New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks Secure Super Bowl LX Berths

Super Bowl LX Set: Patriots and Seahawks Advance

The New England Patriots have successfully navigated the AFC playoffs, defeating the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round and the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, securing their place in Super Bowl LX. Concurrently, the Seattle Seahawks clinched their spot by overcoming the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. These victories set the stage for the championship matchup in Santa Clara.

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots Defeat Texans

The New England Patriots secured a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round, played at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots' defense generated five turnovers, including four first-half interceptions from Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

At halftime, the Patriots held a 21-10 lead. Key defensive plays in the first half included Marcus Jones returning one of Stroud's interceptions for a 26-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Carlton Davis recorded two interceptions, and Craig Woodson added another. Stroud completed 10 of 26 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions in the first half.

On the Patriots' side, quarterback Drake Maye fumbled three times in the first half, with two recoveries by left tackle Will Campbell. One Maye fumble was recovered by the Texans, leading to their only touchdown of the half: a 10-yard pass from Stroud to Christian Kirk, which briefly gave Houston a 10-7 lead. Maye completed 10 of 19 passes for 117 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception by halftime, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs before the break.

In the second half, the Texans reduced the deficit to 21-13 and then to 21-16 following a 51-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn. Maye responded with a touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte.

Stroud concluded the game completing 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 28.0. Maye finished with 16 completions out of 27 attempts for 179 yards, three touchdowns, and three turnovers, including one lost fumble, and was sacked five times. The Houston offense was affected by the absence of Nico Collins and an early calf injury to Dalton Schultz.

AFC Championship: Patriots Edge Broncos in Snowy Battle

The New England Patriots advanced to Super Bowl LX by defeating the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game. The game was characterized by snowy conditions in the second half, which limited passing production.

The Denver Broncos started backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham due to a season-ending ankle injury sustained by starting quarterback Bo Nix in a previous game against the Buffalo Bills. Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick, had been re-signed by the Broncos for two years before the 2025 season. Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton expressed confidence in Stidham's readiness for the game.

The score was tied 7-7 at halftime, with both teams having missed field goal attempts. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's rushing abilities proved to be a significant offensive factor for New England. Maye accumulated 68 rushing yards on seven attempts, scoring the Patriots' only touchdown on a quarterback draw. He also executed multiple scrambles, including gains of 13, 16, and a 28-yard run that set up Andy Borregales for the decisive go-ahead field goal. Maye completed seven of 14 passes for 41 yards in the first half, with overall game statistics including 55.8% completion and 65 net passing yards.

Drake Maye is set to become the second-youngest quarterback to start in the Super Bowl in his second NFL season, and his performance surpassed Tom Brady as the Patriots' all-time leading playoff rusher among quarterbacks.

Jarrett Stidham, leading the Broncos' offense, initially guided a touchdown drive. However, he later made a critical error on a shovel pass that was recovered by New England linebacker Elijah Ponder; the play, initially ruled an incomplete pass, was overturned to a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Stidham completed three of 12 attempts for 58 yards and an interception when pressured, and also threw a costly interception during Denver's final drive, according to reports.

Broncos coach Sean Payton's decision-making drew attention when he declined a field goal attempt on a 4th-and-1 play in the red zone during the second quarter. Opting for a pass play instead of a field goal to extend a 7-0 lead, the attempt resulted in an incomplete pass and a missed scoring opportunity. Australian rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw performed notably for the Broncos, averaging 51 yards on six punts, with three placed within the 20-yard line.

With this victory, the Patriots achieved a 9-0 road record in a single season, marking them as the first NFL team to do so. They also became the first team to reach the Super Bowl after recording 13 or more losses in the preceding season.

NFC Championship: Seahawks Triumph Over Rams

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship, securing their place in Super Bowl LX.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold demonstrated efficiency against the Rams, particularly on third downs, and managed his progressions effectively. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was highly effective on early downs, catching nine passes for 144 yards and consistently gaining separation from Rams cornerbacks.

For the Rams, coach Sean McVay's game management was a subject of discussion, with specific decisions such as declining a two-point conversion attempt and a particular timeout usage being noted. The Rams' special teams unit experienced difficulties throughout the season.

The Rams' special teams unit had ranked 26th in special teams DVOA during the regular season, culminating in a critical muffed punt by Xavier Smith—his second muff of the game—which resulted in a crucial turnover for the Seahawks.

Super Bowl LX: Patriots vs. Seahawks

The New England Patriots are scheduled to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, set to be held in Santa Clara.