The road to Super Bowl LX narrows to four teams as championship weekend approaches, with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots standing between history and heartbreak.
Seattle and Los Angeles prepare for their third matchup of the season in the NFC Championship Game, a rematch that carries weight after the division rivals split their earlier meetings. Lumen Field will host this decisive clash, a venue where the Seahawks have built an unblemished 3-0 record in conference title games. The NFC West has dominated conference representation at the Super Bowl, claiming eight appearances in the past 14 seasons. This marks the fifth occasion since 2010 that divisional opponents have battled for the NFC crown, continuing a trend that saw the same scenario unfold last year.
Broncos Face Uphill Battle Without Star Quarterback
Denver hosts New England in an AFC Championship Game that breaks a remarkable streak. For the first time since 2010, neither Tom Brady nor Patrick Mahomes will compete for the conference title, as ESPN Research confirms. The Broncos carry momentum from 14 victories in their last 15 home games at Empower Field at Mile High, but face a devastating setback with starting quarterback Bo Nix sidelined after breaking his ankle during the divisional round victory over Houston.
History favors Denver in this matchup, holding a 4-1 playoff record against the Patriots with all four wins secured on home turf. Yet the Broncos find themselves in unfamiliar territory as home underdogs in a conference championship for the first time in nine years, a distinction last held by the Seattle Seahawks when they faced playoff adversity in 2017.
Patriots Bring Dominant Form to Mile High Showdown
New England arrives in Colorado riding one of the season’s most impressive trends. The Patriots compiled a 14-5 record against the spread this season, the best mark in the league, demonstrating consistent performance that exceeded expectations. Their last Super Bowl appearance came in 2019, while Denver has waited a full decade since their most recent championship game. The Seattle Seahawks are another team showing strong postseason potential, adding intrigue to the playoff picture.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Patriots as significant favorites with a money line at -258 compared to Denver’s +210. The total sits at 41.5 points, unchanged from its opening number. Football Power Index calculations give New England a 58 percent probability of victory, projecting a 3.4-point edge.
Seahawks Emerge as Unlikely Super Bowl Contenders
Seattle entered the season with 60-1 odds to win the championship, matching the longest preseason odds for an eventual Super Bowl winner since the 2001 Patriots achieved the same feat at identical odds. Should the Seahawks complete their improbable run to a title, they would join rare company as only the seventh team since 1980 to overcome odds of 25-1 or longer.
The NFC Championship Game pits the Rams as slight underdogs at +130 against Seattle’s -155 money line. The matchup projects a higher-scoring affair with the total set at 47.5 points. Football Power Index gives the Seahawks a narrow 1.5-point advantage and 54 percent win probability.
Rams Make History with Road Dominance
Los Angeles carved an unusual path through the postseason as road favorites in consecutive playoff games, becoming just the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish this feat. The Rams entered hostile territory as 10-point favorites against Carolina in the wild-card round before claiming a 3.5-point edge at Chicago in the divisional matchup, showcasing their resilience and ability to perform under pressure away from home.
This season witnessed unprecedented parity at the top, with six different franchises holding Super Bowl favorite status at various points throughout the regular season. Buffalo, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Baltimore and the Seattle Seahawks all cycled through the top spot, marking the most rotation since 2012. That particular season saw Baltimore capture the championship despite never holding favorite status at any point during the year, proving that consistency and timing in the playoffs can outweigh regular-season rankings.
Championship Odds Favor Seattle
Current Super Bowl LX championship odds from sportsbooks place the Seattle Seahawks at the top with +145, followed by the Rams at +225 and the Patriots at +255. Denver faces the steepest climb at 11-1, reflecting both their underdog status in the AFC title game and the challenge of advancing without their starting quarterback.
The stage is set for championship Sunday, where decades of history, current form and unexpected circumstances converge to determine which two teams will compete for the Lombardi Trophy. Seattle aims to validate their unlikely journey from long-shot hopefuls to legitimate contenders, while Los Angeles, New England and Denver all hope to derail that narrative. Fans will watch closely as every play could tip the scales, making this season’s finale one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
Source: ESPN
