The New England Patriots are just a game away from the Super Bowl: only Jarrett Stidham's Broncos stand in the way. While their matchup in Denver will likely be closer than people think, it's safe to say it would be incredibly disappointing if they were unable to win and reach the Super Bowl.
As of the divisional round, the 49ers were the only NFC squad New England hadn't previously matched up against in the Super Bowl. Now eliminated, only the Seahawks and Rams remain. Combined, the Patriots have a 3-0 Super Bowl record against NFC West teams, with wins coming in 2001, 2014, and 2018.
24 years separate the franchise's first Super Bowl win and the present day, and the Foxborough squad has come a long way. Looking to capture their seventh Super Bowl, the Patriots have the chance to win their first with a quarterback not named Tom Brady.
The Pats have been to the Super Bowl so many times, the only NFC team that *wouldn’t* have been a rematch should the pats make it would have been the Niners
— Robby (@greerreNFL) January 19, 2026
The Patriots' Super Bowl opponent will be a familiar foe
When New England took down the Rams to culminate the '01 season, the Patriots dramatically won 20-17. The game came down to the final moments against Seattle, too, as Malcolm Butler's iconic interception on the goal line sealed the 28-24 win.
New England's most recent playoff win before this season came when Stephen Gostkowski's field goal in the final minute sealed a 13-3 win over the Rams in February of 2019.
The Rams and Seahawks present different challenges. The Rams, led by MVP candidate Matt Stafford, have an embarrassment of riches offensively. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are one of the league's premier duos at wide receiver, while Colby Parkinson has made some key plays this postseason. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combine to make up a solid backfield.
Defensively, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford make up an excellent defensive line, while Jared Verse and Byron Young are some of the league's best young defenders. The defensive backfield is more middling, however, and that could be where New England can take advantage.
The Seahawks could be an issue for the Patriots
The Seahawks offer their own set of issues. Sam Darnold is vastly improved compared to his Jets days, but he isn't an upper-echelon quarterback. Kenneth Walker is an effective runner, but the thunder to his lightning, Zach Charbonnet, is set to miss the remainder of the postseason.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba, of course, is one of the league's best, and Rashid Shaheed is an excellent deep threat and kick returner. Cooper Kupp also had 60 yards last game.
Defensively, Seattle is the best in the league. Devon Witherspoon, Ernest Jones IV, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy are stars. Uchenna Nwosu has 7 sacks, but the defensive backfield is the team's most impressive aspect.
Aside from Witherspoon, Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are very solid players, and Nick Emmanwori will likely finish second in DROY voting. Coby Bryant and Julian Love are a strong safety duo, and previously unknown contributors, like Ty Okada, are coming out of the woodwork for this defense.
New England has a very real shot at winning the Super Bowl this season, but it would require a whole-team effort against either of these teams. On one hand, the elite Seattle defense might be a task too tall for Drake Maye, especially because Darnold doesn't need to star individually to light up the scoreboard. Last week, he threw for 124 yards as the offense scored 41 points.
While the Rams' defensive backfield is far from elite, the front seven and the offense each have their own set of issues. Nacua and Adams will be difficult to defend as always, and Stafford is playing at an MVP level.
No matter who New England might play, there are plenty of storylines for what is sure to be an incredible game.