If you’re waking up today looking for the Bronco game this sunday, you might want to put the chips back in the pantry for twenty-four hours. Or at least change your focus.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird weekend for the Mile High faithful. Because the Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s #1 seed and a first-round bye, they’ve been resting up while everyone else beat each other up in the Wild Card round. But the wait is over. Sorta.
The Broncos are actually playing on Saturday, January 17, 2026, against the Buffalo Bills.
Wait. So why are people searching for a game on Sunday? Usually, the Divisional Round is split down the middle, and plenty of fans just assume the top seed gets the prime Sunday afternoon slot. This year, the NFL threw a bit of a curveball by scheduling the Bills at Broncos for a 4:30 PM ET (2:30 PM local Denver time) kickoff on Saturday.
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The "Sunday" confusion and the real Divisional schedule
The actual games happening this Sunday, January 18, involve the Houston Texans visiting the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams heading to Chicago to face the Bears.
If you are a Broncos fan, Sunday is basically "scouting day." You’ll be watching the Patriots-Texans game specifically, because if Denver handles their business against Josh Allen and the Bills on Saturday, the winner of that Sunday game is who the Broncos would face in the AFC Championship.
Why Saturday matters more than Sunday for Denver
Denver’s path to the Super Bowl goes through Empower Field at Mile High. That’s the perk of being the #1 seed. They finished the regular season 14-3, tying a franchise record. But there’s a massive elephant in the room.
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Last year, Buffalo absolutely embarrassed Denver in the playoffs—a 31-7 blowout at Highmark Stadium.
This Saturday isn't just a playoff game. It's a revenge game. Bo Nix has been the focal point of every sports talk radio show in Colorado this week. People are nervous. The offense looked a little shaky toward the end of the season, specifically in that Week 18 win against the Chargers where the crowd actually let out some boos.
The Josh Allen problem
You can’t talk about the Bronco game this sunday—or the lack thereof—without mentioning that the Bills are coming into town hot. They just took down the Jaguars 27-24 in a nail-biter.
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Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed. Denver’s defense has been elite, but they haven't faced a dual-threat guy with this much postseason experience in a minute.
- The Weather Factor: It’s January in Denver. It’s going to be cold. While that usually favors the home team, Buffalo is one of the few teams in the league that genuinely doesn't care about snow or freezing temps.
- The Rest vs. Rust Debate: Denver hasn't played a meaningful snap in two weeks. Buffalo has all the momentum.
- The Secondary Battle: Keep an eye on Patrick Surtain II. He’s basically going to be glued to Stefon Diggs or whoever Buffalo decides is the primary threat.
What to do if you were planning a Sunday party
Look, if you already invited people over for a Bronco game this sunday, you have two choices. You can pivot and watch the other AFC heavyweights (Patriots vs. Texans), or you can try to move the party to Saturday afternoon.
The Saturday 2:30 PM MT kickoff is actually great for local fans. You get the game, the sun is still up for half of it, and you have all of Sunday to either celebrate or mourn in private.
Key Game Details for Saturday (Not Sunday!)
- Matchup: Buffalo Bills (#6 seed) @ Denver Broncos (#1 seed)
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 4:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM MT
- TV/Streaming: CBS and Paramount+
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Actionable insights for the weekend
Don't get caught staring at a blank screen on Sunday afternoon wondering where the orange jerseys are.
- Check your DVR: If you set it for "Sunday," you’re going to miss the most important game of the year. Manually verify it’s set for the Saturday CBS broadcast.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on the Broncos' offensive line health. Bo Nix needs a clean pocket to settle those playoff nerves early.
- Watch Sunday's AFC Game: Even though Denver isn't playing, the 3:00 PM ET game between Houston and New England is effectively a preview of Denver's potential next opponent.
- Gear up for the cold: If you're heading to the stadium on Saturday, the forecast is looking "traditionally Denver"—cold and crisp.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara goes through Denver. Even if the Bronco game this sunday isn't actually on Sunday, the stakes couldn't be higher.