Patriots and Seahawks Advance to Super Bowl as Maye and Darnold Shine

Patriots edge the Broncos 10-7 in the stormy AFC Championship as Mike Vrabel guides New England toward a Super Bowl; Drake Maye's mobility and a lockdown Patriots front seven stymie Denver, while a late coaching decision by Sean Payton drew scrutiny. In the NFC, Sam Darnold's 346-yard, three-TD performance lifts the Seahawks past the Rams 31-27, cementing his redemption arc; Kenneth Walker III and Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided key plays for Seattle, while Los Angeles faces a consequential offseason with cap questions and defensive/special-teams struggles.