Patriots and Seahawks Secure Bid to Super Bowl 2026

Raiders and Cardinals Continue Head Coaching Search as NFL Offseason Heats Up

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The matchup for Super Bowl LX is set, with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set to face off on February 8th in Santa Clara, California. The Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship, while the Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship. Meanwhile, the head coaching searches for the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals continue, with both teams now able to pursue additional interviews with candidates from the staffs of the eliminated Broncos and Rams.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Seahawks features two of the NFL's most successful franchises in recent years, setting up an intriguing showdown for the league's biggest prize. The ongoing head coaching searches for the Raiders and Cardinals also have significant implications, as those teams look to find the right leaders to guide their organizations moving forward.

The details

In the AFC Championship, the Patriots' Drake Maye led his team to victory despite limited passing production, while the Seahawks' Sam Darnold had an impressive performance in the NFC title game. The Rams nearly pulled off a comeback against the Seahawks, but a late fourth-down stop at the goal line sealed the deal for Seattle. The Raiders and Cardinals continue their head coaching searches, with the Bills promoting Joe Brady and the Browns hiring Todd Monken.

  • The AFC and NFC Championship games were played on Sunday, January 29, 2026.
  • Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The players

Drake Maye

The second-year quarterback for the New England Patriots, who led his team to the Super Bowl despite limited passing production in the AFC Championship game.

Sam Darnold

The Seahawks' quarterback, who had an impressive performance in the NFC title game with 346 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, whose team nearly pulled off a comeback against the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.

Joe Brady

The former offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, who was promoted to head coach of the team.

Todd Monken

The former offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, who was hired as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Seahawks features two of the NFL's most successful franchises in recent years, setting up an intriguing showdown for the league's biggest prize. Meanwhile, the ongoing head coaching searches for the Raiders and Cardinals have significant implications as those teams look to find the right leaders to guide their organizations moving forward.