If you just sat down on your couch, cracked a drink, and started scrolling through your guide wondering what football game is playing right now on tv, I’ve got some bad news. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026. And honestly? The TV schedule is a bit of a desert today.
There is no NFL game tonight. None.
I know, it feels wrong. We’ve spent the last four months conditioned to expect Thursday Night Football to anchor our week. But we’ve officially hit that weird "dead zone" in the postseason schedule. The Wild Card round is in the rearview mirror, and the league is currently holding its breath before the Divisional Round kicks off this weekend. If you’re seeing "football" on your guide right now, it’s likely a replay of the Texans dismantling the Steelers from Monday night or maybe a talking-head show on ESPN debating whether the Cowboys should have fired everyone (again).
Why isn't there an NFL game tonight?
The NFL is very protective of its playoff product. Once we hit the postseason, they stop doing the Thursday night matchups. Why? Because short weeks are brutal on players' bodies, and the league wants the high-stakes playoff games to feature teams that are as close to 100% healthy as possible. Amazon Prime's TNF contract is strictly for the regular season.
So, tonight is for film study and press conferences. If you're looking for live action, you're going to have to wait until Saturday.
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When does the real action start again?
Since nothing is playing "right now," you’re probably looking for the next best thing: the Divisional Round schedule. We are down to the final eight teams. The cream has risen, and the matchups for this coming weekend are actually insane.
Here is exactly when you need to be back in front of the screen:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The first game is the Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos. This one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Denver earned that top seed and the bye week, so they’ll be rested, but the Bills are coming in hot after knocking off the Jaguars. If you like cold-weather football, this is your fix.
The nightcap on Saturday is a massive NFC West grudge match: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. That’s an 8:00 p.m. ET start on FOX. Seattle is the #1 seed in the NFC, and Lumen Field is going to be absolutely deafening. Watching the Niners try to go into that environment for a spot in the Championship game is basically the peak of sports entertainment.
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Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday starts with the Houston Texans at New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC). C.J. Stroud has the Texans looking like a legitimate dynasty in the making, but going into Foxborough in January is never easy.
To wrap up the weekend, we get the Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears. This one is at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The Bears have had a resurgent year, and Soldier Field in the evening is going to be a vibe.
What about College Football?
If you're a college fan, you're also in a waiting period. The College Football Playoff semifinals happened last week—specifically January 8th and 9th. We saw Ole Miss take down Miami in a thriller at the Fiesta Bowl, and Indiana (yes, Indiana!) secured their spot in the big game.
The National Championship Game between Indiana and Ole Miss isn't until Monday, January 19, 2026. It’ll be on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. So, even on the college side, tonight is just about the hype machine.
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How to watch if you don't have cable
Since there isn't a game "right now," you have plenty of time to make sure your streaming setup is actually working before Saturday. The NFL has split these games across almost every major network, which is kind of a pain for your wallet.
- Paramount+: This is where you'll catch the Bills/Broncos game on Saturday since it's a CBS broadcast.
- FOX Sports App/FOX One: You'll need this (or a digital antenna) for the 49ers and Seahawks.
- Peacock: NBC has the Rams/Bears game on Sunday night.
- ESPN+: This will carry the Texans/Patriots game, along with the National Championship on Monday.
Honestly, if you’re trying to catch everything this weekend without a traditional cable package, a temporary subscription to something like YouTube TV or FuboTV is usually the easiest way to "set it and forget it" for the rest of the playoffs.
The "Right Now" alternatives
If you absolutely must watch something related to football tonight, the NFL Network is usually running "NFL Total Access" or replaying the "Mic'd Up" segments from the Wild Card round. Those are actually pretty decent if you want to hear what was being said on the sidelines during the close finishes last weekend.
Also, keep an eye on the news cycle today. January 15th is the deadline for underclassmen in college to declare for the NFL Draft. You'll likely see a lot of "breaking news" scrolls at the bottom of the screen regarding which star players are heading to the pros.
Practical Next Steps
- Clear your Saturday afternoon. The Bills and Broncos start at 4:30 p.m. ET. If you have errands, get them done by 4:00.
- Check your Peacock and Paramount+ logins. There is nothing worse than the game kicking off and realizing you forgot your password or your subscription lapsed.
- Prepare for Monday. The College National Championship is a standalone game on Monday night. It’s the final college game of the year, so don't let it slip under your radar while focusing on the NFL.
The wait is annoying, but the Divisional Round is widely considered the best weekend of football in the entire year. It's worth the 48-hour break.