If you’re staring at your TV right now, January 15, 2026, wondering why the screen isn't filled with pads clashing and fans screaming, there’s a simple reason. Are there any NFL games on right now? No. Honestly, it’s that awkward mid-week lull where the league takes a collective breath after a wild Wild Card weekend and prepares for the meat of the postseason.
We’re sitting in the Thursday gap. Usually, during the regular season, you’d be settled in for a Thursday Night Football showdown on Amazon Prime. But the playoffs are a different beast entirely. Once the postseason hits, the NFL abandons the Thursday schedule to give teams—especially those coming off a bruising Monday night game—enough recovery time for the high-stakes Divisional Round.
The Short Answer for Today
Basically, you’ve got a couple of days to wait. The NFL doesn't play on Thursdays in mid-January. It’s a bummer, I know. You're probably looking for that playoff atmosphere, but the stadium lights won't flicker back on until Saturday afternoon.
Why the NFL Schedule Shifts in January
The logic is actually pretty straightforward. In the regular season, Thursday games are a logistical nightmare for players, but they’re a goldmine for broadcasters. Once you get to the Divisional Round, the league prioritizes "competitive balance" and, frankly, player health.
Imagine the Houston Texans, who just finished dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, January 12. If the NFL forced them to play a playoff game today, Thursday, they’d have roughly 72 hours to travel, rehab, and install a brand-new game plan against a team like the New England Patriots. It would be a disaster.
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Instead, the league spreads the remaining eight teams across Saturday and Sunday. This ensures everyone has at least nearly a full week of rest, even if the top seeds like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have the massive advantage of coming off a bye week.
The Upcoming Divisional Round Schedule
Since you're likely looking for when the next kickoff actually happens, here is the breakdown of the upcoming weekend.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The action starts in the high altitude of Colorado. The Buffalo Bills, coming off a tight three-point win over the Jaguars, head to Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos. That one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. If you’re a cord-cutter, Paramount+ is your go-to there.
Later that night, we get a classic NFC West grudge match. The San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET. This is the primetime slot on FOX. Expect Lumen Field to be absolutely deafening, especially since Seattle earned that #1 seed and the extra week of rest.
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Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday opens with the Houston Texans visiting the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. You can catch this on ABC or ESPN. It's a fascinating matchup because C.J. Stroud has been playing like a man possessed, but going into Foxborough in January is never easy.
The weekend wraps up with the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears. This one is at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Weather reports are already hinting at single-digit temperatures in Chicago, which is a massive shift for a Rams team that plays in a climate-controlled dome in SoFi Stadium.
Where to Watch the Rest of the 2026 Postseason
Since there are no NFL games on right now, it’s a good time to make sure your subscriptions are actually active so you don't miss the Saturday kickoff.
- CBS/Paramount+: Home of the AFC-heavy matchups, including the Bills-Broncos game.
- FOX/FOX Sports App: They have the NFC West showdown.
- NBC/Peacock: The "Sunday Night Football" crew handles the Rams-Bears game and, eventually, Super Bowl LX.
- ESPN/ABC/ESPN+: They’re carrying the Texans-Patriots game.
If you’re relying on an antenna, you’re in luck for most of these. But if you’re purely digital, the "Peacock-only" or "Amazon-only" era of the regular season is mostly behind us for the playoffs. Most of these games are simulcast on major networks.
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What to do while you wait
Since the gridiron is quiet tonight, most fans are diving into the injury reports. For instance, everyone is watching the health of the 49ers' receiving core after that physical Wild Card win over Philadelphia. Or checking to see if the Denver thin air will affect Josh Allen’s deep ball on Saturday.
If you really need a football fix today, the talk shows on NFL Network or ESPN will be dissecting the "Vegas Odds." Currently, Denver is a slight favorite over Buffalo, and Seattle is favored to handle the Niners at home.
Looking Further Ahead: The Road to Super Bowl LX
Once this weekend is over, we’ll be down to the final four. The winners of this weekend's games will move on to Championship Sunday on January 25, 2026.
The AFC Championship is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the NFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX. It all culminates on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. NBC will be the broadcaster for the big game this year.
Actionable Next Steps
While you wait for the Saturday doubleheader, here is how you can prepare:
- Check your local weather: If you're attending the Rams-Bears game in person, start prepping your thermal layers now; Soldier Field is expected to be a freezer.
- Verify your streaming logins: Don't be the person trying to reset their Paramount+ or Peacock password five minutes after the Bills-Broncos kickoff.
- Update your bracket: If you’re in a playoff pool, make sure your Divisional Round picks are locked in before 4:30 p.m. ET this Saturday.
- Set your DVR: If you have Saturday plans, make sure your recordings are set for at least an extra hour—playoff games frequently go into overtime.
The wait is almost over. We’re just 48 hours away from the best weekend in professional sports.