The Conference Championships of the 2025 NFL season is complete, so we’re casting an eye over both games, identifying the big takeaways and digging into the markets.
Around The NFL
Football in January is different.
The pressure is one thing. Depending on the venue, conditions are another.
The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos had it all as warmups took place in the sun before the snowy conditions put the ice on game-trying field goal attempts. In the end, the Patriots trusted their defence to hold onto the 10-7 lead with Drake Maye securing the victory on his legs in tough conditions.
Jarrett Stidham didn’t look out of place as quarterback early. In fact, he looked the better of the two out there before the weather turned for the worst. By the end, Mike Vrabel’s defence smothered the Broncos down the stretch to allow only 32 yards on five possessions in the second half. Stidham was forced into a poor throw when chasing the game in an otherwise decent performance given the circumstances he came into this one.
Maye, on the other hand, did what he has been doing all season to find the right plays at the right time.
Drake Maye is the first QB to win 3 playoff games against top 5 total defenses in a single postseason.
🔹Chargers (5th in total defense)
🔹Texans (1st in total defense)
🔹Broncos (2nd in total defense)@Patriots | #NEPats— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 25, 2026
Later, the Seattle Seahawks held off the Los Angeles Rams to book their place in Super Bowl LX.
The highest-scoring team in the NFL took on the leagues best defence and, as expected, defence came out on top.
It didn’t come without controversy, though. After making a stop to force a 4th-and-12, Riq Woolen produced one of the craziest moments in the game to keep the ball in Stafford’s hands. With it, he found Puka Nacua in the end zone – over Woolen – to close the gap.
All-time moment for Riq Woolen. He taunted the Rams and Matthew Stafford, which helped them convert a 4th and 11.
Then on the very next play Stafford went right at him and he gave up a TD.
Absolutely diabolical.
pic.twitter.com/PG7HHA4HrN— Dave (@davebftv) January 26, 2026
Stafford drove the Rams back down the field with a win in reach late, but on 4th-and-4, Sean McVay opted to roll the dice rather that kicking the field goal to cut the defect to one. It’s a decision that will be debated internally and externally for months.
Seattle’s defence held on, and the offence took over to finish the job.
In making Super Bowl LX, Darnold has completed one of the great career arcs in NFL history. It should rewrite expectations for young quarterbacks coming into the league (it won’t) and provide proof that a young player failing in the most high-pressure position in sports doesn’t mean they won’t develop into a productive player.
In the biggest game of his life, Sam Darnold delivered 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7JD5ZArBVp
— ESPN (@espn) January 26, 2026
The Seahawks haven’t always been favoured this season. However, they’ve peaked at the right time. They came into the playoffs as the most complete team in the league and played like it throughout. As a result, they’re $1.43 favourites to win Super Bowl LX in a fortnight.
Early Super Bowl LX Preview
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are preparing to face off in Super Bowl LX in two weeks.
When we look back at the preseason odds to make the big dance, few people will have had either of these teams here let alone both. The Seahawks kicked off Week 1 at $51 to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy while the Patriots didn’t even rate a mention in the Super Bowl discussion.
It marks the 12th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots and first after Tom Brady. They’ll be going for their record seventh ring to break the tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history. Although, they’re significant +4.5 outsiders to do it.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks are preparing for their fourth. Not back since making back-to-back Super Bowl’s in 2013 and 2014, they’re out to win their first since the 2013 NFL season and are significant $1.43 favorites to do so.
While neither team can boast home field advantage in San Francisco, the Patriots became first team in NFL history to go a perfect 9-0 on the road this season. They aren’t afraid of hostile crowds or conditions. However, as we’ve seen from the Seahawks and the onion plays they produced to ice the game, Mike MacDonald and his group are unlikely to flinch either.
Seattle has played like the most complete team in the league throughout the playoffs. New England, however, have proven to have the big plays in them to beat anybody on their day.
The potential for a thriller is further justified in the relatively high 46.5 points total set for the game.
It’s not the Super Bowl matchup many expected, but it profiles as a potential classic if the two teams play up to their ability.
Bet Now Super Bowl LX