Four teams are left standing. Who will earn the right to play in Super Bowl 60?
The AFC’s top seed, Denver Broncos, remain confident despite Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury. Denver has homefield advantage on its side and a defense that led the NFL in sacks during the regular season. The New England Patriots look to have found their stride after two double-digit playoff wins.
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The NFC championship game features an all-NFC West battle as the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks meet for the third time this season. Each team won on its home turf during the regular season. Will Seattle’s 12th man have an impact in the NFC title game? We know these two NFC West rivals don’t like each other.
Who will earn a trip to the Bay Area for the league’s Feb. 8 championship showcase? USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for the conference championship round of the playoffs:
NFL conference championship game predictions, picks
Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+
Spread: Patriots (-5.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Patriots 25, Broncos 17
Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury will have a big impact on the AFC championship game. Sean Payton and the Broncos are confident in Jarrett Stidham. However, New England’s defense is coming off consecutive games in which they made both Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud play terrible. Denver’s defense will keep the game close, but New England has a more well-rounded and healthier squad.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Date: Sunday, Jan. 25
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
TV: FOX
Streaming: FOX One
Spread: Seahawks (-2.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 25, Seahawks 24
These two NFC West rivals know each other extremely well. The Seahawks are coming off a dominant performance in all three phases. While the Rams have found ways to win on the road this postseason. Sam Darnold’s thrown just two touchdowns to six interceptions in two games vs. LA this year. He needs to play much better, despite managing an oblique injury. I trust an experienced Rams team more than I do Seattle.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos-Patriots, Rams-Seahawks NFL playoff odds, expert predictions