If you’re waking up on this Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, and already planning your couch rotation for tomorrow, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. You probably want to know: are there any nfl football games tomorrow?
The short answer? No.
There are zero NFL games scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2026.
While the league has leaned heavily into "Monday Night Football" during the regular season and even gave us a Wild Card Monday thriller last week between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Divisional Round is a different beast. This weekend is strictly a Saturday-Sunday affair. If you were hoping for a Monday night pro game to avoid the reality of the work week, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
But don't toss the remote just yet. While the pros are resting, one of the biggest games in the history of the sport is happening tomorrow night.
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Why the NFL is Dark Tomorrow
The NFL typically avoids Monday games during the Divisional Round to ensure the winners have a fair turnaround for the Conference Championships next Sunday. It’s about "competitive balance."
Think about it. If the winner of tonight’s Rams-Bears game had to play tomorrow, they’d be on a short week while their next opponent—the Seattle Seahawks—is already sitting at home with their feet up after destroying the 49ers yesterday.
Speaking of yesterday, did you see that Seattle game? A 41-6 blowout is a statement.
Anyway, the league leaves Monday open for a very specific reason this time of year. That reason is the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. The NFL generally doesn't want to compete for eyeballs with the biggest college game of the year, especially when it falls on a holiday like Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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The Massive Game You Can Watch Instead
Even though the answer to "are there any nfl football games tomorrow" is a "no," the stadium lights at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami are going to be blinding.
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 7:30 PM ET on ESPN
- Matchup: #10 Miami Hurricanes vs. #1 Indiana Hoosiers
- The Stakes: The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship
Honestly, this is a weird one. Indiana as a #1 seed? Miami coming in as a #10 seed and making a Cinderella run to the title game in their own backyard? It’s basically a home game for the Canes. If you’re a football junkie, this is arguably more "must-watch" than a random NFL game because it's the end of the road for the college season.
Recapping the NFL Divisional Weekend
Since you won't be watching the NFL tomorrow, you’ve gotta make sure you catch the two games happening today. Here is what the final stretch of the Divisional Round looks like:
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- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: 3:00 PM ET (ABC/ESPN). CJ Stroud is trying to do the impossible at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots look like the old Patriots again, which is frankly exhausting for the rest of us.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: 6:30 PM ET (NBC/Peacock). The Bears pulled off that insane comeback against Green Bay last week. Soldier Field is going to be loud, cold, and probably covered in a light dusting of January grit.
Yesterday already gave us the first half of the Conference Championship bracket. The Denver Broncos barely survived the Buffalo Bills in overtime (33-30), and the Seattle Seahawks made the 49ers look like a JV squad.
When Does the NFL Come Back?
If you’re a "pro or nothing" kind of fan, you have to wait until next Sunday, January 25.
The AFC Championship will kick off at 3:00 PM ET on CBS, followed by the NFC Championship at 6:30 PM ET on FOX. We already know the Broncos and Seahawks are hosting. We just don't know who is flying into town yet.
Basically, tomorrow is a "reset" day for the NFL. Use the time to hydrate, argue about the Hall of Fame finalists, or actually talk to your family. Or, you know, watch the Hoosiers try to finish a perfect season against a Miami team that seems to have destiny on its side.
What you should do next:
If you're planning for next weekend, check your streaming subscriptions now. The AFC game is on Paramount+ and the NFC game is on the FOX Sports app. If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure those logins actually work before Sunday afternoon so you aren't scrambling during the opening kickoff.