The Athletic Football Show: Conference Championship Recap

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman

Episode Overview

In this conference championship recap, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman dive into two very different title games: the NFC's thrilling Seahawks-Rams showdown and the AFC's weather-affected Patriots-Broncos slugfest. The hosts break down pivotal plays, key decisions, standout performances, and coaching narratives, while previewing a Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl matchup that echoes the classic from the 2014 season. Throughout, the show's signature in-depth analysis, Xs and Os focus, and conversational banter make this recap both insightful and engaging for NFL fans.

NFC Championship: Seahawks 31, Rams 27

Theme: Two elite teams trading blows in one of the best games of the season; Seattle earns a Super Bowl berth through clutch, aggressive play.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Game of Inches and Fireworks

• Robert Mays opens with palpable excitement:

  "Just buzzing after that NFC Championship game. Man, was everything you could have hoped it would be between arguably the two best teams in the league." (01:45)

• The hosts emphasize the back-and-forth nature—a three-game series for the ages.
• Both offenses shone, especially in the first three quarters (combined for 58 points), with elite, high-leverage defensive moments in the fourth.

2. Sam Darnold’s Redemption and Surge

• "Sam Darnold was magnificent in this football game. Magnificent." —Robert Mays (05:05)
• 62.5% dropback success rate (15th-best of any game this season); double the typical MVP-level EPA.
• Darnold’s evolution: From turnover-prone to controlled, precise, and clutch.
• Notable moment: Third-and-7 laser to Cooper Kupp late to bleed clock
• Mays reflects on Darnold’s gratitude and perspective, gained from a winding NFL journey.

3. Clint Kubiak’s Play Calling Clinic

• Multiple shoutouts to Kubiak’s play design and situational calling:
  • Perfectly-timed play-action on 2nd-and-10 late.
  • Series of “nails moments” for the Darnold-JSN-Kubiak trio (10:56)
  • JSN’s one-handed red zone catch (12:09)
• Kubiak consistently targeted exploitable Rams DBs and mixed in creative misdirection/screens.

4. JSN’s Breakout & Impact

• Mays:

  "Prime Antonio Brown is probably the closest guy I would get to when it comes to like the way he moves and the way he plays." (10:56)

• Highlighted for his uniqueness and knack for the big moment: the one-handed sideline catch, his route running, YAC, and scoring plays out of the backfield.

5. Unsung Heroes and Offensive Balance

• Charles Cross handled Jared Verse in pass pro (“...what Charles Cross did… I just felt like the pass protection overall for Seattle was really good...” —Mays, 15:51)
• Kenneth Walker’s electric runs, YAC, and crucial missed-tackle-forced plays in the flat.
  • “...the one where he makes Spates miss is like, that looks like a Madden juke.” —Klassen (19:42)
• Bobo’s surprise TD on a run-heavy formation via crafty play design.

6. Critical Swings and Officiating Debates

• Two “karmic” game-changing moments:
  • A botched Rams punt immediately leading to a Seahawks TD.
  • The Woolen taunting penalty and ensuing Rams TD.
  • "I almost feel like...the Xavier Smith dropped punt into a touchdown and the Reek Woolen taunting into a touchdown just kind of...neutralize each other..." —Mays (22:03)
  • Dave Hellman’s rant on the softness of taunting penalties (23:29).

7. Rams Offense: Attacking with Go-Balls & Matchups

• Rams adapted to man-heavy Seattle strategy (59% man coverage first half, up from a season avg. 22%).
• Stafford fired deep repeatedly — successful fades to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams.
  • “Imagine a scenario where the Rams’ most important...passing game [plays] were just going to be like one-on-one go ball shots down the sideline.” —Mays (27:43)
• Offensive line granted Stafford time against Seattle’s formidable front.

8. Final Defensive Stands & High-Leverage Stops

• Seahawks defense rebounded with third and fourth-down PBUs (particularly Witherspoon).
• Mays: "The Seahawks defense does what it needs to do." (34:29)

9. Sean McVay’s Game Management

• Hosts dissect McVay’s critical decisions:
  • Not going for 2 after closing the deficit to 31-27 (38:03)
  • Timeout usage; fourth-down calls
• General agreement: going for TDs/2pt conversions justified by analytics/game flow.

10. Legacy, Team Building, and Looking Ahead

• Mike Macdonald credited as McVay/Kyle Shanahan “stopper” — his hiring paying off (“proof of concept”).
• Clint Kubiak hailed for full-season play calling growth and adaptability.
• “Everything you do...just hit.” — Hellman, on Seattle’s flawless offseason (45:24)
• Rams viewed as falling just short in a “last, best” Stafford/McVay shot.
• Seahawks lauded for completeness and resilience; Super Bowl spot well-earned.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Robert Mays on Darnold:
  “He just seemed to be somebody who was so appreciative of the opportunity but also had just had...very clear-eyed about what he could do with it.” (06:12)
• Derek Klassen on Kubiak:
  “Just some of the situational stuff in the specific game planning stuff...he’s picking on something specific with the Rams. That part of it...that proof of concept over the course of this year and really did build in different ways...” (44:25)
• Dave Hellman on Seahawks’ team-building:
  “Every single decision that they made going back to March wasn’t just good, it was like a home run. And now you’re in the Super Bowl.” (46:01)
• Robert Mays on the high drama:
  “What a treat that we got to watch this for the NFC Championship.” (34:35)

AFC Championship: Patriots 10, Broncos 7

Theme: A hard-nosed, weather-warped defensive battle decided by few pivotal snaps and a late blizzard—Patriots weather the storm, literally.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Weather as the Main Character

• The game devolved into a snow-globe slog in the fourth quarter.
• The hosts are torn:
  • Mays: “Every team just plays in a dome is disgusting to me...if we’re going to stumble into one of these every so often as the price to be paid for playing these games outside and giving them a little bit of character and a little bit of feel to them, that’s okay with me.” (51:18–52:20)
  • Dave Hellman loves the chaos, as long as it's rare.

