The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Conference Championship Games Recap: Patriots and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl LX
66 snips
Jan 26, 2026 A thrilling recap of the Seahawks’ nail-biting win over the Rams and the Patriots’ snowy victory over the Broncos. Deep dives into Sam Darnold’s clutch third-down throws, Seattle’s red-zone scheming, and Kenneth Walker’s breakout plays. Breakdown of Denver’s controversial fourth-and-one, protection breakdowns, and special teams swings that shifted momentum.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Bobo TD Followed Special Teams Swing
- Jake Bobo's receiving touchdown came from a run-look play-action that exploited linebacker aggression.
- That touchdown immediately followed a punt return drop and felt like karmic swing-counterbalance in the game.
Special Teams Swings Neutralized Each Other
- Taunting and special-teams errors produced symmetric momentum swings for both teams.
- The hosts saw Xavier Smith's dropped punt and Tariq Woolen's taunt-touchdown as offsetting pivotal sequences.
Seahawks' Man Coverage Strategy Shifted The Game
- Seattle leaned heavily into man coverage far more than usual and used it to create key late stops.
- The first-half man rate (≈59%) was roughly double their season average and changed the game's feel.