The AFC and NFC Championship football games were played over the weekend. The New England Patriots faced the Broncos in Denver, while the Los Angeles Rams headed to Seattle to play against the Seahawks. Not gonna lie, both games had me on the edge of my seat.
After losing their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, to a broken ankle after their divisional game win against the Buffalo Bills, it was expected that the Broncos would lose to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. And while the Broncos did end up losing, it was a much closer game than I expected.
In what turned out to be the coldest game of the season, increases in wind and snow during the second half proved to be an issue for both teams’ kickers. Many players also struggled to get solid footing, slipping and falling multiple times. The Broncos’ backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, also made NFL history as the only quarterback to play his first start in a championship game. For not having a single passing play during the regular season, Stidham played better than many expected in yesterday’s game.
The final score was Patriots 10 and Broncos 7. With the Patriots’ win yesterday, their coach, Mike Vrabel, now has the chance to be the first person to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach for the same franchise.
The Seahawks and Rams’ game was a highly anticipated rematch after their week 16 game ended with a Seahawks win, 38-37. The Seahawks were predicted to win the NFC Championship, and they did, with a final score of Seahawks 31 and Rams 27.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon definitely gets my vote for Seahawks’ MVP, not only with the blocked pass that kept the Rams from scoring a touchdown at the 5-minute mark in the 4th quarter, but also with the inbound tackle of Rams’ wide receiver Puka Nacua on the final play, ending the game. Without those plays, the game could have ended quite differently.
Interestingly, since the Seahawks won their game, this year’s Super Bowl will be a rematch. The Seahawks won against the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII and lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
The Super Bowl is being held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8 at 6:30 ET.
