American Football
The ultimate road to Super Bowl LX: NFL playoff bracket, matchups, and game-by-game predictions
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The 2025 NFL season has delivered breathtaking, pulse-racing moments all year, and the drama is set to continue with two huge Conference Championship games later today.
As we count down the hours to kickoff, I've taken a punt on how things play out the rest of the way, starting with the Patriots @ Broncos and Rams @ Seahawks, before predicting the winner of Super Bowl LX.
Here's how I see things unfolding, and why.
The article will be updated again after the Conference Championship results are in.
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Conference Championships
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
The storyline overshadowing this game is, of course, the devastating injury to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who will miss the rest of the playoffs after fracturing his ankle in the overtime win over the Bills.
With absolutely no disrespect intended to Nix, if any team at this stage of the playoffs can overcome the absence of its signal-caller, it’s the Broncos. Their defense, led by Patrick Surtain and Nik Bonitto, is just that good.
That said, and considering I already picked the Patriots to win this one prior to Nix’s injury, it would take a Herculean effort from Jarrett Stidham, or whoever starts at quarterback on Sunday, to score sufficient points against a Patriots defense playing as well as it has during the playoffs.
After defeating the Chargers and Texans en route to the AFC Championship Game, Maye has learned a thing or two about how to beat talented defenses. That experience counts here.
Mike Vrabel’s defense delivers under the bright lights once again, handing New England the AFC Championship title and a place in Super Bowl LX.
Predicted winner: Patriots
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams
Stafford didn't have his finest game against the Bears, but let's not kid ourselves. He's been a top two quarterback all year, and with weapons Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at his disposal, he will take some stopping.
But if any defense has what it takes to contain the 37-year-old, it's the Seahawks. Defensive coordinator Aden Durde has this unit playing at a phenomenally high level.
If there's a slight surprise about Seattle, it's how capable they look offensively. Sam Darnold is no world-beater, but he's been efficient, and running back Kenneth Walker looks as explosive as ever.
Truthfully, the Seahawks have looked so good that I don't feel anywhere near as confident in this one as I did a week ago. But I'm sticking with my guns and picking the underdog Rams to topple the favourites to win Super Bowl LX on the back of a vintage performance from Stafford.
Predicted winner: Rams
Super Bowl LX
New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Rams
Here we are, then. The big one. The only game that really matters. The contest that all 32 teams were desperate to play in. Super Bowl LX in San Francisco.
And what a final this would be. The top two quarterbacks of the season, two defenses capable of putting on a show, and a pair of head coaches who have been as good as any this year.
Neutral fans who have been following the NFL for more than six years may groan at the prospect of seeing the Patriots in yet another Super Bowl. I get it. Others may question whether their soft schedule means they'll come unstuck long before they reach this point. I get that, too. If there is any consolation for those fans, it's this: I believe this is Stafford’s year... again.
On paper, New England may measure up well with the Rams, but Stafford to Nacua has been as unstoppable as any combination all year, and would even be a handful for the likes of Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones.
When you factor in Kyren Williams keeping the Patriots honest, Adams catching his trademark 1-yard touchdowns, and that fearsome defensive line, Los Angeles could be too much for Vrabel's side.
Predicted winner and Super Bowl LX champions: Rams
Final thoughts
I've never seen anyone correctly predict every outcome in any of the 22 NFL playoff years I've followed during my lifetime. These predictions will be no different, and it won't simply be because of the injuries we cannot foresee, the weather which can swing outcomes, or the fluke plays that often prove pivotal.
Upsets happen all the time, when players who have flown under the radar suddenly produce at the highest level, and regular-season heroes disappear when they're needed the most. That's football.
The parity of the league, not to mention the fact that so many juggernauts missed out on the 2025/26 playoffs, makes it all the more exciting this time around. So buckle in, take advantage of DAZN's offer to watch the entire postseason for just £14.99, and enjoy.
One last thing. Don’t forget to check in on this article after the Conference Championship games have concluded. I'll update the matchups if I get any results wrong and may even change my Super Bowl LX prediction if the teams that advance show us something new.
