After starting the season with defeat by divisional rivals San Francisco, new Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold soon struck up a fruitful connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba which steered the Seahawks to seven wins from their next eight games.

They then faced the Rams for the first time this season, and although Darnold threw four interceptions, he still got Seattle in position to win it, before a missed field goal as time expired meant LA hung on for a 21-19 victory.

When the divisional rivals met again in week 16, both were in contention for the NFC West title and the NFC's top seed. But this time the Seahawks prevailed 38-37 in overtime and then beat the 49ers to finish the regular season with a 14-3 record and a seven-game win streak.

They soon renewed acquaintances, with San Francisco heading north after Seattle had a bye for the first round of the play-offs, and the Seahawks left no doubt that they belong in the NFC Championship game, thumping the injury-hit 49ers 41-6 last week.

The Rams made a solid start to the season as before their bye in week eight, their only defeats came after Philadelphia returned a blocked field-goal attempt for a game-clinching touchdown and in overtime against San Francisco.

In week seven they thumped Jacksonville 35-7 at Wembley and they kept winning after their bye, hanging on for a 21-19 win over Seattle in week 11 while quarterback Matt Stafford established himself as the leading MVP contender.

The Rams' winning streak came to a halt as they suffered a shock 31-28 loss at Carolina, before the Seahawks beat LA in overtime in week 16 to claim control of the NFC West, and the Rams finished the regular season with a 12-5 record.

That meant they went into the play-offs as the NFC's fifth seed, and LA have shown their character on the road, grinding out wins at Carolina and Chicago to set up a trilogy match-up with Seattle to decide which of the divisional rivals reaches Super Bowl 60.

Right, so have you got enough energy and nerves left for another one?

Of course you have! We're on to Seattle....

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaking to CBS: "It feels good, it feels great. Listen, I can't tell you how proud I am to be associated with these guys and this organisation. I love our football team, I love our staff. I am a lucky head coach."

On finding different ways to win: "Again, we have found different ways this entire season. Today was different conditions and we did what we had to do to win a football game."

On what it would mean to become the first person to win a Super Bowl with the same franchise as a player and coach: "I won't win it. It will be the players that will win the game but I promise that me and my staff will do everything to get them ready for the game."

More from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye: "This is what it's about. It is what all this year has been about. I love this team and love this coach. We've got the best fans in the nation. Let's go."

On having some big important runs throughout today's game: "These conditions aren't great to throw the football but we did what we needed to do and the defence stepped up. We're off to the Super Bowl, let's go."

Image source, Getty Images

All season we've heard about the Patriots having the easiest schedule in years, how they've had an easy ride to the play-offs.

Well, that's not been the case in the play-offs as Drake Maye has had to win battles over three top-five defences - something that no other quarterback has ever done before in one post-season campaign.

The Pats have beaten the Chargers (5th), Texans (1st) and Broncos (2nd) all monsters in total defence, and playing Houston and Denver in two blizzard games.

Nobody can say they've had an easy run to the Super Bowl now!

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback on Sky Sports

Image source, Getty Images

What you saw from the Patriots is a great team. Great head coach, great offensive and defensive co-ordinators. They found a way to win the game.

Image source, Reuters

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye speaking to CBS: "I thank the good Lord. What an atmosphere out here. We battled the elements. I love this team - how about the defence? The Pats are back baby, let's go win one."

On the conditions: "It wasn't ideal. The defence have been stepping up all play-offs. We are going to play better. I'm just thankful for this team."

On coach Mike Vrabel: "From day one he has been the same guy. He coaches hard and cares about us a lot but we've got some more work to do."

Image source, Getty Images

Head coach Mike Vrabel is one game away from NFL history as he could become the first man to win the Super Bowl as a player and head coach with the same team.

He's the eighth head coach to reach the big game in the first season with a new team, after overseeing a huge turnaround in a franchise that won eight games in total over the last two seasons.

They're also the sixth team to reach the Super Bowl after five or fewer wins the season before. The last team to do that and win was, guess who? Yes, the 2001 Patriots in Tom Brady's first season as starter.

Image source, Getty Images

New England advanced to a record 12th Super Bowl as they look to win a record seventh Lombardi Trophy in Mike Vrabel's first year as head coach of the Patriots.

Drake Maye couldn't do much all game with his arm, but he did two major things with his legs, running for their only touchdown and the crucial first down that sealed the game.

And Maye's done something Tom Brady never managed to do with the Patriots, and that's win a play-off game in Denver.

He'll now go and try to do something Brady did six times with the Patriots and even overall - and that's get a ring. He'll have to beat the Rams or Seahawks to do it.

It's just some kneeling down to do now for Drake Maye after that incredible run that sealed what has been a tough old game with tough monster defences playing in some awfully tough conditions.

Huge coaching decision here on third and six, and Drake Maye keeps it on a bootleg and he's one-on-one with a defender out in the flat racing for the first-down marker.

And he makes it! That'll be the game unless there's something crazy in the next couple of minutes.

So we hit the two-minute warning after a four-yard gain for the Patriots, who need one more first down to ice this game with Denver only having one time out remaining.

The Broncos need a stop, and likely a turnover here to stand a chance.

Jarrett Stidham goes for a deep to Marvin Mims but it sails right into the arms of Christian Gonzalez as Mims was struggling to turn for the underthrown ball.

Poor decision, if it was his decision, by Stidham as Mims had zero separation there and he wasn't even looking back for the ball so didn;t seem to be expecting it.

Weird one that one, that could end the game.

The punt ends up on the Denver 32, I think, so Jarrett Stidham skates back onto the field to try and lead his offence to some sort of drive in these tough conditions.

Tony Romo
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on CBS

Protecting the football now is almost more important than getting a first down.

Image source, Getty Images

No gain for New England as they just hand it off a few times and will be happy to punt this one away - Mike Vrabel seems to be betting that Denver won't score in these conditions.

Tony Romo
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on CBS

Since I've been announcing, I've not seen a game change this dramatically in half a quarter.

The wind, the conditions - whatever you're seeing on TV, I promise you it's way worse on the field.