You're sitting there, wings maybe halfway prepped or just staring at an empty TV guide, wondering where the hell the game is. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026. Usually, Thursdays mean football. But tonight? Silence.
If you’re looking for is there NFL football today, the short answer is no. None. Zero.
The regular season "Thursday Night Football" marathon on Amazon Prime is officially wrapped up for the year. We’ve hit that weird, quiet pocket of the postseason where the league takes a breather to let the heavy hitters prep for the Divisional Round. Honestly, it’s a bit of a letdown when you’re used to that mid-week fix, but that’s the playoff grind for you.
Why isn't there an NFL game tonight?
The NFL is a creature of habit until it isn't. During the regular season, they want to own every day of the week if they can. But once the playoffs hit, the schedule tightens up like a prevent defense in the fourth quarter.
We just came off a chaotic Wild Card Weekend. We saw the Rams edge out the Panthers in a 34-31 shootout and the 49ers barely survive the Eagles. After the Houston Texans dismantled the Steelers on Monday night (January 12), the league hit the "pause" button.
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Players need recovery. Coaches need film time.
Basically, the NFL prioritizes the "weekend spectacle" for the Divisional Round. They don't want to burn a high-stakes playoff matchup on a Thursday when they can stack two massive doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. It’s about the ratings, sure, but it’s also about the rest. Asking a team to play a Divisional playoff game on three days of rest after a Monday night Wild Card game would be a recipe for bad football.
When does the NFL postseason resume?
You don't have to wait too long. The drought ends Saturday.
The Divisional Round is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for football fans. You’ve got the top seeds—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—coming off their bye weeks, rested and probably a little bit dangerous.
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Here is how the next few days look:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The action kicks off in the thin air of Denver. The No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills travel to Mile High to face the No. 1 Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. After that, we get a brutal NFC West rivalry game. The San Francisco 49ers head to the noisy confines of Lumen Field to take on the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
The drama continues Sunday afternoon. The Houston Texans go into Foxborough to play the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). Then, to wrap up the weekend, the Los Angeles Rams face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That one kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and the forecast is already looking like a "classic Chicago" deep freeze.
What to watch while you wait
Since there’s no is there NFL football today to satisfy that itch, you've got a few options if you’re still hovering over the remote.
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The NBA is in full swing tonight. If you're into hoops, the Phoenix Suns are taking on the Detroit Pistons. It’s a bit of a bummer because Devin Booker is ruled out with that left ankle sprain he picked up against Miami, but Detroit is actually sitting near the top of the East right now. It's a weird year.
Otherwise, this is usually the night people catch up on the "All-22" film or argue about the point spreads. Denver is currently a slight favorite over Buffalo, which feels right given Bo Nix had seven game-winning drives this season. The kid is clutch. But the Bills just got their first road playoff win since the 90s, so they’re playing with house money.
Actionable steps for your playoff weekend
Don't let the lack of a game tonight catch you off guard again. The schedule for the rest of the month is locked in.
- Update your streaming apps: If you're watching the Saturday games, make sure your Paramount+ (for CBS) and FOX Sports logins are actually working. There is nothing worse than missing a kickoff because of a password reset.
- Check the weather for Sunday night: If you’re a bettor or a fantasy playoff manager, keep an eye on the Chicago forecast. Single digits are expected at Soldier Field. That usually means a heavy dose of the run game and some slippery hands for the receivers.
- Set your Saturday alarm: The Bills-Broncos game is an afternoon start for the West Coast (1:30 p.m. PT). Plan your grocery run accordingly.
The road to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium is getting narrow. Only eight teams are left. Tonight is the "calm before the storm," so enjoy the night off. Saturday is going to be loud.