You’re probably staring at your remote right now, wondering why on earth there are so many different streaming apps just to watch one game of football. Honestly, it’s getting a bit ridiculous. This weekend—January 17 and 18, 2026—is basically the holy grail for anyone who likes sitting on their couch for ten hours straight. We’ve got the NFL Divisional Round heating up, the Premier League delivering some proper Sunday drama, and La Liga serving up a massive clash in San Sebastián.
If you're looking for the schedule, you've likely realized that "TV" doesn't just mean cable anymore. It means Peacock, Paramount+, Amazon, and about three other things you probably forgot the password for.
The NFL Divisional Round: Where Seasons Go to Die
Saturday kicked things off with a bang, but Sunday is where the real tension lives. We are officially down to the nitty-gritty. By the time Sunday night wraps up, we’ll know exactly who is playing for a trip to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
First up today, Sunday, January 18, we have the Houston Texans heading to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET. You can catch this one on ESPN and ABC, or stream it on ESPN+. It’s a classic "new guard vs. old guard" situation. The Texans have been playing with house money lately, but going into Gillette Stadium in mid-January is a different kind of beast.
Then, the nightcap. The Los Angeles Rams are taking on the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET. This one is on NBC and Peacock. If you’re a fan of cold-weather football, this is your jam. Expect a lot of breath-fog in the air and some very stiff hits. The Bears have been a surprise this year, but the Rams have that playoff "been-there-done-that" energy that makes them dangerous.
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Yesterday’s action was just as heavy. We saw the Buffalo Bills travel to Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos on CBS. That altitude in Denver usually wreaks havoc on visitors, and this was no exception. We also had a massive NFC West rivalry game with the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Seattle Seahawks on FOX. Nothing says playoff football like two teams that genuinely dislike each other.
Premier League Sunday: Wolves, Newcastle, and Villa
Over across the pond, the English top flight is in the middle of Matchweek 22. If you woke up early enough today, you hopefully caught Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Newcastle United. It kicked off at 9:00 a.m. ET on USA Network. Newcastle has been pushing for those European spots, and Wolves at Molineux is always a tricky fixture for anyone.
Following that, we have Aston Villa hosting Everton at 11:30 a.m. ET, also on USA Network. Villa Park has been a fortress lately, and Unai Emery’s side is looking more clinical than ever. Everton is... well, they're Everton. They’ll fight, but Villa’s quality usually shines through in these midday slots.
If you're still awake by Monday (tomorrow), Brighton & Hove Albion face Bournemouth at 3:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. It’s a South Coast derby of sorts, and both teams play a brand of football that’s actually fun to watch, which isn't something you can say for every match.
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Spain and Italy: The Late-Night European Grind
Don't sleep on La Liga today. The big one is Real Sociedad vs. FC Barcelona. Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time). You can usually find these on ESPN+ in the States. Real Sociedad at the Anoeta is one of the toughest road trips in Spain. Barcelona has been inconsistent, and this is exactly the kind of game where they could slip up.
Earlier today in Spain:
- Getafe vs. Valencia (7:00 a.m. ET)
- Atletico Madrid vs. Deportivo Alaves (9:15 a.m. ET)
- Celta Vigo vs. Rayo Vallecano (11:30 a.m. ET)
In Italy, Serie A is humming along. Cagliari vs. Juventus was the big Saturday highlight, but Sunday sees AC Milan hosting Lecce at 2:45 p.m. ET. Milan is in a dogfight for the Scudetto, and they cannot afford to drop points against the smaller clubs right now. You’ll need Paramount+ if you want to see the action from Italy.
Why the College Football National Championship is Missing
You might be wondering where the college kids are. Well, the College Football Playoff National Championship is actually tomorrow, Monday, January 19, 2026. It’s happening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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After the semifinals (the Fiesta and Peach Bowls), we’re left with the final two. It’s basically a national holiday for some people. If you were looking for college ball today, you’re out of luck—the NCAA clears the deck on Sunday to let the NFL have its moment.
Setting Up Your "Command Center"
Look, watching football games on tv this weekend isn't as simple as it used to be. You sort of need a strategy. If you have a smart TV, make sure your apps are updated before kickoff. There is nothing worse than opening Peacock five minutes after a game starts only to see a "1.2GB Update Required" screen.
- Check your subscriptions. Do you actually have Peacock and Paramount+? If not, you’re going to miss the Rams/Bears game and all the Serie A action.
- Sync your clocks. If you're on the West Coast, those Premier League games are brutal. Set an alarm or just accept that you're watching the highlights at breakfast.
- Data usage. If you're streaming in 4K, you're going to eat through data. If you have a cap, maybe dial it down to 1080p for the mid-day games.
- The "Second Screen". Keep a live score app open. With four different NFL games and a full slate of European soccer, you can't see everything.
This weekend is the peak of the winter sports season. The weather is usually terrible outside anyway, so you might as well lean into the chaos. Between the NFL playoffs and the race for the Premier League title, there isn't a better time to be a fan.
The best way to handle the rest of today is to prioritize the NFL Divisional matchups. Those are "win or go home" scenarios, whereas the European leagues still have months to go. Start with the Texans and Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC, then flip over to the Rams and Bears on NBC at 6:30 p.m. ET to close out the weekend. For the Monday night National Championship, make sure you've cleared your schedule by 7:30 p.m. ET to see who takes the college crown in Miami.