NEW YORK — Jan. 21, 2026 —Below are the players, coaches and teams that can set historic marks or reach career milestones during the 2025 Conference Championships, including:
- New England Patriots
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Mike Vrabel
- Sean Payton
- Sean McVay
- Mike Macdonald
- QB Drake Maye
- QB Jarrett Stidham
- QB Matthew Stafford
- QB Sam Darnold
- WR Davante Adams
- WR Puka Nacua
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- WR Cooper Kupp
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
New England is 11-5 (.688) in Conference Championship games, the most such wins in NFL history.
Denver is 8-2 (.800) in their previous 10 Conference Championship games and with a win on Sunday against the Patriots (3 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass the Dallas Cowboys (eight wins), Pittsburgh Steelers (eight) and San Francisco 49ers (eight) for the second-most Conference Championship wins in NFL history.
The teams with the most Conference Championship wins in NFL history:
| TEAM | CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WINS |
| New England Patriots | 11 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8 |
| Denver Broncos | 8 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8 |
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver led the league with 68 sacks this season, tied with the New York Giants (68 sacks in 1985) for the fifth-most sacks in a regular season in NFL history.
With at least two sacks against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), the Broncos, who have 71 sacks this season, including the playoffs, can surpass the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders (72 sacks) and the 1985 New York Giants (72) for the fifth-most sacks in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history. Only the 1984 and 1985 Chicago Bears (82 sacks in 1984; 80 in 1985), the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles (78) and the 1967 Oakland Raiders (74) have more.
The teams with the most sacks in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| TEAM | SEASON | SACKS |
| Chicago | 1984 | 82 |
| Chicago | 1985 | 80 |
| Philadelphia | 2022 | 78 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1967 | 74 |
| L.A. Raiders | 1983 | 72 |
| N.Y. Giants | 1985 | 72 |
| Denver | 2025 | 71* |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | ||
LOS ANGELES RAMS
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), the No. 5 seed Rams, can become the fifth non-division winning team since realignment in 2002 to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers.
TOP SCORING OFFENSE AND TOP SCORING DEFENSE
On Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Seattle, who led the NFL in scoring defense during the 2025 regular season (17.2 points per game allowed), will host the Los Angeles Rams, who led the NFL in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) in 2025, marking the third Championship Game since 1970 to feature the No. 1 scoring offense against the No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season, joining 2014 NFC Championship Game (Green Bay vs. Seattle) and 1980 NFC Championship Game (Dallas vs. Philadelphia).
The Championship Games to feature a matchup between the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season:
| DATE | NO. 1 OFFENSE | NO. 1 DEFENSE | RESULT |
| Jan. 25, 2026 | L.A. Rams | Seattle | ??? |
| Jan. 18, 2015 | Green Bay | Seattle | GB 22 at SEA 28 (OT) |
| Jan. 11, 1981 | Dallas | Philadelphia | DAL 7 at PHI 20 |
MIKE VRABEL
New England head coach Mike Vrabel has 16 wins, including the playoffs, in his first year as head coach with the Patriots.
With a win on Sunday against Denver (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Vrabel can become the eighth coach in NFL history to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance in his first season with a club, joining Gary Kubiak (2015 with Denver), Jim Caldwell (2009 with Indianapolis), Bill Callahan (2002 with the Oakland Raiders), Jon Gruden (2002 with Tampa Bay Buccaneers), George Seifert (1989 with San Francisco), Red Miller (1977 with Denver) and Don McCafferty (1970 with the Baltimore Colts).
The head coaches to lead their team to a Super Bowl appearance in their first season with a team in NFL history:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM | SEASON |
| Gary Kubiak | Denver | 2015 |
| Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis | 2009 |
| Bill Callahan | Oakland Raiders | 2002 |
| Jon Gruden | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2002 |
| George Seifert | San Francisco | 1989 |
| Red Miller | Denver | 1977 |
| Don McCafferty | Baltimore Colts | 1970 |
With a win on Sunday, Vrabel can tie George Siefert (17 wins in 1989 with San Francisco) for the most wins by a coach in their first season with a team in NFL history, including the playoffs.
The head coaches with the most wins in their first season with a team, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM | SEASON | WINS |
| George Seifert | San Francisco | 1989 | 17 |
| Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis | 2009 | 16 |
| Mike Vrabel | New England | 2025 | 16* |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | |||
SEAN PAYTON
Denver head coach Sean Payton led the Broncos to 14 wins this season, tying a franchise record and earning an AFC West title, as well as the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015.
With a win against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Payton, who led New Orleans to the Super Bowl XLIV title following the 2009 season, can become the eighth coach ever to lead multiple franchises to a Super Bowl appearance.
The head coaches to make the Super Bowl with multiple franchises:
| HEAD COACH | TEAM & SEASON(S) | TEAM & SEASON(S) |
| John Fox | Carolina (2003) | Denver (2013) |
| Mike Holmgren | Green Bay (1996-97) | Seattle (2005) |
| Bill Parcells HOF | N.Y. Giants (1986, 1990) | New England (1996) |
| Dan Reeves | Denver (1986-87, 1989) | Atlanta (1998) |
| Andy Reid | Philadelphia (2004) | Kansas City (2019-20, 2022-24) |
| Don Shula HOF | Baltimore Colts (1968) | Miami (1971-73, 1982, 1984) |
| Dick Vermeil HOF | Philadelphia (1980) | St. Louis Rams (1999) |
SEAN MCVAY
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has 10 career playoff wins, including a Super Bowl LVI victory with the Rams.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), McVay, who turns 40 years old on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula (10 wins) for the most postseason victories by a head coach under the age of 45 in NFL history.
