If you’re sitting on your couch right now with a bowl of wings and a remote, I’ve got some bad news. There isn't a list of nfl football games today because, honestly, the league likes to leave us hanging right when the postseason heat starts to boil. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026. Usually, Thursdays are for the NFL, but the "Thursday Night Football" contract on Amazon Prime basically disappears once the playoffs start.
It’s that weird, quiet lull. We just came off a Wild Card weekend that saw the Texans absolutely dismantle the Steelers and the Bears barely scrape by the Packers. Now, we're in the "calm before the storm" phase. The Divisional Round is looming, and while your screen might be empty tonight, the bracket for this weekend is officially set in stone.
The Saturday Doubleheader: AFC and NFC Heavyweights
Since there’s no list of nfl football games today, your next real chance to lose your voice yelling at the TV is Saturday, January 17. The NFL is sticking to its traditional two-game Saturday slate.
First up, at 4:30 p.m. ET, we have the Buffalo Bills traveling to Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos. This is a fascinating matchup because Denver has been resting on their first-round bye while Buffalo had to fight through a 27-24 nail-biter against Jacksonville. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed, but the altitude in Denver is no joke in mid-January. CBS is carrying this one, so make sure your Paramount+ login actually works before kickoff.
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The nightcap is even better. It’s an NFC West divisional grudge match. The San Francisco 49ers are heading to Seattle to take on the No. 1 seed Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. These teams know each other too well. San Francisco just took down the defending champ Eagles in a 23-19 defensive masterclass. Seattle’s "12th Man" is going to be deafening, and if Jauan Jennings keeps throwing touchdown passes on double-reverses like he did last week, we’re in for some weird, beautiful football.
Sunday’s Slate: Can the Texans Keep Rolling?
If Saturday doesn't satisfy the itch, Sunday brings the final two spots for the Conference Championships.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN). The Texans looked like the best team in the league last Monday, beating Pittsburgh 30-6. But Foxborough in January is a different beast. New England’s defense held the Chargers to just 3 points last week. It’s the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC). This is the "Ice Bowl" of 2026. Forecasts for Soldier Field are calling for single-digit temperatures. The Rams are coming off a high-scoring win against Carolina, but can Sean McVay’s explosive offense survive the Chicago wind? Darnell Wright and that Bears offensive line are built for this kind of weather; the Rams' flashy speedsters might not be.
Why the Gap in the Schedule?
A lot of people get frustrated when they look for a list of nfl football games today and find a big fat zero. The league does this for two main reasons: player safety and TV ratings.
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Giving the teams that played on Monday (the Texans and Steelers) enough time to recover is crucial. Playing a playoff game on a short week is a recipe for injuries and bad football. Also, the NFL knows they own the weekend. They don’t want to compete with a random Thursday night primetime slot when they can dominate the entire Saturday and Sunday conversation.
If you’re truly desperate for a fix tonight, you might find some college basketball or NBA action, but the pigskin is staying in the locker room until Saturday afternoon.
What to Watch For This Weekend
While you wait for the games to actually start, keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Denver and Seattle today.
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- Quarterback Health: Check if the Broncos’ starters are showing any rust after the week off. Sometimes the bye week helps, sometimes it kills momentum.
- The Weather Factor: Chicago is going to be brutal. If you’re betting or playing DFS, look at the "big" backs. This isn't a game for finesse.
- The Rookie Impact: Keep an eye on the 2023 and 2024 draft classes that are now the core of teams like the Packers (who sadly just got eliminated) and the Texans.
Basically, enjoy your Thursday off. Rest your liver. Saturday is going to be a long, intense day of football that makes up for the lack of games today.
Next Steps for the Weekend:
- Check your local listings for CBS and FOX to ensure you have access to the Saturday games.
- Monitor the weather reports for Chicago if you are planning any fantasy football or betting moves for the Sunday nightcap.
- Verify your streaming subscriptions (Paramount+ and Peacock) are active for the Divisional Round broadcasts.