AP Scorecard: Patriots and Seahawks win conference titles; NBA and NHL results also posted

The Associated Press sports scorecard published on January 26, 2026, recapped a wide range of results from the previous day across the NBA, NHL, and the NFL playoffs. The scoreboard’s headline items were the conference championship outcomes that set the Super Bowl matchup, alongside notable final scores from basketball and hockey.

NFL playoff results set the Super Bowl field

In the NFL conference title games, the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7, while the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27. Those victories put New England and Seattle into the championship game, concluding a playoff weekend that also produced significant reactions across the sports world.

Conference championships often turn on field position, late-game decision-making, and a few high-leverage plays, and the final scores reflected two different game scripts: a low-scoring defensive battle in the AFC title game and a higher-scoring, back-and-forth contest in the NFC.

NBA and NHL: a busy slate of finals

The AP scorecard also listed multiple NBA finals, including Detroit’s 139-116 win over Sacramento, Golden State’s 111-85 win over Minnesota, and Miami’s 111-102 victory over Phoenix. The list also included NHL finals such as Colorado’s 4-1 win over Toronto and Ottawa’s 7-1 win over Vegas, among others.

• NFL: New England 10, Denver 7; Seattle 31, L.A. Rams 27.
• NBA finals included Detroit over Sacramento and Golden State over Minnesota.
• NHL finals included Colorado over Toronto and Ottawa over Vegas.

Scorecards provide a snapshot, but they also set the stage for what comes next: teams now pivot from celebration or frustration to preparation, with the Super Bowl matchup locked in and regular-season leagues continuing to shape playoff positioning and midseason narratives.