So, here we are. It is mid-January 2026, the air is freezing in Buffalo and Chicago, and the NFL season is basically hurtling toward a cliff. You might be staring at your bracket or just trying to plan your Sunday around the snacks, but the big question is always the same: how many games left in nfl schedules before we’re all stuck watching baseball and pretend-football spring leagues?
Honestly, the answer changes by the hour this time of year. If you're reading this right on Saturday, January 17, 2026, we are literally sitting on the doorstep of the Divisional Round.
Seven. That is the magic number.
As of this morning, there are exactly seven games remaining in the 2025-2026 NFL season. That's it. After months of 14-game Sundays and chaotic Thursday night blowouts, we are down to the elite few. It feels like the season just started, but the math is brutal and fast.
The Remaining 2026 Playoff Slate
If you’re looking for the specifics of the how many games left in nfl countdown, here is how those final seven matchups break down across the next three weeks.
First, you’ve got the Divisional Round happening right now (January 17–18). There are four games this weekend. These are arguably the best games of the entire year because the "participation trophy" teams from the Wild Card round are gone, and the #1 seeds—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—are finally coming off their bye weeks.
The schedule for this weekend is a heater:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET)
Once the dust settles on Sunday night, we’ll be down to just three games.
Next up is Championship Sunday on January 25, 2026. This is where the AFC and NFC titles are decided. Two games. One day. Total nerves. Most hardcore fans actually prefer this day to the Super Bowl because the atmosphere is more "football" and less "corporate gala."
Finally, the big one. Super Bowl LX. That’s the seventh and final game, happening on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. After that, the lights go out until the preseason.
Why This Year’s Countdown Feels Different
It’s been a weird season. No Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs for the first time since 2014? That alone makes the remaining games feel wide open. Usually, we’re all just waiting to see who Patrick Mahomes beats in the end, but the 2026 bracket is a different beast.
Take the Denver Broncos. They’ve been dormant for years, and now they’re sitting at 14-3 with a first-round bye. People are scrambling to figure out if they’re legit or just beneficiaries of a soft AFC West. When you ask how many games left in nfl fans often forget that for the top seeds, the road is shorter but the pressure is way higher. Denver only has to win three games to be world champs. That’s a wild thought.
Then you have the Chicago Bears. Yes, those Bears. They actually knocked off Green Bay in the Wild Card round (31-27, for those who missed it), and now they’re hosting the Rams at Soldier Field. For a fan base that has been through the ringer, these final few games are everything.
The Scheduling Quirk
You might notice a gap. If you’re counting weeks on your fingers, you’ll see there is a "dead week" between the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl. The NFL fills this with the Pro Bowl Games on February 3, 2026. Does that count as a "game"? Not really. Most people don't include it when asking how many games left in nfl because it’s more of a skills competition than a meaningful contest. It’s basically the "filler episode" of the NFL season.
Where to Watch the Final Seven
Since we are down to the wire, the broadcasting rights get a bit more exclusive. You can't just flip on any channel anymore.
- CBS/Paramount+: They’ve got the AFC side of things, including the Bills/Broncos clash and the AFC Championship.
- FOX: This is the home for the NFC, including that massive 49ers/Seahawks rivalry game in Seattle.
- NBC/Peacock: They are the big winners this year because they have the Super Bowl. They also have the Rams/Bears game this Sunday.
- ESPN/ABC: They handled the Monday night Wild Card finale but are mostly focused on the divisional matchup between Houston and New England this weekend.
Actionable Steps for the Home Stretch
If you're trying to make the most of the limited football we have left, don't just sit there. The season ends faster than you think.
- Check your streaming subs: If you don't have Paramount+ or Peacock, you're going to miss at least two of the remaining seven games. Sort that out before kickoff.
- Track the injuries: Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Seahawks and Broncos. Since they had the bye, their "freshness" is their biggest advantage, but any late-week practice tweaks can ruin a #1 seed's season.
- Plan for Feb 8: Super Bowl LX starts at 6:30 PM ET. Since it's in Santa Clara, the sunset shots over Levi's Stadium will be iconic, but the game itself is the only one that matters.
The countdown is on. Enjoy those seven games, because once February 9 hits, we’re back to talking about the NFL Draft and mock trades for the next six months.
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Monitor the weather reports for the Chicago and Denver games this weekend. High winds or heavy snow at Soldier Field can completely flip the betting lines and expected scoring. Stick to the live injury trackers on the NFL's official site to see which "questionable" players actually suit up 90 minutes before kickoff.