference championship round — for the first time in 14 years, all four participants are new from the previous season, as the Broncos host the Patriots and the Seahawks host the Rams.

â–ª First some of the factoids: the Broncos are 4-1 all-time against the Patriots in the postseason, including 4-0 in Denver; the Patriots have 39 all-time postseason wins, tied with the 49ers for most in the NFL; the Broncos are looking for their ninth Super Bowl appearance, which would be second-most behind the Patriots (11).

NFL Championship Sunday bold predictions: Jarrett Stidham bests Drake Maye; Rashid Shaheed explodes

Jarrett Stidham outduels Drake Maye to send Broncos to Super Bowl

Stidham has not thrown a pass in a real game since Week 18 of the 2023 season, which might not engender a ton of confidence among those outside of the Broncos facility. But the Bo Nix replacement rises to the occasion and throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, outplaying New England's MVP candidate to send Denver to the Super Bowl a decade after the franchise lifted its third Lombardi Trophy.

The always-dangerous Shaheed got the Seahawks off to a hot start last week with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He takes advantage of the Rams' special teams woes and returns another kick for a score this week. But the electric speed merchant doesn’t stop there. Los Angeles also has struggled against out-wide receivers and defending the deep ball. Shaheed exploits that and adds a touchdown reception of 40-plus yards.

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