If you just woke up on this Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and your first instinct was to check the TV guide for some playoff football, I’ve got some bad news. Is NFL on today? Sadly, the answer is a hard no.
Look, I get it. We just came off a massive three-day Wild Card bender. We saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Steelers 30-6 on Monday night. We watched the Rams squeak past the Panthers in a 34-31 thriller. When the playoffs are this good, you want a game every single night. But the NFL is nothing if not a creature of habit and scheduling rigidity. Wednesday is basically the "eye of the storm" in the postseason. It’s the day when the dust settles from Wild Card weekend and the remaining eight teams start their real "Wednesday practice" grind for the Divisional Round.
The Short Answer: Why There Is No NFL On Today
The NFL doesn't do Wednesday games unless there’s a literal global catastrophe or a very specific holiday quirk like Christmas falling on a Wednesday (which isn't the case today). Today, Wednesday, January 14, is actually a significant day on the league calendar, but not for anything that involves a pigskin flying through the air.
It’s the official deadline for college underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. While you can't watch a game, the front offices are buzzing. They’re finding out exactly which college superstars are skipping their senior years to go pro. It’s the "paperwork" phase of the season.
Honestly, the players need this break. Think about the Buffalo Bills. They just survived a 27-24 dogfight against the Jaguars on Sunday. They need these middle-of-the-week days to get their bodies right before they head to Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos this coming Saturday. If they played today, the quality of football would be, frankly, garbage.
💡 You might also like: OU Football Depth Chart 2025: Why Most Fans Are Getting the Roster Wrong
When Does The Action Start Again?
Since you're asking is NFL on today, you’re clearly looking for the next kickoff. You’ve only got to wait a few more days. The Divisional Round is where the "big boys" come out to play—specifically the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, who have been sitting at home resting while everyone else beat each other up.
Here is what the schedule looks like for the upcoming weekend:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The party starts in Denver. The #6 Buffalo Bills travel to face the #1 Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch that one on CBS or stream it on Paramount+. Later that night, it’s a massive NFC West rivalry. The #6 San Francisco 49ers head to Seattle to take on the #1 Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
The Houston Texans, fresh off their Monday night win, have to go into the frozen tundra of Foxborough to play the #2 New England Patriots. That's a 3:05 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN/ABC. Finally, the Divisional Round wraps up with the #5 Los Angeles Rams playing the #2 Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That’s the Sunday night cap at 6:40 p.m. ET on NBC.
📖 Related: NL Rookie of the Year 2025: Why Drake Baldwin Actually Deserved the Hardware
Why Wednesday Games Are So Rare
You might remember a few years ago when we had a random Wednesday afternoon game because of COVID-19 rescheduling. People loved the novelty, but the league hated it. The NFL is built on a weekly rhythm. Coaches are creatures of habit. They have "Wednesday practices," "Thursday walkthroughs," and "Friday red zone drills."
Playing on a Wednesday messes up the entire recovery cycle. If a team played today, they’d be on two days' rest from Monday or three from Sunday. The injury risk skyrockets. Plus, the TV networks—CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN—have their prime-time Wednesday slots filled with procedural dramas and reality shows that they aren't about to bump unless it's a Super Bowl-level emergency.
What To Watch Instead Of The NFL Today
Since the fields are empty, what are you supposed to do with your evening? If you’re a sports bettor or just a degenerate fan, there’s plenty of other stuff happening.
- NBA: The Washington Wizards are taking on the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET. It’s at the Intuit Dome, and the Clippers are heavy favorites.
- College Basketball: There’s a solid Big Ten matchup with UCLA visiting Penn State at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
- NHL: There’s usually a slate of Wednesday Night Hockey games to scratch that "collision sports" itch.
Is NFL On Today? No, But The Bracket Is Set
Even though there’s no game, the bracket is the most interesting it’s been in years. We’ve got two #6 seeds (Bills and 49ers) still alive. That doesn't happen often. It tells you the parity in the league right now is through the roof.
👉 See also: New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks: What Most People Get Wrong
The fact that the 49ers beat the Eagles 23-19 last weekend proves that being a high seed doesn't mean much once the whistle blows. Everyone is talking about whether the Texans can actually keep this momentum going against a rested Patriots team. Houston looked like world-beaters against Pittsburgh, but New England's defense this year is a different kind of animal.
Looking Ahead To The Championship Round
If you’re already planning your life around the schedule, keep Sunday, January 25, 2026, clear. That’s Conference Championship Sunday. The AFC game will be at 3:05 p.m. ET and the NFC game at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Then, of course, the granddaddy of them all: Super Bowl LX. It's happening on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. NBC has the broadcast this year.
Actionable Next Steps For Fans
Don't just sit there annoyed that the TV is showing reruns. Use this Wednesday "off-day" to get ready for the Divisional Round.
- Check your streaming subs: Make sure your Paramount+ and Peacock logins actually work. There is nothing worse than missing the first quarter because you’re resetting a password.
- Monitor the injury reports: Today is the first day teams have to release official practice participation reports for the Saturday games. Keep an eye on the Bills' offensive line; they took some hits in the Wild Card round.
- Set your fantasy/betting lines: If you play playoff DFS or use sportsbooks, the lines for Bills-Broncos and 49ers-Seahawks are already live. Wednesday is usually when you find the most "value" before the public money shifts the numbers on Friday.
- Prepare for the Draft: Since today is the underclassman deadline, go check the updated big boards on sites like ESPN or The Athletic. Your team might be out of the playoffs, but today is the day your 2026 season actually begins.
So, while there is no NFL on today, the gears are turning. Grab a beer, watch some hoops, and rest up. Saturday is coming fast.