Could Matthew Stafford Consider Retirement if the Rams Win the Super Bowl?
Conference Championship Games Set with Familiar Matchups
CHICAGO — As the NFL gears up for the conference championship games, both the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos will host the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, respectively. Notably, three of the four potential Super Bowl matchups feature rematches from previous seasons.
The Rams and Patriots have faced each other in two previous Super Bowls, culminating at the end of the 2001 and 2018 seasons. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have encountered both the Broncos and the Patriots, triumphing over Denver in the 2013 season but falling to New England a year later. The only remaining matchup yet to occur is Rams vs. Broncos.
Strong connections exist between the Rams and Broncos franchises. Rams owner Stan Kroenke holds ownership stakes in multiple sports teams, including the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. His marriage to Ann Walton Kroenke, a member of the Walmart family, further intertwines these organizations, as she is a first cousin to Rob Walton, who led the group that purchased the Broncos in 2022.
The last time the Broncos claimed the Super Bowl was nearly a decade ago, shortly after the Rams’ return to Los Angeles. This victory took place at Levi’s Stadium, the same venue hosting this year’s Super Bowl, where Peyton Manning secured his second championship before retiring.
Looking ahead, if the Seahawks secure the NFC title—current odds favor them by 2.5 points—their path could lead to a rematch against Denver or a chance to avenge their loss to New England. Fans might recall the 2014 Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium, where Seattle’s defense overwhelmed Manning and the Broncos in a decisive 43-8 victory. The following year, at a heart-wrenching Super Bowl in Arizona, a last-minute interception by rookie Malcolm Butler dashed Seattle’s hopes in a game that many consider one of the most painful in their history.
As the teams prepare to battle for a shot at the championship, the stakes have never been higher.