MIKE MACDONALD
Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald led the Seahawks to 14 wins during the 2025 regular season, a single-season franchise record.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Macdonald, who is 38 years old and has 15 wins this season, including the playoffs, can tie Sean McVay (16 wins in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) for the most wins by a head coach under the age of 40 in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history.
DRAKE MAYE
New England quarterback Drake Maye led the NFL with a 113.5 passer rating and has 447 passing yards and four touchdowns in two career playoff games.
With a win at Denver on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Maye, who is 23 years old, can become the third starting quarterback under the age of 24 to reach the Super Bowl all-time, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (1984) and Ben Roethlisberger (2005).
Maye, who has won each of his first two career playoff games, can become the fourth quarterback since 2000 to win each of his first three career playoff starts, joining Tom Brady (won first 10 starts), Joe Burrow (three) and Jake Delhomme (three).
Additionally, Maye can join Ben Roethlisberger (five wins) as the only quarterbacks to win three playoff starts prior to their 24th birthday in NFL history.
Maye has 14 games this season with a passer rating of 100-or-higher, including the playoffs, and with a passer rating of 100-or-higher on Sunday, can tie Lamar Jackson (15 games with Baltimore in 2024) and Matt Ryan (15 with Atlanta in 2016) for the most such games in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history. Only Aaron Rodgers (16 games with Green Bay in 2020) has more.
The players with the most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2020 | 16 |
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore | 2024 | 15 |
| Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 2016 | 15 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 2018 | 14 |
| Drake Maye | New England | 2025 | 14* |
| Steve Young HOF | San Francisco | 1994 | 14 |
| *entering AFC Championship Game | |||
JARRETT STIDHAM
Denver quarterback Jarrett Stidham has 1,080 passing yards and six touchdowns in four career starts.
Stidham, who is expected to make his first start of the season against New England on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the seventh quarterback in the Super Bowl era to make their first start of the season in the playoffs, joining Taylor Heinicke (Jan. 9, 2021; NFC-WC with Washington), Connor Cook (Jan. 7, 2017; AFC-WC with the Oakland Raiders), Joe Webb (Jan. 5, 2013; NFC-WC with Minnesota), Frank Reich (Jan. 3, 1993; AFC-WC with Buffalo), Gary Danielson (Dec. 31, 1983; NFC-D with Detroit) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staughbach (Dec. 31, 1972; NFC-C with Dallas).
The quarterbacks to make their first start of the season in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM | DATE (ROUND) | RESULT |
| Jarrett Stidham* | Denver | Jan. 25, 2026 | ??? |
| Taylor Heinicke | Washington | Jan. 9, 2021 (NFC-WC) | TB 31 at WAS 23 |
| Connor Cook | Oakland Raiders | Jan. 7, 2017 (AFC-WC) | OAK 14 at HOU Texans 27 |
| Joe Webb | Minnesota | Jan. 5, 2013 (NFC-WC) | MIN 10 at GB 24 |
| Frank Reich | Buffalo | Jan. 3, 1993 (AFC-WC) | HOU Oilers 38 at BUF 41 (OT) |
| Gary Danielson | Detroit | Dec. 31, 1983 (NFC-D) | DET 23 at SF 24 |
| Roger Staubach HOF | Dallas | Dec. 31, 1972 (NFC-C) | DAL 3 at WAS 26 |
| *expected to start | |||
With only four career starts, Stidham has the fewest career starts by a quarterback entering the Championship Game since 1970.
MATTHEW STAFFORD
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes this season, has 3,558 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes in 12 career postseason starts.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Stafford can become sixth player in NFL history to lead the NFL in both passing yards and touchdown passes and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Tom Brady (2007 with New England), Patrick Mahomes (2022 with Kansas City) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (2013 with Denver), Dan Marino (1984 with Miami) and Kurt Warner (2001 with the St. Louis Rams).
SAM DARNOLD
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold ranked fifth in the NFL with 4,048 passing yards in his first season with the Seahawks.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Darnold can become the fifth starting quarterback since 2000 to make the Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady (2020 with Tampa Bay), Jake Delhomme (2003 with Carolina), Trent Dilfer (2000 with Baltimore) and Matthew Stafford (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams).
DAVANTE ADAMS
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions this season.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Adams can become fifth player since 1990 to lead the NFL in touchdown receptions during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Larry Fitzgerald (2008 with Arizona), Rob Gronkowski (2011 with New England), Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (2007 with New England).
PUKA NACUA & JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua led the NFL with a career-high 129 receptions and ranked second with 1,715 receiving yards in 2025.
With a win at Seattle on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Nacua can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receptions during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Todd Christensen (1983 with the Los Angeles Raiders), Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) and Wes Welker (2007 and 2011 with New England).
Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with a career-high 1,793 receiving yards this season.
With a win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Cooper Kupp (2021 with the Los Angeles Rams) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Drew Pearson (1977 with Dallas) and Jerry Rice (1989 and 1994 with San Francisco).
With Smith-Njigba (1,793 receiving yards) and Nacua (1,715), this will be the first playoff game ever to feature two players with at least 1,700 receiving yards in the regular season and the fourth postseason matchup all-time between the top-two leaders in receiving yards from the regular season, joining the 2020 AFC Championship Game (Stefon Diggs and Travis Kelce), 1993 NFC Championship Game (Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin) and 1971 AFC Divisional playoffs (Otis Taylor and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Warfield).
COOPER KUPP
Seattle wide receiver Cooper Kupp had 634 receptions for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-24).
On Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Kupp, who was named Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player while with the Rams, will become the fifth player ever to face the team he won Super Bowl MVP with in the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Richard Dent (1994 with San Francisco against Chicago) and Peyton Manning (2014 with Denver against Indianapolis) as well as Santonio Holmes (2010 with the New York Jets against Pittsburgh) and Von Miller (2024 with Buffalo against Denver).
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