.jpg?itok=oVN_1tuq)
If you’re sitting on your couch right now with a remote in one hand and a bag of wings in the other, searching for a live broadcast, I have some news that might sting a little bit.
There is no NFL game on TV tonight.
Honestly, it's a bit of a letdown. After months of "Thursday Night Football" being a staple of our weekly routine, the league shifts gears once we hit the postseason. Tonight, January 15, 2026, is one of those rare "dark nights" in January where the pads aren't popping and the whistles aren't blowing.
It feels weird. I get it. We've spent the better part of the last four months conditioned to expect a kickoff right as the weekend starts to peek over the horizon. But because we are currently nestled between the Wild Card round—which just wrapped up with that wild Houston Texans victory over the Steelers—and the high-stakes Divisional Round, the NFL takes a breather.
Why is tonight's NFL game on TV missing from the schedule?
The short answer is rest. The long answer involves how the NFL structures its playoff bracket to ensure teams aren't playing on dangerously short rest during the most important games of the year.
Usually, Amazon Prime owns the Thursday night slot. But the NFL's contract for "Thursday Night Football" typically covers the regular season. Once the playoffs hit, the league prioritizes the Saturday and Sunday windows. If they played a game tonight, January 15, they’d be forcing teams into a mid-week playoff game, which is basically unheard of. Imagine the Buffalo Bills having to fly to Denver on a Tuesday after a physical Wild Card win. It would be a mess.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Instead, the NFL keeps the drama packed into the weekend. This "off night" allows the top seeds—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—to finalize their game plans after their first-round bye.
What happened to the Thursday night slot?
You might see "NFL Football" listed on your cable guide for tonight on the NFL Network, but don't let it fool you. It's almost certainly a replay of a Wild Card game or an episode of NFL Total Access.
If you are a die-hard fan looking for any football tonight, you’re mostly looking at:
- Game replays (usually 49ers vs. Eagles or Texans vs. Steelers).
- Mock draft analysis (the Las Vegas Raiders officially have the No. 1 pick, by the way).
- Coaching search updates for the teams that already got bounced.
When does the action actually start?
Since you aren't getting a game tonight, you should probably clear your schedule for Saturday. That's when the "real" football returns. The Divisional Round is widely considered the best weekend of the entire year because you get the heavy hitters finally coming off their bye weeks to face the battle-tested winners of the Wild Card round.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Buffalo Bills travel to face the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. This one is on CBS. Then, later that night, we get an NFC West bloodbath: the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday is just as loaded. The Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). Finally, the weekend closes out with the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
How to watch the games this weekend (since tonight is a bust)
Since you've got some free time tonight, you might as well make sure your streaming apps are actually logged in. Nothing is worse than 4:25 p.m. on Saturday and realizing you forgot your Paramount+ password.
| Game Day | Matchup | Network | Streaming Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Bills @ Broncos | CBS | Paramount+, Fubo |
| Saturday | 49ers @ Seahawks | FOX | FOX Sports App, YouTube TV |
| Sunday | Texans @ Patriots | ABC/ESPN | ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV |
| Sunday | Rams @ Bears | NBC | Peacock, Sling TV |
A note on the "Peacock" factor
Keep in mind that while most of these games are on major broadcast networks, the Sunday night game between the Rams and Bears will be heavily pushed on Peacock. If you don't have an antenna, that’s going to be your easiest path.
The bracket as it stands
We’ve seen some shocks already. The No. 6 seed Bills beating Jacksonville was a statement. The Rams edging out Carolina 34-31 in the Wild Card round proved that Matthew Stafford (or whoever is under center for them in this 2026 run) still has that late-game magic.
The biggest storyline for this weekend? It has to be the Chicago Bears. After besting the Packers 31-27, they look like a legitimate threat to make the NFC Championship. People didn't expect them to be this deep in the hunt, yet here we are.
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Planning your "No Football" Thursday
Since is tonight's nfl game on tv isn't the answer you wanted, you have a few options to kill the time. The NBA is in full swing tonight with a Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic matchup on Prime Video if you need a competitive fix. Or, you can do what I’m doing: scouting the 2026 NFL Draft order.
With the Raiders, Jets, and Cardinals holding the top three picks, the "off days" are actually the best time to see which college prospects are trending.
The path to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium is narrowing. We only have seven games left in the entire season. Tonight is just a temporary pause before the chaos of the Divisional Round begins.
Your Next Steps:
Check your subscription status for Paramount+ and Peacock tonight so you aren't scrambling on Saturday afternoon. If you rely on an antenna, do a channel scan now to ensure your local CBS and FOX affiliates are coming in crystal clear before the Bills-Broncos kickoff.