It's January 17, 2026, and if you aren't parked on your couch with a spread of wings and a questionable amount of buffalo chicken dip, you’re basically doing winter wrong. We have finally hit the meat of the postseason. The Wild Card round was a total fever dream—looking at you, Caleb Williams, for that fourth-quarter comeback against the Packers—but today is where the pretenders get sent home for good.
The national football league schedule today features a double-header that essentially pits the "new guard" against the "old reliables." We’ve got the top seeds coming off their bye weeks, rested and probably a little bit rusty, facing off against teams that just clawed through a physical Wild Card weekend.
The Afternoon Slate: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Honestly, nobody expected the Buffalo Bills to be here three weeks ago. After Josh Allen dragged them back from the brink in Jacksonville last Sunday—scoring that 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth to win 27-24—the Bills are officially the "team no one wants to play." They are the No. 6 seed, traveling into the thin air of Mile High to face the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos.
Denver has been a juggernaut. They finished the regular season 14-3, and while they’ve had a week to sit back and watch the chaos, there’s always that lingering fear of "bye week rust." The Broncos defense has been clinical, but Josh Allen in January is a different beast. He’s basically playing backyard football with a rocket launcher for an arm. If the Bills can protect the ball—which, let's be real, is always a 50/50 toss-up with Allen—they could absolutely spoil the party in Denver.
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If you’re looking to stream this one, you’ve got options:
- Paramount+ is the direct home for CBS games.
- Fubo or Hulu + Live TV if you’ve ditched cable.
- NFL+ for the mobile crowd.
The Nightcap: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
The lights come on at Lumen Field at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
This is the one. The NFC West rivalry that never seems to lose its heat. The Seahawks are the No. 1 seed for a reason—their defense, led by Devon Witherspoon, has been the "Legion of Boom 2.0." They held opponents to a league-best 17.2 points per game this season. But the 49ers are coming in hot after a gritty 23-19 win in Philadelphia.
There is a major "if" hanging over this game: Sam Darnold’s health. Reports out of Seattle say he’s dealing with an oblique injury. If he can’t go, or if he’s limited, the Seahawks' offensive rhythm might stutter. Meanwhile, Brock Purdy just proved he can handle a hostile environment by surviving that Philly crowd.
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Seattle beat the Niners 13-3 in the final week of the regular season, but don’t let that score fool you. San Francisco was resting key players, and the playoff version of Kyle Shanahan’s offense is a completely different animal. With Trent Williams back at left tackle, Purdy is going to have just enough time to find Deebo Samuel or George Kittle in those vacated zones.
Watching the Night Game
Since it's on FOX, you can catch it on your local affiliate or via the FOX Sports App. It’s also being broadcast on FOX Deportes if you prefer the Spanish-language call, which, honestly, usually has way more energy anyway.
What Most People Get Wrong About Today's Matchups
Most casual fans assume the No. 1 seeds are locks. They aren't.
Statistically, the Divisional Round is where home-field advantage starts to feel the pressure. The "rest vs. rust" debate is real. Denver and Seattle haven't played a meaningful snap in two weeks. Buffalo and San Francisco are in a rhythm. They’re bruised, sure, but they’re sharp.
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Another thing to watch: the weather in Denver. Empower Field can be a nightmare in mid-January. If the wind picks up, the Bills' deep passing game gets neutralized, turning it into a ground-and-pound affair. That favors Denver’s disciplined front seven.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
If today doesn't satisfy your football craving, tomorrow’s national football league schedule finishes the Divisional Round:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) - Can the Texans' "stingy" defense stop the Patriots' resurgence?
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC) - Matthew Stafford vs. Caleb Williams at a freezing Soldier Field.
Actionable Tips for Your Game Day
To make the most of the national football league schedule today, you should:
- Check the Injury Reports: Specifically watch for Sam Darnold’s pre-game warmup news around 6:30 p.m. ET. If he’s ruled out, the betting lines will shift dramatically.
- Sync Your Audio: If you’re watching the CBS broadcast but hate the delay on streaming, try a local radio app like Westwood One for real-time play-by-play.
- Monitor the Denver Kicking Game: In that altitude, field goals from 55+ yards are suddenly very much on the table. Both teams have kickers who can boom it, so don't count out a long-range game-winner.
The winner of the AFC game today will face either New England or Houston in the Championship game next Sunday, January 25. On the NFC side, the winner of Niners-Seahawks will host (or travel to) the winner of Rams-Bears. The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting very narrow.