If you’re looking for games on right now NFL, you’ve probably noticed the vibe is a little different today. We aren't in the regular season grind anymore. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the Divisional Round is officially here. This is widely considered the best football weekend of the year. The frantic energy of Wild Card weekend has settled into something more tactical, more desperate, and frankly, more high-stakes.
The top seeds are finally off their couches.
Right now, the Buffalo Bills are in Denver taking on the Broncos. This kicked off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. If you’re checking the score, you’re seeing the No. 6 seed Bills trying to play spoiler against a rested No. 1 seed Broncos squad. Later tonight, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the NFC West is going to implode when the San Francisco 49ers visit the Seattle Seahawks on FOX.
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The afternoon game is a weird one, honestly. Buffalo coming into Mile High is a nightmare scenario for a team that had a week off. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed lately. He’s got 79 career rushing touchdowns now, which is just stupid for a quarterback. He’s basically a tight end who can throw 60 yards on a rope.
Denver has been the surprise of the AFC. Their defense is ranked second in the league, giving up only 278.2 yards per game. It’s the classic "immovable object vs. unstoppable force" cliché, but it actually applies here.
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are on the call for this one. If the Bills can pull this off, it'll be the second year in a row they've knocked the Broncos around in the postseason. Last year, they beat them 31-7 in the Wild Card. Denver fans haven't forgotten that.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET)
This is the nightcap. It’s loud in Seattle. Like, "can't hear your own thoughts" loud. The Seahawks earned that No. 1 seed and the bye, but drawing the 49ers in the Divisional Round is a brutal "reward" for a great season.
San Francisco just finished dismantling the Eagles 23-19 last week. They look healthy. They look mean. But Seattle is currently the best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 17.2 points per game.
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- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming: FOX Sports App, NFL+
- The Spread: Seattle is favored by 7 points.
Most people think Seattle walks away with this because of the rest advantage, but divisional rivals playing for a third time in one season is always a coin flip. Basically, throw the records out the window.
What happens tomorrow?
The weekend doesn't stop tonight. If you're planning your Sunday around the games on right now NFL, here is what the schedule looks like for January 18.
First up, the Houston Texans head to Foxborough to play the New England Patriots. That’s a 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN and ABC. C.J. Stroud has been surgical, but playing in New England in January is a different beast entirely. The Patriots are favored by 3 points, mostly because of that home-field advantage and a defense that doesn't make mistakes.
Then, we finish the round with the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears. 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The Bears have been a massive story this year, especially with Dennis Allen’s defense trying to figure out how to stop Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. It's going to be cold. It's going to be physical.
How to watch and stream today
If you aren't near a TV, you have options. Most people are moving toward streaming anyway.
For the Bills and Broncos, Paramount+ is your best bet since it carries the CBS feed. For the 49ers and Seahawks, you’ll want the FOX Sports app or "FOX One."
If you want everything in one place, NFL+ Premium is usually the way to go for mobile viewing. They’re actually running a 40% off deal right now through mid-February. It's worth it if you're planning on being away from home for the Conference Championships or the Super Bowl on February 8.
The stakes for the winners
Whoever wins today is one game away from the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. The winners of the Saturday games will play in the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday, January 25.
The Broncos are trying to prove they weren't just a regular-season fluke. The Bills are trying to finally get Josh Allen that ring. In the NFC, Seattle wants to protect their home turf and prove they are the class of the West. San Francisco is looking to prove that a No. 6 seed can go all the way.
Actionable insights for fans:
- Check the weather in Denver: Wind speeds can get tricky at Mile High, which might limit the deep passing game for both teams.
- Watch the injury report for Nico Collins: If you're looking ahead to tomorrow's Texans game, Collins is currently dealing with a concussion and his status is a huge factor.
- Sync your apps: If you're streaming, expect a 30-second delay compared to the live broadcast. Turn off your Twitter/X notifications if you don't want spoilers.
The Divisional Round is where the pretenders get sorted out. Keep an eye on the turnover margin tonight; in games this close, one fumble usually decides who goes to the championship and who goes home to start scouting for the draft.