2025 AFC Championship Game fallout: the Lamar Hunt Trophy is headed to New England, and the Rams–Seahawks edge swings the Super Bowl picture

The 2025 AFC Championship Game didn’t just decide who plays for a title—it reshaped the next two weeks of roster math. A snow-choked, one-score grind in Denver sent the Patriots forward and left the Broncos staring at a familiar postseason question: how do you build an offense that survives January when the margin is one kick, one turnover, one third down? The answer now matters immediately, because the AFC is done. The NFC isn’t, and the Rams–Seahawks matchup is suddenly being framed through the legs that win ugly games: Kyren Williams, Kenneth Walker III, and the kickers.

New England claims the Lamar Hunt Trophy in a game that punished every mistake

New England’s 10–7 win over Denver delivered the Lamar Hunt Trophy—and it did it in the most unforgiving way possible: by turning the contest into a test of patience, field position, and survival football. It’s the kind of result that makes every missed opportunity feel like it happened in slow motion.

Denver tried to ride defense and special teams, but the miss column kept growing. Will Lutz left points on the field in the swirling conditions, and that was enough for a game where neither side could consistently throw. The Broncos’ secondary still produced splash moments—Pat Surtain repeatedly erased windows downfield—yet the Patriots found just enough movement with their quarterback’s legs and a late, clock-draining drive.

On the other side, the Patriots’ front won at the moment it mattered. Christian Barmore helped collapse pockets and squeeze escape lanes, and the biggest single swing came on special teams: Leonard Taylor got a hand through at the critical time, with Leonard Taylor III credited for a blocked kick that preserved the lead and effectively turned the final possessions into desperation snaps.

Denver’s emergency plan at quarterback never stabilized. QB Stidham—Jarrett Stidham—made a few early completions, but two turnovers in a low-scoring game are often terminal, and this one was no exception. The bright spots arrived in flashes: Mims Jr (Marvin Mims Jr) found space for chunk gains, and the defense manufactured pressure, including a notable moment from rookie edge Que Robinson, who notched a key takedown that briefly tilted momentum.

One more name popped up in the chaos: hufanga. Talanoa Hufanga sniffed out a trick look and knifed into the backfield for a stop that had the Broncos’ sideline roaring—another reminder that in these games, one read can feel as valuable as a touchdown.

Seahawks Walker III vs. Kyren Williams, plus the kicker duel that could decide the NFC

With the AFC settled, the spotlight swings to the NFC: Rams at Seahawks. Seattle’s path to this point was emphatic, and it was powered by the player whose search trends are spiking everywhere: walker iii. Kenneth Walker III has been the engine in key moments, and “walker seahawks,” “seahawks walker,” and “seahawks walker iii” are being typed for a reason—his north-south style translates when weather, nerves, and tight windows squeeze the passing game.

Across from him is the Rams’ answer to playoff ugliness: Kyren Williams, whose balance and downhill burst have become central to the Rams’ plan to keep their quarterback clean and stay ahead of the chains. If Los Angeles can keep the contest in “four yards, four yards, four yards” mode, it forces Seattle to tackle for three hours and turns the game into a possession battle.

And that brings the third act: kicking. Seattle leans on Jason Myers, a steady presence when drives stall. Los Angeles arrives with a story of its own at the position. The rams kicker is Harrison Mevis, whose job security became a headline during the season and whose leg has already pushed one postseason game over the edge. In a weekend defined by missed chances, the NFC may come down to which kicker handles a cold ball, a swirling breeze, and a snap that doesn’t feel perfect.

The wider weekend: “The American Bowl” adds scouting heat to a roster-tight moment

One more football event quietly threaded through the same calendar: the american bowl. The timing matters because teams are simultaneously game-planning for championships while evaluating offseason depth—especially on defense and along the lines. Prospects and young contributors are being grouped in conversations about who can become the next disruptive interior presence (the way Barmore did) or the next rotational body that swings a playoff snap count.

Mini timeline of the weekend’s key beats

• Jan. 22: The American Bowl puts draft-eligible names on screens while NFL teams juggle postseason prep.

• Jan. 25: The 2025 AFC Championship Game ends with New England holding the Lamar Hunt Trophy after a snow-and-turnovers slugfest.

• Jan. 26 and beyond: Rams–Seahawks becomes a backs-and-kickers chess match: Kyren Williams vs. Kenneth Walker III, Jason Myers vs. the rams kicker Harrison Mevis—with the Super Bowl opponent waiting on the other side.