Seattle Seahawks

Let's take a first look at Championship Sunday

Published Jan. 17, 2016 8:15 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

The AFC will be represented by one of two teams that have combined for 15 Super Bowl appearances and six victories.

Each of the NFC finalists has only one previous Super Bowl appearance apiece.

In the immediate aftermath of this weekend's division-round playoff games, here is a preview of what's to come in Sunday's conference championship matchups that will determine the participants in Super Bowl 50.

Arizona (14-3) at Carolina (16-1), 6:40 p.m. ET (FOX)

After the Panthers opened a 31-0 lead on Seattle in Sunday's game, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was asked during the FOX halftime show whether he would rather play at Carolina or host the Seahawks in the NFC title game. His response: "I'd rather play Seattle in Seattle." The Seahawks' second-half rally to cut the final score to 31-24 may make Arians feel a little better, but Arizona still faces a daunting task in trying to upset the Panthers. Carolina's already potent offense received a boost against Seattle with the return of Jonathan Stewart from a foot injury. Stewart ripped off a 59-yard run on Carolina's first offensive snap en route to a 106-yard, two-touchdown performance. Stewart's presence makes quarterback Cam Newton an even more effective run-pass threat. The Panthers also didn't commit a turnover Sunday while forcing two by the Seahawks, including a Russell Wilson interception returned for a touchdown by middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. The Cardinals also survived an improbable comeback attempt in last Saturday's 26-20 overtime win over Green Bay. The star was wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who caught eight passes for 176 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Fitzgerald could cause problems in the slot against a Panthers secondary down two of its top three cornerbacks in Bene Benwikere and Peanut Tillman. The Panthers will reap the benefits of being the NFC's top seed by getting to host the franchise's first NFC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium. The noise generated by the crowd of 74,287 for the Seahawks game was so intense that the facility's press box shook.

Advantage: Panthers

New England (13-4) at Denver (13-4), 3:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

New England's surprising Week 17 tumble in Miami is now haunting the Patriots. The Broncos were able to secure the AFC's top seed and the home-field advantage that comes with it thanks to that New England loss combined with a Denver win over San Diego. The Patriots must now return to the site of their first loss this season to the Broncos in Week 12. This also marks the 17th -- and possibly last -- meeting between Denver's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady. Manning isn't playing at the same high level as Brady, but he has a better supporting cast with Denver fielding the NFL's top-ranked defense and a running game that has improved through the season. The Patriots have appeared in so many AFC Championship games during the Brady/Bill Belichick era -- 10 in the past 16 seasons -- that New England's success can be taken for granted. It shouldn't. The 2015 Patriots were forced to weather a slew of injuries to get this far. The return of players like wide receiver Julian Edelman, left tackle Sebastian Vollmer and linebacker Dont'a Hightower made a significant difference in last Saturday's 27-20 home win over Kansas City. So did tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught seven passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns despite being hobbled by back and knee injuries leading into the game.

Advantage: Patriots