The AFC and NFC championship games told starkly different stories. The Patriots edged the Broncos in a defensive slugfest through Denver snow, while the Seahawks outlasted the Rams in a high-scoring offensive shootout in Seattle. The result: a Super Bowl LX rematch of their 2015 championship clash.

Both teams found the path to victory—but neither did so without exposing critical strategic failures that could reshape how coaches approach the postseason.

Fourth-Down Gambling Is Backfiring on Elite Coaches

The 2026 offseason will dissect a troubling pattern: multiple teams lost critical playoff games by gambling on fourth down instead of taking guaranteed points.

The Broncos controlled the AFC Championship until they eschewed a 31-yard field goal on fourth-and-goal early in the second quarter. That three-point rejection—which would have pushed their lead to 10-0—proved catastrophic. After a Patriots drive and punt, a Denver backward pass turned dominance into chaos. By halftime, the game was tied, and Denver's momentum had evaporated.

The Rams made a near-identical miscalculation. Sean McVay chose to go for it on fourth-and-4 from Seattle's six-yard line instead of kicking a field goal that would have cut the deficit to one point with 4:54 remaining. Matthew Stafford's failure on the conversion handed the Seahawks a four-point cushion, deflating LA's comeback and allowing Seattle to run clock without risk.

Conservative coaches who've been browbeaten by analytics may swing back toward traditional field goal playcalling when research results hit their desks in the 2026 regular season.

Patriots Resurrect the Belichick Playbook—And It Works

Mike Vrabel has turned back the clock, resurrecting the defensive schemes and offensive conservatism that defined New England's dynasty of the 2000s.

Against the AFC's No. 1 seed, the Patriots mustered only 206 total yards but stole a road victory anyway. Drake Maye's legs (10 rushes, 65 yards) compensated for a pedestrian passing line (10-of-21, 86 yards). Rhamondre Stevenson ground out 71 yards on 25 carries—a grinding, time-control approach that reads like a Charlie Weis or Josh McDaniels blueprint from the Bill Belichick era.

New England's defense forced two turnovers while holding Denver to 181 total yards, executing the same stunts and man-to-man coverage schemes that powered previous Super Bowl runs. The "Man-Free" defense—man coverage with a deep middle safety—proved effective against a backup quarterback starting his first game since 2023.

The Patriots' 9-0 road record showcases a collection of underdogs willing to sacrifice individual accolades for team success. Vrabel's complementary football approach is the latest evidence that the Patriot Way still wins in January.

Sam Darnold Exorcises His Demons Against the Rams

The eight-year veteran's journey from 2018 third overall pick to redemption arc reached its crescendo against Los Angeles.

Darnold had been a turnstile against the Rams in four previous meetings—seven interceptions and 16 sacks. Sunday's performance dismantled that narrative. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with three touchdowns, taking three sacks without a single interception.

The Seahawks quarterback attacked the Rams with comfort and precision, generating 23 first downs and converting 53.8% of third-down attempts. He controlled the clock (31:50 time of possession) by relentlessly targeting Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 10 of 12 targets for 153 yards and a touchdown despite being the NFL's leading receiver.

Darnold's resurrection proves that coaching and culture matter. Executives around the league will take note.

The Rams' Special Teams Catastrophe Ends Their Season

Sean McVay couldn't fix what ultimately killed his championship hopes: a special teams unit so dysfunctional it sabotaged an otherwise elite roster.

Trailing 17-13 in the third quarter, Xavier Smith muffed a punt—his second of the game—following a key defensive stop. The turnover handed Seattle a touchdown that built a two-score lead and forced the Rams into perpetual catch-up mode.

McVay fired special teams coordinator Case Blackburn in December and retooled personnel at critical positions. None of it mattered. Blocked kicks, missed field goals, leaky coverage units, and fielding errors accumulated throughout the season into a fatal weakness.

Despite fielding an explosive offense, top-10 defense, and a Super Bowl-proven head coach, the Rams' inability to execute in the kicking game prevented them from realizing their championship potential.