Look. We’ve all been there. You wake up on a Sunday, the coffee hasn't even hit your system yet, and you're already scrambling to figure out if you need to set three different recording timers or just cancel your afternoon plans entirely. It’s January 18, 2026. The air is freezing in Foxborough and Chicago, but the schedule is absolutely red hot.
If you came here looking for a simple list, you’re gonna get that, but honestly, there’s so much more happening today than just a few kickoffs. We are deep into the NFL Divisional Round, which is arguably the best weekend of football in existence. Better than the Super Bowl? Yeah, I said it. You get the desperation of the playoffs mixed with the high-volume action of multiple games.
But it’s not just the NFL. If you're a "football is played with your feet" kind of person, the European leagues are in the thick of their winter grinds. We've got massive clashes in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. Basically, if you have a screen, you have a reason to stay on the couch today.
NFL Divisional Round: The Heavy Hitters
Today is all about the "New Guard" vs. the "Old Soul" of the NFL. We are down to the final six teams. The tension is basically a physical weight at this point.
First up, at 3:00 PM ET, we’ve got a fascinatng matchup at Gillette Stadium. The Houston Texans are traveling to face the New England Patriots. Think about that for a second. We’re watching C.J. Stroud, who has essentially turned the Texans into a perennial powerhouse overnight, going up against Drake Maye. This game is being broadcast on ESPN and ABC. If you’re a streamer, you’re looking at ESPN+. It’s a classic battle of young guns. The Patriots are back in the postseason hunt much faster than anyone expected, and Foxborough in January is never an easy place to play.
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Then, the nightcap. This one is going to be loud. At 6:30 PM ET, the Los Angeles Rams head into the Windy City to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. You can catch this on NBC or Peacock.
There is a lot of narrative juice here. Caleb Williams leading the Bears into a Divisional Round home game? That city might actually vibrate off the map. On the other side, you’ve got Matthew Stafford, the veteran who just refuses to go away. He’s seen it all. He isn't going to be rattled by the Chicago crowd or the lakefront wind. This game kicks off its coverage at 6:00 PM ET with Football Night in America, so you’ve got some time to get your snacks sorted.
Premier League and the European Grind
While America is waking up to playoff fever, Europe is already mid-battle. The football games and times today across the pond are equally stacked.
In the English Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers took on Newcastle United earlier at 2:00 PM GMT. Newcastle is still trying to cement that top-four status, and Molineux is a notorious trap for big teams. Later on, at 4:30 PM GMT, Aston Villa hosts Everton. Unai Emery has Villa Park feeling like a fortress these days, hasn't he?
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If you're looking toward Spain, La Liga has a massive fixture tonight. Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona at 8:00 PM GMT (3:00 PM ET). Barcelona under Hansi Flick is a different beast—fast, vertical, and frankly, a bit scary for defenders. But playing in San Sebastián is a nightmare. The atmosphere is tight, the fans are on top of you, and Sociedad knows how to muck up a game plan.
Over in Italy, Serie A is delivering some Sunday gems as well:
- Torino vs. Roma kicked off at 5:00 PM CET.
- AC Milan vs. Lecce is the late show at 7:45 PM CET.
Watching Milan at the San Siro under the lights is a bucket-list experience, even if you’re just watching it on a laptop in your kitchen at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Why This Sunday Actually Matters
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of scores, but today represents a massive pivot point for the 2025-26 season. In the NFL, the winners today move to the Conference Championships on January 25. There’s no "we’ll get 'em next week" anymore. It’s win or go home.
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In Europe, we’re hitting that mid-January fatigue. This is where squads get thin. Injuries from the holiday pile-up start to show. You see teams like Newcastle or Barcelona struggling to rotate players while staying competitive. It's the "grit" phase of the season.
How to Actually Watch Everything Without Losing Your Mind
If you're trying to track football games and times today, my best advice is to embrace the "Second Screen" lifestyle.
For the NFL games, keep the TV on NBC or ABC, but have a tablet or phone nearby with a live tracker. If you’re out and about, the Peacock app is surprisingly stable for the Bears/Rams game. For the European matches, DAZN and Sky Sports are your best friends depending on your region.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is trying to watch every single minute of every game. You can't. You'll burn out by 4:00 PM. Pick your "Anchor Game"—likely the Texans/Patriots or the Barca match—and let the others be background noise until the fourth quarter or the 80th minute.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Sunday:
- Sync your clocks: Remember the 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM ET windows for the NFL.
- Check your subs: Ensure your Peacock and ESPN+ logins are actually working before kickoff.
- Monitor the weather: Keep an eye on the wind speeds at Soldier Field; it’s going to drastically change how the Rams and Bears call their passing plays.
- Prioritize: If you only have two hours, make it the second half of the Bears game. The atmosphere in Chicago for a playoff game is something you don't want to miss.