The road to Super Bowl LX reaches a fever pitch this Sunday with a defining doubleheader in the NFL Divisional Round 2026. Following a Saturday slate that saw the Seattle Seahawks dismantle the 49ers and the Denver Broncos survive a thriller against the Bills, the spotlight now shifts to two of the league's brightest young stars. Drake Maye leads the New England Patriots against C.J. Stroud's Houston Texans, while Caleb Williams looks to continue his magical rookie campaign as the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams. With bitterly cold temperatures and snow in the forecast for both Foxborough and Chicago, the stage is set for an old-school day of playoff football.

Texans vs Patriots: Snow Game Looming in Foxborough

Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET | TV: ESPN/ABC

The first matchup of the day features a clash of AFC titans at Gillette Stadium, where the weather is expected to play a major role. Forecasts call for temperatures hovering around freezing with 1-3 inches of snow expected to accumulate during the game, potentially turning this into a classic "snow bowl."

The New England Patriots (14-3) enter as 3-point favorites, led by rookie sensation Drake Maye. Maye has been electric in his debut season, throwing for over 4,300 yards and earning Pro Bowl honors. He faces a stiff test against a Houston Texans (12-5) defense that just suffocated the Steelers in the Wild Card round. However, the Texans will be without star wide receiver Nico Collins, who remains in concussion protocol—a massive blow to C.J. Stroud's offensive arsenal.

The stakes for this game skyrocketed late Saturday night following the breaking news from Denver. Although the Broncos defeated the Bills 33-30 in overtime, their quarterback Bo Nix fractured his ankle and is out for the remainder of the playoffs. This means the winner of today's game will face a Broncos team led by backup Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship, significantly opening the door to a Super Bowl berth.

Key Matchup to Watch

Keep an eye on the Patriots' rushing attack against Houston's front seven. With snow likely limiting the passing game, Rhamondre Stevenson could be the workhorse New England leans on. Conversely, C.J. Stroud must navigate the elements without his top target, putting immense pressure on tight end Dalton Schultz and the Texans' ground game to move the chains.

Rams vs Bears: Frozen Tundra Awaits at Soldier Field

Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET | TV: NBC/Peacock

Sunday night football heads to the Windy City for a showdown between the Chicago Bears (11-6) and the Los Angeles Rams (12-5). Soldier Field will live up to its reputation with a forecast predicting frigid temperatures dropping into the low teens and wind chills dipping below zero.

All eyes are on Caleb Williams, the rookie quarterback who has revitalized the Chicago franchise. Williams was spectacular in the Wild Card round, orchestrating a 31-27 comeback victory over the Packers. He now faces a Rams team led by veteran gunslinger Matthew Stafford, who returns to the NFC North aiming to spoil the party. The Rams' high-flying offense, which averaged over 30 points per game this season, will face its toughest challenge yet against a Bears defense that led the league in takeaways.

This game represents a collision of timelines: the seasoned veteran Stafford trying to capture another ring, versus the rookie phenom Williams trying to restore glory to a historic franchise. The winner earns a trip to face the formidable Seattle Seahawks, who looked unstoppable in their 41-6 rout of San Francisco.

Updated NFL Playoff Bracket 2026

The championship picture is coming into sharp focus. Here is the current state of the NFL playoff bracket 2026 following Saturday's results:

  • AFC Championship: Denver Broncos (hosting) vs. Winner of Texans/Patriots
  • NFC Championship: Seattle Seahawks (hosting) vs. Winner of Rams/Bears

Saturday's games were a study in contrasts. The Seahawks proved they are the team to beat in the NFC, getting a kickoff return TD from Rashid Shaheed and three rushing scores from Kenneth Walker III. Meanwhile, the AFC bracket has been thrown into chaos with the injury to Bo Nix, making today's Texans-Patriots clash even more critical for the conference's future.

Prediction and Analysis

In Foxborough, the combination of home-field advantage, the weather, and the Texans' injury woes favors New England. Drake Maye's mobility will be a key asset on a slippery field. Expect a lower-scoring, physical game where the Patriots pull away late, 24-17.

In Chicago, the elements usually favor the home team, but Matthew Stafford is no stranger to cold-weather games from his years in Detroit. However, the Bears' defense has been opportunistic all year, and Caleb Williams seems to thrive in chaos. In a tight, defensive battle, look for the Bears to feed off the energy of the Soldier Field crowd and edge out the Rams, 20-16, setting up a Seahawks-Bears NFC Championship.