You’ve seen the schedule. You know the big names. But honestly, if you're just looking at the kickoff times for the football games on today, you’re missing the actual story of what’s about to happen on the grass. January 17, 2026, is one of those rare Saturdays where the sports calendar basically explodes. We have the NFL Divisional Round moving into high gear while the Premier League serves up a Manchester Derby that could decide the title race.
It's a lot.
Most people think today is just about the favorites winning. They're wrong. In the NFL, this is the round where "home field advantage" often meets the "red-hot wild card" buzzsaw. Over in Europe, the January transfer window has just started to settle, and teams are either desperate or exhausted.
The NFL Divisional Round: Mile High and Seattle Storms
The bracket is set, the talk is over. Today, the NFL playoffs move to the Divisional Round, which is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for pure football quality.
First up, we have the Buffalo Bills visiting the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. This is a fascinating matchup because Denver is the No. 1 seed, coming off a bye. But the Bills? They just scraped past Jacksonville in a 27-24 nail-biter. Buffalo looks battle-tested, while Denver has been sitting at home.
The thin air at Empower Field at Mile High is no joke. Most analysts expect the Broncos to be rusty in the first quarter. Keep an eye on the Bills' pass rush; if they can rattle Denver early, that "rest vs. rust" debate is going to get very loud, very quickly.
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Then, at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX, we get the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. This is a divisional rivalry on the biggest stage. Seattle locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and they’ve won seven straight. Sam Darnold—yes, you read that right—is having a career resurgence in Seattle, though he’s dealing with a shaky oblique.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers are 7-point underdogs according to the latest odds. That feels high for a team that just beat the Eagles. Seattle’s Lumen Field is going to be deafening, but San Francisco knows how to run the ball to quiet a crowd. Christian McCaffrey is the key here. If he goes for over 100 scrimmage yards, the Seahawks' seven-game streak might just end tonight.
Premier League: The Manchester Derby and the Relegation Scrap
While America is waking up, England is already in the thick of it. The 2025–26 Premier League season is reaching a fever pitch.
The Manchester United vs. Manchester City match at Old Trafford (7:30 a.m. EST) is the highlight. It's the early kickoff, which usually means a cagey start. But City is chasing the top spot, and United is desperate to prove the "New Era" under their current management isn't just a false dawn.
Later in the morning, at 10:00 a.m. EST, we have a massive slate:
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- Liverpool vs. Burnley: Anfield is usually a fortress, but Burnley has been surprisingly stubborn this month.
- Chelsea vs. Brentford: A West London derby that always gets heated. Chelsea needs consistency; Brentford just needs a result.
- Tottenham vs. West Ham: Expect goals. Both these teams have forgotten how to defend lately.
Basically, if you aren't parked in front of a screen by mid-morning, you’re going to miss the season-defining moments.
European Heavyweights: Leipzig vs. Bayern and the La Liga Chase
If the English games don't do it for you, the Bundesliga is offering a literal heavyweight title fight. RB Leipzig hosts Bayern Munich at 12:30 p.m. EST.
Leipzig has spent the last three seasons trying to bridge the gap. Today is their best chance. Bayern’s defense has looked vulnerable against pace, and Leipzig has that in spades.
In Spain, Real Madrid faces Levante early (8:00 a.m. EST). Madrid is expected to cruise, but these are the "trap games" that cost teams championships. Later on, Real Betis plays Villarreal at 3:00 p.m. EST, which is quietly the best tactical matchup in La Liga today. Both teams play an aggressive, possession-based style that is beautiful to watch if you're a purist.
Why Today’s Odds Might Be Lying to You
Betting on football games on today is a minefield. The "favorites" are being hammered by the public, but the smart money is looking at the injury reports.
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Take the Seahawks game. Sam Darnold is "questionable" with that oblique injury. If he can't rotate his torso fully, his deep ball accuracy—his biggest weapon this year—is gone. The spread is 7, but a hobbled QB makes the 49ers +7 look like the steal of the century.
In the Premier League, Burnley is a massive underdog at Anfield. But Liverpool played a grueling midweek cup match. The "leg fatigue" factor is real. Burnley doesn't need to win; they just need to frustrate, and they are very good at being annoying.
Actionable Insights for the Football Fan
If you want to actually enjoy the football games on today without getting overwhelmed, here is how you handle it:
- Prioritize the 4:30 p.m. NFL window: The Bills/Broncos game is the one most likely to produce a "statistically improbable" ending. The altitude and the Bills' momentum are a volatile mix.
- Watch the first 15 minutes of the Manchester Derby: If City scores early, it's a rout. If United holds firm until the 20th minute, the pressure on City becomes a physical weight you can see on the pitch.
- Monitor the weather in Seattle: Forecasts suggest a 44-degree kickoff with light winds. That’s "Purdy weather." If it stays dry, the 49ers' passing game remains a threat. If it rains, advantage Seahawks.
- Don't ignore the Bundesliga: The Leipzig vs. Bayern game is often higher quality, technically speaking, than anything else on the Saturday schedule.
Keep an eye on the official team sheets which drop 60 minutes before each kickoff. In a season as long as this 2025-2026 campaign, a single "late scratch" due to muscle tightness changes everything.
Get your snacks ready. It's going to be a long day.