You feel that? It’s that specific Sunday morning hum. The fridge is stocked, the wings are marinating, and your phone is probably already buzzing with group chat takes that are, frankly, a little unhinged. Today, January 18, 2026, isn't just another weekend. We are right in the thick of it.
The NFL is down to its final elite eight, and the drama in the Divisional Round is reaching a fever pitch. Meanwhile, halfway across the world in Melbourne, the Australian Open is literally just starting its main draw. It’s a lot to keep track of.
Honestly, the schedule for big sports games today is a gauntlet. Whether you’re looking for the tactical grind of the gridiron or the high-speed baseline rallies in the heat of the Australian summer, there is zero room for boredom. Let’s break down what’s actually happening and why you should care.
The NFL Divisional Round: Win or Go Home
The stakes don’t get higher than this. The Wild Card round was a bloodbath, and now we’re left with the heavy hitters. Today's matchups are basically a collision course between storied franchises and the new guard of the league.
First up at 3:00 PM ET, we have the Houston Texans traveling to face the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. This one feels different. Usually, a trip to Foxborough in January sounds like a death sentence for a dome team, but this Texans squad has been playing with house money all season. CJ Stroud has evolved into a quarterback who doesn't just read defenses—he dissects them. On the other side, the Patriots have rebuilt that terrifying defensive identity. Expect a chess match. It’ll be on ESPN and ABC, so you won’t have to hunt for a weird streaming link.
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Then, the nightcap. 6:30 PM ET. Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears. Soldier Field. It’s going to be cold. Kinda miserable, actually. But that’s playoff football. The Bears hosting a divisional game feels like a throwback to a different era, and that Chicago crowd is going to be absolutely deafening. NBC and Peacock have the broadcast. If the Rams can find a way to move the ball in the biting wind, we might have an all-timer on our hands.
Opening Night at the Australian Open
While the US settles into playoff fever, Melbourne Park is just waking up. Today marks Day 1 of the 2026 Australian Open. It’s the first Grand Slam of the year, and everyone is fresh. Well, as fresh as you can be before running 5 miles in 95-degree heat.
Keep an eye on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. These two have essentially turned the ATP tour into their own personal rivalry. But you can never count out Novak Djokovic. Even in 2026, the man is a machine. He’s won here 10 times. Betting against him at Rod Laver Arena is usually a quick way to lose your lunch money.
The women's side is just as stacked. Aryna Sabalenka is looking to defend her territory, but with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in the mix, the power dynamics are incredibly volatile. The first round is always where the "giant-slayer" stories begin. One bad afternoon and a top-5 seed is heading back to the hotel.
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Hoops, Ice, and the Premier League
If for some reason you aren’t a football fan, there is plenty of other noise on the airwaves. The NBA and NHL are chugging along with some genuinely interesting mid-season matchups.
The NBA has a special treat today: the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic playing at The O2 in London. It’s a noon ET tip-off, which is great for anyone who wants basketball with their brunch. Later tonight, the Lakers host the Toronto Raptors at 9:30 PM ET. LeBron is still out there defying the laws of aging, and Crypto.com Arena will likely be packed despite the NFL playoffs happening simultaneously.
On the ice, the Edmonton Oilers face the St. Louis Blues at 8:00 PM ET. Watching Connor McDavid live is still the closest thing to a video game glitch in real life. If you haven't caught an Oilers game lately, do yourself a favor and tune into ESPN+ for this one.
And for the early birds, the Premier League delivered some tactical battles. Aston Villa and Everton squared off at Villa Park, while Newcastle United visited Wolverhampton. The mid-table scramble in England is tighter than ever this year, and every point feels like a life-or-death situation for those European qualifying spots.
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Making the Most of the Day
To actually survive this much sports consumption without losing your mind, you need a plan. Don't try to watch everything simultaneously on one screen.
- Prioritize the NFL: The divisional games are the "must-watch" events because of the knockout format.
- Second Screen the Tennis: The Australian Open first round is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep it on a tablet or laptop in the background.
- Check the Betting Lines: If you’re into that, the Rams-Bears total is sitting around 44.5. Given the Chicago weather forecast, the under is looking tempting to a lot of sharps right now.
The reality of big sports games today is that we are in a rare window where the biggest American sport overlaps with the start of a global tennis major. It’s a lot of data to process, but that’s the fun of it.
Your Game Plan for the Evening
- Set the DVR for the Australian Open: Since most of the big matches happen while the US is sleeping, record the night sessions at Melbourne Park to watch over breakfast tomorrow.
- Sync your apps: Make sure your NFL+ and ESPN+ logins are actually working before kickoff. There is nothing worse than missing a touchdown because of a password reset loop.
- Track the injuries: Keep an eye on the late-breaking reports from Soldier Field. The wind off the lake can change a kicker’s entire strategy in minutes.
The drama today is real, and the implications for the rest of the month are huge. By tomorrow morning, the Super Bowl field will be half-set and the first victims of the Melbourne heat will be heading home. Enjoy the ride.