Championship Sunday is live. Two tickets to the Super Bowl get punched today, and the stakes are brutal. Every snap matters. Every decision will echo all offseason. I am locked in across both stadiums and here is your fast, no fluff guide to the football games today 🏈
How to watch today
Two conference championship games fill the slate, an early window and a late window. Plan your viewing now. The AFC title game airs on CBS in most markets, with streaming on Paramount Plus. The NFC title game airs on FOX, with streaming on the FOX Sports app and site with a TV provider login. Local radio and Westwood One carry national audio.
- Early game, afternoon kickoff. CBS in most markets. Streaming on Paramount Plus.
- Late game, prime time kickoff. FOX in most markets. Streaming on the FOX Sports app.
Check the NFL’s official listings or your local guide for exact times and channel. Markets can vary.
NFC spotlight, a chess match on the edges
The NFC fight sets up like a whiteboard duel. Think Rams motion and tempo against the Seahawks’ discipline and late safety rotation. The Rams lean on compressed formations, quick splits, and jet motion. They want to stress eyes, then hit crossers and deep overs. Their run game sets the table, then the play action forks the defense.
Seattle wants to keep a two high shell intact, then trigger downhill on the snap. They mix quarters and cover three, and they rally to tackle. The key is early downs. If Seattle wins first down, third and long tilts to the rush. That is where they can heat the pocket and force throws outside the numbers.
Look for a battle at the line. The Rams’ interior must sort twists and games. The Seahawks’ front must squeeze cutback lanes. Watch for bunch stacks on third and medium. The rub routes decide several drives. Special teams could sneak in a swing play here. Field position will be gold.
Red zone trips will decide this game. The Rams scheme space. Seattle toys with leverage. One misread becomes six points.
AFC stage, belief against the odds
The AFC clash is a test of nerve. The Patriots and Broncos carry history into today’s fight, and the past still hangs in the air. These matchups have often turned on pass rush and poise. One sideline thrives on situational mastery. The other chases chaos, takeaways, and short fields.
The Broncos’ path is clear. Shorten the game, run with intent, and win plus one in turnovers. They must drag the pace into the mud. Long drives, fourth and short bets, and heavy personnel. Screens and misdirection help slow the rush. The Broncos’ defense needs timely heat, not constant pressure, and disciplined eyes against option routes.
New England will chase early points and structure. Scripted plays can jump start rhythm, then they lean on matchup beaters on third down. Look for tight ends down the seams, backs on option routes, and boundary comebacks. If they lead by two scores, the Broncos face a mountain.
Late injury decisions can flip matchups. Final inactives post 90 minutes before kickoff. Build in time to adjust your plans.
Your quarter by quarter watch plan
Set your expectations and spot the pivot moments as they happen.
- First quarter, feel out and fireworks. Offenses test tendencies with scripted calls. Watch for the first shot play, it often sets the coverage menu the rest of the day.
- Second quarter, adjustments and counters. Coordinators find tells. Motion, tempo changes, and screen packages appear. The last two minutes before halftime are huge.
- Third quarter, the pivot. Halftime adjustments take hold. Watch the first defensive series. If a defense forces a quick punt, momentum swings.
- Fourth quarter, situational football. Red zone execution and two minute mastery take over. Timeouts, fourth down math, and special teams nerves decide everything.
Field goals matter more than you think today. In these tight games, hidden yards on punts and kick coverage stack up. The best players on the field often show up in the smallest margins. A block, a chip, a route depth at nine yards, not eight.
Culture runs through these matchups. Rams and Seahawks bring a rivalry built on respect and precision. Patriots and Broncos carry a legacy of big names, loud hits, and cold blooded moments. Today writes the next chapter. It will reward patience, toughness, and detail.
I will bring updates from both stadiums as drives unfold and plans change. Keep this guide handy, lock in your viewing, and enjoy the edge that comes from knowing what to watch. Two games. Two champions by night’s end. The Super Bowl field is about to be set.
