If you woke up this morning, grabbed your wings, and started scrolling for the channel to find the Buffalo Bills on TV today, I’ve got some tough news. It's Sunday, January 18, 2026. Usually, this is peak football time. But the screen is going to be empty for Bills Mafia.
Yesterday was a heartbreaker. A literal, overtime, gut-punch of a Saturday.
The Bills aren't playing today because they already played their Divisional Round game against the Denver Broncos yesterday afternoon. It ended in a 33-30 overtime loss that effectively ended Buffalo's season. Honestly, if you missed it, you might want to skip the highlights. They're pretty brutal.
What happened to the Buffalo Bills?
Basically, Josh Allen did Josh Allen things, but the "turnover bug" finally bit back. The game was at Mile High. Thin air, high stakes. Buffalo trailed by six late, Allen dragged them back to force overtime, and then the wheels just came off.
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In the extra period, Ja’Quan McMillian wrestled the ball away from Brandin Cooks. Interception. Denver kicked a field goal. Game over.
It’s kind of wild because Allen had zero turnovers in his previous six playoff games. Then he hit Denver and turned it over four times. That's a career-high tie. He's also now 0-7 in overtime for his career. That’s a stat that’s going to haunt Buffalo sports talk radio for the next six months.
Who is on TV today instead?
Since the Bills are out, the NFL schedule for Sunday, January 18, moves on without them. You’ve still got two massive Divisional Round games if you just want to watch high-level football and ignore the pain of the Buffalo exit.
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- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: This one is at 3:00 p.m. ET. You can catch it on ESPN/ABC.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET. This is the night cap on FOX.
The winner of that Texans-Patriots game is actually who Denver will host next week in the AFC Championship. So, if you’re a "scout the enemy" type of fan, that’s the one to watch.
Why the Bills played on Saturday
A lot of people get confused by the "on TV today" search because the NFL splits the Divisional Round. Two games on Saturday, two on Sunday. Buffalo got the Saturday 4:30 p.m. slot on CBS. Because they lost, they’re officially in "offseason mode" as of about 8:00 p.m. last night.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season
It’s not all misery. The 2026 season is actually a massive milestone for this franchise. Why? New Highmark Stadium.
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The team has already finalized who they're playing at the new crib next year. You’re looking at home games against the Chiefs (of course), Chargers, Bears, Lions, and Ravens, plus the usual AFC East suspects like the Dolphins and Patriots.
If you're trying to plan your TV viewing for next year, just know that the move into the new stadium is going to mean a lot of primetime slots. Expect plenty of Sunday Night Football and Monday Night appearances once the official schedule drops this spring.
Actionable next steps for Bills fans
Since you aren't watching a game today, here is how to actually handle the postseason fallout:
- Check the injury report: Keep an eye on the exit interviews. There were some bangs and bruises in that Denver game that might explain some of the late-game struggles.
- Cancel your Sunday ticket? If you only subscribed to watch the Bills, today is the day to look at those subscription settings before the next billing cycle hits in February.
- Monitor the coaching carousel: With a divisional exit, the rumor mill usually starts churning. See if any coordinators are being scouted for head coaching jobs elsewhere.
- Draft Prep: Start looking at mock drafts. Buffalo picks in the late 20s now. Wide receiver and defensive line depth are already the hot topics on the boards.
The Bills' season is done. It sucks, but that’s the reality of the 2026 playoffs. Put the jersey in the laundry, grab the remote, and maybe just enjoy a Sunday where your blood pressure doesn't hit 180.