NFL Championship Sunday is officially set. The Rams face the Seahawks in a fierce NFC West battle. The Patriots travel to Denver for a high‑stakes AFC showdown.

Los Angeles enters at 14‑5, while Seattle stands at 15‑3. New England is 16‑3 and favored over Denver at 15‑3. Both matchups carry deep history and fresh drama.

Rams Advance After Wild Finish in Chicago

Caleb Williams’ overtime interception opened the door for Los Angeles. Matthew Stafford led a 54‑yard drive in brutal conditions. Harrison Mevis sealed the win with a 42‑yard kick for a dramatic 20-17 road win.

Stafford praised his team’s toughness in the cold. Williams had forced overtime with a desperate touchdown throw. Kam Curl ended the game with a clutch interception.

The Rams reach their 12th NFC title game. It is their third under Sean McVay. They have won four straight conference championships.

Patriots Roll Behind Drake Maye’s Breakout

Drake Maye threw three touchdowns in a dominant win. New England forced five turnovers against Houston. The Patriots return to the AFC title game for the first time since 2018 with a dominate 28-16 win over the Texans.

Maye credited the defense for its relentless effort. Mike Vrabel has revived the franchise in one season. New England now prepares for a tough road test in Denver the AFC top seed.

Jarrett Stidham starts for the Broncos after Bo Nix’s injury. Sean Payton expressed confidence in his veteran backup. Denver seeks its first Super Bowl trip since the Manning era.

Seahawks Surge Into NFC Championship Game

The NFC top seed Seattle crushed the injury‑depleted 49ers 41‑6. Sam Darnold delivered one of his best performances. The Seahawks reach their first NFC title game in 11 years.

Seattle and Los Angeles split their season series. Their Week 16 meeting ended in a wild overtime finish. Both teams enter with momentum and confidence.

Broncos Survive Overtime Thriller Against Buffalo

Denver edged Buffalo 33‑30 in a tense overtime game. Josh Allen and Bo Nix traded late touchdowns in regulation. Matt Prater forced overtime with a 50‑yard kick.

A controversial interception call hurt Buffalo’s chances. Sean McDermott questioned the quick review process. Two penalties set up Denver’s winning field goal.

The Broncos reach their 12th AFC title game. They hold an 8‑3 record in those appearances. Buffalo’s playoff frustration continues for another year.

Championship Sunday Broadcast Information

• No. 2 Patriots at No. 1 Broncos: 3 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount+/NFL+
• No. 5 Rams at No. 1 Seahawks: 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX One/NFL+
• Radio- Westwood One – Sports Talk Florida WWBA Radio

As clubs head into the second half of the 2025/26 season, transfer talk is increasingly shifting from immediate January business to what happens in 2026, when a new wave of high value contracts is due to run out. For Europe’s biggest sides, letting a key player enter the final year of his deal is always a gamble – one that can end either with a lucrative extension or the risk of losing a major asset below market price, or even for free.

With that in mind, Winsportsonline examined the current market values of players whose contracts expire in 2026 and identified the 11 most valuable names in that bracket. Together, they are worth €381 million, led by Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano at €70 million. The list is dominated by players from the Premier League and Serie A, with only five leagues represented in total and no players from La Liga or Ligue 1.

Key Takeaways:

• The 11 most valuable players with contracts expiring in 2026 have a combined market value of €381 million
• Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) is the most valuable player on the list at €70 million and the only one above €60 million
• Premier League clubs account for 5 of the 11 players (Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton, Bournemouth), close to half of the total
• Serie A provides 3 players (Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie from Juventus, plus Mike Maignan from Milan), making it the only club league with multiple representatives besides the Premier League
• Bayern Munich hold the single most valuable expiring asset (Upamecano), while Juventus are the only club with two players on the list
• The remaining three players come from the Bundesliga (Bayern Munich), Eredivisie (Feyenoord) and the Saudi Pro League (Al-Hilal), with no representatives from La Liga or Ligue 1 among the top 11

The Most Valuable Players with Expiring Contracts in 2026

Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich – €70 million

Dayot Upamecano heads the ranking as the most valuable player with a contract expiring in 2026, with an estimated market value of €70 million. As a key figure in Bayern Munich’s defence, his situation will be one of the most closely watched in the coming months. Allowing such a valuable player to move into the final year of his deal would leave Bayern facing a difficult choice between cashing in early or risking a cut price exit further down the line.

Marc Guehi – Crystal Palace – €55 million

Marc Guehi sits second on the list at €55 million and is the highest valued Premier League based player with a 2026 expiry. A central pillar of Crystal Palace’s back line, he represents one of the club’s most important assets on and off the pitch. Palace sold him to Manchester City for €23 million.

Ibrahima Konate – Liverpool – €50 million

Ibrahima Konate completes an all-defensive top three with a market value of €50 million. As one of Liverpool’s main options at the heart of defence, his 2026 contract situation adds another layer to the club’s medium term planning. Whether Liverpool prioritise an early renewal or keep their options open will be a major talking point as his deal moves closer to its final year.

Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus – €35 million

Dusan Vlahovic is the highest valued forward on the list at €35 million. Leading the line for Juventus, he remains one of Serie A’s most prominent attacking names. With his contract expiring in 2026, Juventus face a familiar dilemma: commit to a new long term agreement on top striker wages, or consider a sale before his value is eroded by contract length.

Bernardo Silva – Manchester City – €27 million

Bernardo Silva is valued at €27 million and is Manchester City’s lone representative in the ranking. A versatile and technically gifted midfielder, he has been an important part of City’s success in recent seasons. His 2026 contract end date will be closely monitored across Europe, as any uncertainty over his future would be enough to attract interest from multiple top clubs.

Mike Maignan – Milan – €25 million

Mike Maignan is Milan’s key contribution to the list with a market value of €25 million. As first choice goalkeeper, his importance goes beyond raw transfer value, given the difficulty and expense involved in replacing a top level number one. Milan will come under pressure to secure clarity on his future well before his contract ticks into its final year.

Ruben Neves – Al Hilal – €25 million

Ruben Neves is the only Saudi Pro League based player in the top 11, also valued at €25 million. Operating for Al Hilal, he remains one of the most recognisable midfield names in the league. His 2026 contract expiry means that both European and Gulf clubs will be watching for any sign that he might be open to a change of direction as his deal winds down.

Vitaliy Mykolenko – Everton – €25 million

Vitaliy Mykolenko represents Everton on the list, with a market value of €25 million. As a regular in the Premier League, he has become one of the club’s most valuable assets. With his contract due to expire in 2026, Everton must balance their financial situation with the footballing need to keep a settled back line, especially if interest from elsewhere grows.

Quinten Timber – Feyenoord – €25 million

Quinten Timber is Feyenoord’s entry in the ranking, also valued at €25 million. As a central figure for the Dutch champions, his 2026 contract end date puts Feyenoord in a familiar position for Eredivisie clubs: deciding whether to extend the deal of a key player or accept that a transfer might be inevitable once he nears the final year of his agreement.

Weston McKennie – Juventus – €22 million

Weston McKennie is Juventus’ second representative, valued at €22 million. His presence alongside Vlahovic makes Juventus the only club with two players in the top 11, underlining how much contract work the Turin side has ahead of 2026. Whether he remains part of their long term plans or becomes a saleable asset will shape their transfer strategy over the next two windows.

Marcos Senesi – Bournemouth – €22 million

Marcos Senesi completes the list with a market value of €22 million and gives Bournemouth a place among the clubs with high value contracts running out in 2026. As a core part of their defensive structure, his contractual situation will be crucial for a team that cannot afford to lose important players for less than their true worth once they move into the final year of their deals.

The Buffalo Bills have fired Sean McDermott following their overtime AFC Divisional Round playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, ending a nine-year tenure defined by sustained regular-season success and lingering postseason disappointment.

Multiple reports confirmed the decision Monday, just days after Buffalo’s 33–30 overtime defeat in Denver: a game overshadowed by a controversial interception on the Bills’ opening possession of extra time. Quarterback Josh Allen’s pass to Brandin Cooks was ruled an interception after Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball free, despite questions over whether Cooks was already down.

McDermott did not hide his frustration afterward, publicly defending his team and the fan base.

“I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo. I’m standing up for us,” McDermott said. “What went on is not how it should go down.”

The loss proved to be the final blow in McDermott’s tenure, which began in 2017 after six seasons as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator. He leaves the Bills with a 98–50 regular-season record and an 8–8 mark in the playoffs, guiding Buffalo to postseason appearances in eight of his nine seasons. Under his leadership, the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game twice — in 2020 and 2024 — but never advanced to the Super Bowl.

McDermott’s era will forever be linked with Josh Allen, whom the Bills selected seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The pairing helped transform Buffalo into a perennial contender and long-standing power in the AFC East. Allen, now 29, won league MVP honors last season and remained in the conversation again this year.

Expectations were high entering the 2025 season, particularly after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was lost for the year with a knee injury. Many believed the window was wide open for Buffalo to finally break through. Instead, the Bills endured a shifting AFC East landscape, finishing 12–5 and second in the division behind a resurgent New England Patriots team led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.

Buffalo reached the playoffs as a wild card and edged the Jacksonville Jaguars before falling in overtime to Denver, a defeat that ultimately sealed McDermott’s fate.

General manager Brandon Beane will remain with the organization and is expected to lead the search for the franchise’s next head coach. That hire will be tasked with maximizing the prime years of Allen’s career while addressing clear roster needs, including the pursuit of a true No. 1 wide receiver this offseason.

The Bills now join a growing list of teams seeking new leadership, including the Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Cardinals and Raiders, as the league enters one of the most active coaching cycles in recent memory.

For Buffalo, the move signals both the end of an era and a pivotal crossroads: one where championship expectations remain unchanged, even as the path forward becomes uncertain.