2. Patriots’ Ultra-Conservative, Risk-Averse Approach

• Offense focused on avoiding mistakes—happy to punt, lean on defense.
• “Just do not make the sort of mistakes that will torpedo the game.” (62:22)
• Play-calling: bubble screens, quick flats, direct snaps, and designed QB runs for May.

3. Drake May’s Grit & Growth

• Early struggles, "looked shook," but adapted by using legs (scrambles, critical QB draw TD).
• Improvised game-sealing bootleg on 3rd-and-6 (57:28).
• “The fact that he kind of eased into the game and realized, oh, the only way I can win this is if I just take off and do this myself...good job, young man.” —Klassen (64:05)

4. Patriots’ Puzzle-Piece Successes

• Flea-flicker to Conner Collins got the only chunk play through the air (57:55).
• Rhamondre Stevenson shined in pass protection throughout, crucial for May's few successful throws (58:49).
• Offensive line a major concern heading into Super Bowl: outmanned versus Broncos and will be against Seattle (59:32).

5. Broncos’ Missed Opportunities & The Backup QB Problem

• Two botched field goals: one miss, one blocked (66:14).
• Jarrett Stidham failed to make critical plays—hosts note that Bo Nix (injured) would have tilted this outcome.
• Broncos’ critical sequence: failed 4th-and-1 (protection bust, 54:51), strip-sack/fumble in the red zone.
• Stidham's game-sealing INT aided by Patriots’ clock-ticking substitution gamesmanship; Vrabel hailed for managing this (67:08).

6. Special Teams Edge

• Patriots’ punter Jeremy Crawshaw named an unsung hero:
  “51 net yards per punt...he pinned three inside the 20 and I believe two inside the 10...that’s pretty, pretty nice from a rookie punter.” —Hellman (68:00)

7. Takeaways on the Patriots’ Playoff Run

• Strangest of runs: relied entirely on defense, favorable matchups, and luck; offense hasn’t had to do much.
• Super Bowl outlook: “The offense will have to do more than it has done in its three previous playoff games...if they’re going to beat the Seahawks. Not saying they can’t, but they’re going to have to do more than they’ve done.” —Mays (68:34)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Robert Mays on weather games:
  “If we’re going to stumble into one of these every so often as the price to be paid for playing these games outside and giving them a little bit of character and a little bit of feel to them, that’s okay with me.” (51:18)
• Derrik Klassen on Drake May’s adaptation:
  “After that [Allen] sack...for the first quarter and a half, [May] was a little, little just kind of stuffy in the pocket and didn’t quite know what to do with himself. And the fact that he kind of eased into the game and realized, oh, the only way I can win this is if I just take off and do this myself...that’s like the correct way to have played this game out.” (63:06–64:05)
• Dave Hellman on Broncos’ punting:
  “Jeremy Crawshaw was amazing in this game...” (68:00)

The Super Bowl Matchup: Patriots vs. Seahawks

• Flashbacks to the 2014 season classic (“My first Super Bowl was Patriots-Seahawks...so the fact that this is a Super Bowl rematch...is extremely fun.” —Mays, 48:42)
• Patriots must elevate their offensive game to keep pace with Seattle’s balanced, dynamic attack.
• Seahawks praised as the NFL’s most “complete” team—top coaching, elite defense, and a surging, mistake-free offense.

Segment Timestamps

| TIMESTAMP | SEGMENT/TOPIC | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:45–05:05| NFC Title Game first impressions; Sam Darnold story | | 05:05–10:56| Darnold/Kubiak’s impact; JSN’s breakout | | 12:09–15:51| Play-calling highlights; offensive execution | | 17:40–23:17| Game swings; officiating & momentum | | 23:17–34:35| Rams offense; Stafford’s deep shots; final stands | | 38:03–41:03| McVay’s decisions; game management | | 41:03–46:24| Team-building reflections; coaching narratives | | 48:42–52:20| AFC game intro; weather debates | | 53:23–64:16| Patriots’ offense; May’s legs; Broncos’ struggles | | 66:14–68:06| Missed FGs; Broncos’ end-of-game INT | | 68:34–71:43| Super Bowl preview; Patriots’ offense outlook |

Final Remarks

This episode delivers an exhaustive and engaging breakdown of two conference championships with entirely different narratives: a high-flying, strategic chess match in the NFC; a blizzard-battered, grind-it-out AFC test. The hosts excel in blending stats, Xs and Os insight, and emotional narrative, setting the stage for a Super Bowl between two franchises linked by history, but with everything new at stake.

Recommended Segment for New Listeners:
Start with the NFC Championship discussion (01:45 onward), especially the deep-dive on Sam Darnold’s breakout, Clint Kubiak’s play calling (12:09), and the hosts’ comparison of JSN to Antonio Brown (10:56). The AFC discussion kicks in with lively debate about weather games (51:18) and the unique drama of Patriots-Broncos.

Memorable Quote:

“Every single decision that they made going back to March wasn’t just good, it was like a home run. And now you’re in the Super Bowl.”
—Dave Hellman (46:01)