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Boise State Athletics
NFL Broncos: Conference Championships
1/23/2026 11:59:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State will be represented by three former players in the NFL conference championships on Sunday. JL Skinner and the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, followed by DeMarcus Lawrence, George Holani and the Seattle Seahawks welcoming the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship. This is the second-straight year the Broncos have been represented in both conference title games. Last season, John Bates and Jeremy McNichols played for the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship while Khalil Shakir played for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship. Full matchup information is below. All times listed are Mountain.
SUNDAY
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) vs. New England Patriots – CBS/Paramount+, 1 p.m.
JL Skinner matched his career-high with two tackles in Denver's 33-30 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Both tackles came on kickoff coverage, as the safety earned a team-high 77.2 Pro Football Focus special teams grade. This was the first playoff win of his career, sending the Broncos to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2015 season, when they won Super Bowl 50. Skinner looks to become the first Boise State product to win an AFC title since Shea McLellin, who reached Super Bowl LI with the 2016 New England Patriots.
Seattle Seahawks (DeMarcus Lawrence, George Holani) vs. Los Angeles Rams – FOX, 4:30 p.m.
DeMarcus Lawrence continued his dominant season in Seattle's 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers, finishing the contest with three total tackles, one sack, two TFLs, two forced fumbles, three quarterback hits and a pass breakup. His first forced fumble came on a fourth down stop in the first quarter and his second, forced on a sack, came on San Francisco's first drive of the fourth quarter. The win sent the Seahawks to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2014 season, when they earned a berth in Super Bowl XLIX. Seattle will meet the Los Angeles Rams for the third time this season. The teams split the two regular season matchups, with the home team winning each contest. Lawrence combined for 11 tackles in those games, including a career-high nine in the Dec. 18 overtime win. In 10 career playoff games, Lawrence has totaled 32 tackles, 10 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He looks to become the first Boise State product to win an NFC title since Donte Deayon, who reached Super Bowl LVI with the 2021 Los Angeles Rams.
George Holani looks to make his NFL postseason debut after being designated for return from the injured reserve. He appeared in 11 regular season games, last playing on Nov. 23 in a win over the Tennessee Titans. Holani has totaled 475 all-purpose yards this season, scoring one touchdown on the ground and another when he recovered a kickoff in the end zone. The running back has played 169 total snaps this season, with the Seahawks compiling an 8-3 record when he is active. The last Boise State products to earn a Super Bowl berth as active teammates were Daryn Colledge and Korey Hall, who won Super Bowl XLV with the 2010 Green Bay Packers.Â
--BroncoSports.com--
SUNDAY
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) vs. New England Patriots – CBS/Paramount+, 1 p.m.
JL Skinner matched his career-high with two tackles in Denver's 33-30 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Both tackles came on kickoff coverage, as the safety earned a team-high 77.2 Pro Football Focus special teams grade. This was the first playoff win of his career, sending the Broncos to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2015 season, when they won Super Bowl 50. Skinner looks to become the first Boise State product to win an AFC title since Shea McLellin, who reached Super Bowl LI with the 2016 New England Patriots.
Seattle Seahawks (DeMarcus Lawrence, George Holani) vs. Los Angeles Rams – FOX, 4:30 p.m.
DeMarcus Lawrence continued his dominant season in Seattle's 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers, finishing the contest with three total tackles, one sack, two TFLs, two forced fumbles, three quarterback hits and a pass breakup. His first forced fumble came on a fourth down stop in the first quarter and his second, forced on a sack, came on San Francisco's first drive of the fourth quarter. The win sent the Seahawks to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2014 season, when they earned a berth in Super Bowl XLIX. Seattle will meet the Los Angeles Rams for the third time this season. The teams split the two regular season matchups, with the home team winning each contest. Lawrence combined for 11 tackles in those games, including a career-high nine in the Dec. 18 overtime win. In 10 career playoff games, Lawrence has totaled 32 tackles, 10 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He looks to become the first Boise State product to win an NFC title since Donte Deayon, who reached Super Bowl LVI with the 2021 Los Angeles Rams.
George Holani looks to make his NFL postseason debut after being designated for return from the injured reserve. He appeared in 11 regular season games, last playing on Nov. 23 in a win over the Tennessee Titans. Holani has totaled 475 all-purpose yards this season, scoring one touchdown on the ground and another when he recovered a kickoff in the end zone. The running back has played 169 total snaps this season, with the Seahawks compiling an 8-3 record when he is active. The last Boise State products to earn a Super Bowl berth as active teammates were Daryn Colledge and Korey Hall, who won Super Bowl XLV with the 2010 Green Bay Packers.Â
--BroncoSports.com--
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