Jan. 28, 2026, 4:17 a.m. PT

The Denver Broncos put up a great fight versus the New England Patriots, but the Patriots’ easy path to a Super Bowl continued due to a blizzard and Drake Maye’s 86-yard passing performance. Many former USC Trojans will get their shot at their first ring with the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold and the Seattle offense delivered an electric performance, pushing the NFC’s top seed past the Los Angeles Rams.

Here is how my predictions for championship weekend in the NFL played out:

(1) Seattle Seahawks over (5) Los Angeles Rams

“Sam Darnold and the Seahawks will enter the biggest game in recent memory for the former NFC juggernaut. This time around, they enter with a defense similar to the Legion of Boom but an offense that is more well-rounded. Seattle has looked miles ahead of the other playoff teams left. I think the Rams will give them a challenge and this game will come down to the last drive, but Seattle has proven themselves to be the better team between the two teams in this matchup. They can blowout teams, they can win close, low-score games, and they can win shootouts. I think this game, Sam Darnold, and the Seahawks offense will have to be at its best, but I think Darnold will deliver the best quarterback performance in this matchup. Seattle will move on and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.”

Seattle did, in fact, win this football game in the exact fashion I predicted. Unlike my prediction though both teams did not score in the 4th quarter. Yet this game was still a high scoring football game. Sam Darnold delivered in great fashion, exactly when his team needed him to, and the Seahawks are heading to the Super Bowl.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.(2) New England Patriots over (1) Denver Broncos

“Many might gift wrap this win to the Patriots with Bo Nix being out for the rest of the season, but I disagree. I think the Patriots come out on top, but they will have to work for this game. The Broncos’ defense will need former USC Trojan Talanoa Hufanga to fly around and make plays all day. The Patriots’ offense has struggled to keep Drake Maye upright in each of their playoff games. Maye has been sacked 5 times. That is where the Broncos’ defense specializes. Their defensive line can get after their quarterback like no other. The Broncos’ defense will keep them in this game; it will come down to whether or not he can put together his best Nick Foles impression. I think he will play well, but not well enough to win this football game. I think he will come up short late and throw a costly interception, and Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel will iron out this victory in a low-scoring defensive battle.”

The Broncos gave the Patriots a run for their money, and Jarrett Stidham was close to stealing the Patriots’ hearts. The weather late in this game played a huge factor, but Drake Maye made the plays needed to win this football game. In a defensive matchup between two of the best defenses in the NFL, for Drake Maye, all it took to make it out of the AFC title game was 86 passing yards and 10 points.

NFC top performers

“I think Sam Darnold saves his biggest performance for the game right before the Super Bowl. Darnold squeaked by Stafford and the Rams in the last meeting between the two teams in an overtime win. Darnold will have to play exactly like he did down the stretch in that game to get the victory in this one. I think Darnold reaches 300 yards through the air, and he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba light up the Rams’ secondary. This secondary has given up its fair share of big games to its opponent. This game will be no different. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will have over 100 yards receiving, and he will connect with Sam Darnold for two touchdowns in this game. I think Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have the two biggest performances in the NFC Championship game.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold both delivered elite performances, leading the Seahawks to victory. Darnold had the best game of his career, eclipsing 300 yards and finding the endzone through the air 3 times. His favorite target was, in fact, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as he was fantastic, finishing the game with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown.

AFC top performers

“In the AFC, I think pass rusher Nik Bonitto has the most dominant performance. The Patriots have given up 5 sacks in each of their playoff games. In the last game versus the Texans, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. combined for 5 sacks. Bonitto this season had 14 sacks. I think he will have 3 sacks in this game and disrupt Drake Maye all game long.

“I think defensive tackle Milton Williams will also have himself a big game and disrupt the Broncos on the other end. Williams has been a huge reason for the Patriots’ defensive turnaround, and he was great all regular season long. He creates pressure from the interior with the best of them, and he is a great run stopper. I think he will lead this Patriots defensive line to make the Broncos one-dimensional and take out their run game. Williams will also lead the Patriots in sacks with two. Versus the Chargers, Williams had two sacks, and against the Texans, he was an irritant all game long, forcing the pick 6 that took the momentum away from Houston initially. I think Milton Williams will use all of that to have his best playoff game with the Patriots and help send his team to the Super Bowl.”

Drake Maye, in another game, was sacked 5 times, but Nik Bonitto was not one of the players able to bring down Drake Maye. Milton Williams also failed to get a sack and had a huge stat sheet stuffing performance. Their presence, however, did help create opportunity for their teammates to feast and have big days.

Super Bowl prediction

“My Super Bowl matchup prediction is the New England Patriots taking on the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots have had quite the Super Bowl run vs tough defenses, but they still will not be prepared for the Seahawks’ defense. Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks defense will make it a tough day for young star quarterback Drake Maye. I think his age and inexperience will come back to bite him in this match. I think Rashid Shaheed will pay homage to Devin Hester and take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, setting the tone for the entire game. I think Darnold will not have to do much to be the top quarterback on the field, but he still will put up a respectable performance. Seattle will play their last complete performance of the season, getting their Super Bowl victory. Darnold will look to be greedy and not just settle for being the first Trojan quarterback to start in the Super Bowl, but he will also become the first Trojan quarterback to win a Super Bowl.”

Sam Darnold makes history, and he has a chance to double down on that history and win the whole thing, being the first quarterback in Trojan history to accomplish that feat as well. He will continue to represent USC to a high level, as well as his teammates who were also Trojans, Uchenna Nwosu and Leonard Williams. Seahawks vs Patriots is the matchup that will ensue on February 8th, just as I anticipated. The opportunity is there for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks to dominate this matchup and take home the Lombardi trophy.