NFL Championship Sunday Sneak Peek With Kevin Graham
Jan 23, 2026, 4:35 PM
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 17: DeMarcus Lawrence #0 of the Seattle Seahawks walks through the tunnel prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Longtime NFL pundit Kevin Graham can’t wait for NFL Championship Sunday to kick off.
On the NFC side, the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams in a game that represents the ninth time since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger that the No. 1 scoring offense (Rams) against the No. 1 scoring defense (Seattle).
In the AFC, Denver and New England represent an old playoff rivalry renewed with completely different outlooks after Peyton Manning and Tom Brady last met in the 2016 playoffs.
Graham joined DJ & PK for an exclusive KSL Sports Zone interview on Friday, January 23, two days before NFL Championship Sunday.
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Championship Sunday often hosts classic games, and Graham expects at least one to feature officials who have a hand in the outcome.
“I’m telling you, in one of these games this weekend,” Graham began. “There’s going to be a crucial call late in the game that can have a significant impact on who wins.
NFL Championship Sunday, January 25
AFC Championship
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Kickoff: 1 p.m. MT
The top-seeded Broncos welcome the No. 2 Patriots in a playoff game for the fifth time, looking to keep their unblemished record intact.
Sunday’s game is the first meeting since Manning’s last hurrah, and a stifling defense carried the Denver Broncos to a 20-18 win and an eventual Super Bowl 50 championship.
Friday's #NEvsDEN injury report:
📰 » https://t.co/oLRebw4qun pic.twitter.com/4eUnvsglED
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 23, 2026
The circumstances are a little different this time around, with backup QB Jarrett Stidham taking over for Denver after starter Bo Nix was lost for the season with an ankle injury late in a divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills, despite the best efforts of former Utah TE Dalton Kincaid.
“(Sean) Payton will have Stidham prepared,” Graham cautioned orange and blue-clad fans.
New England should have a strong book on the seldom-used Stidham, despite him not attempting a regular-season pass since 2023.
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Before signing with Sean Payton and Denver in 2023, Stidham played for current New England OC Josh McDaniels for three seasons with the Pats and Las Vegas Raiders.
New England’s defense has ‘really stepped it up in the playoffs,’ according to Graham. The Patriots have allowed 19 points in two playoff games while forcing six total turnovers.
Patriots Friday injury report and AFC Championship Game statuses.
More on the report: https://t.co/G5n9lTemr7 pic.twitter.com/khTwZbjSv7
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 23, 2026
QB Drake Maye, who is an MVP candidate in his second season, came alive in the second half against an extremely difficult Texans defense to earn a 28-16 win.
It was without incident, as the young signal-caller has already fumbled six times in the playoffs.
“To me, this game is going to come down to, as a lot of games do, who’s going to make the least amount of mistakes?” Graham wondered aloud. “I can see this being a very low-scoring, one-score kind of game.”
NFC Championship
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. MT
Meeting for the third time this season, these heated NFC West Division rivals come together in Seattle, Washington, for a rubber match that will certainly live up to the hype.
“To me, it’s up in the air,” said Graham.
First-year Seahawk QB Sam Darnold has taken a back seat to a swarming defense built by head coach Mike McDonald. It’s that defense and an opportunistic offense, along with their famed ’12th Man’, that gives the Seahawks hope of returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015.
Our NFC Championship captains.
Read more » https://t.co/KuyfzKOY0M pic.twitter.com/uCLQCOKGgC
— xz* – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 23, 2026
Former Weber State Wildcat Rashid Shaheed got the divisional round momentum started when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Seattle never looked back in a 41-6 demolition of injury-depleted San Francisco.
RELATED: Rashid Shaheed Returns Opening Kickoff For Six In Divisional Round
The Rams enter the rematch looking to win their third straight playoff road game, a tremendously difficult task.
After knocking off the underdog Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles traveled to the Windy City for a snow-filled, roller-coaster of an NFC Divisional Round game against the second-seeded Chicago Bears.
Earned the right to play on Championship Sunday. pic.twitter.com/YBVS28hKub
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 23, 2026
Former BYU and Orem High School star wideout Puka Nacua led the Rams with 56 receiving yards on a team-high five grabs in miserable passing weather and frigid temperatures. Los Angles came from behind to earn a 20-17 OT victory.
Experience could ultimately be the deciding factor with Stafford and head coach Sean McVay having already won a Super Bowl together and ten playoff wins under their belt.
About #LocalsInTheNFL
For over five years, KSL Sports has provided coverage on all NFL players with ties to the state of Utah.
Whether they attended Utah or BYU or grew up in the Beehive State, we keep you caught up with how the locals are performing on the highest stage.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
