If you were watching the frozen drama at Soldier Field or the chess match in Foxborough, you probably noticed the clock felt like it was moving in slow motion. Football games always run long, but tonight’s NFL Divisional Round matchups had a specific kind of late-night tension that kept fans glued to their screens well past the usual bedtime.
Honestly, the weather in Chicago was the real MVP—or the real villain, depending on who you ask. With temperatures hovering around 19°F and wind chills making it feel like a sub-zero nightmare, the pace of the game slowed down to a gritty, run-heavy slog. When people ask what time was the game over tonight, the answer usually depends on whether they mean the final whistle or when the frostbite finally set in.
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Final Whistles: When the Clock Actually Hit Zero
The NFL schedule for Sunday, January 18, 2026, featured a double-header that defined the conference championship outlook.
In the early window, the Houston Texans traveled to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Patriots. That game kicked off at 3:00 PM ET. It was a relatively "clean" game in terms of penalties and reviews, finishing up just before the sun went down in Massachusetts. The Patriots secured a 21-13 victory over C.J. Stroud and the Texans, with the game officially wrapping up around 6:08 PM ET.
Then things got messy.
The nightcap featured the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Chicago Bears. Kickoff was set for 6:30 PM ET on NBC, but between the "Football Night in America" intro and the inevitable delays of playoff football, the ball didn't actually fly until a few minutes later.
Rams vs. Bears: The Frozen Finish
This was the game everyone was watching. Matthew Stafford versus Caleb Williams in the freezing mud of Soldier Field. Because of several key reviews in the fourth quarter and a couple of injury timeouts that stalled the momentum, this game pushed late into the night.
- Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET
- Game End: Approximately 9:47 PM ET
If you were watching from the West Coast, you were likely finishing dinner as the Bears tried to mount that final, desperate drive. For East Coast fans, it was a nearly three-hour and fifteen-minute affair that ended just in time for the local news.
Why Do These Games Take So Long?
It’s a common gripe. You sit down for a "three-hour" game and suddenly you're four hours deep into a bag of chips. Tonight was no different.
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The Divisional Round is high-stakes. Every play is scrutinized. We saw a crucial "catch/no-catch" review in the third quarter of the Bears game that took nearly five minutes for the officiating crew in New York to buzz down. Add in the commercial breaks—which, let's be real, are longer and more frequent during the playoffs—and the clock just stretches.
The weather also played a factor tonight. In Chicago, the 22 mph winds made the passing game treacherous. Teams relied on the run, which keeps the clock moving, but the frequent "player piles" and slow resets in the cold added seconds to every transition. It’s sort of a paradox: the clock runs more during run plays, but the game feels like it drags because the explosive plays are missing.
Other Sports Wrapping Up Tonight
It wasn't just about the NFL. If you’re a sports degenerate or just a fan of late-night TV, you might have caught the start of the Australian Open or some NBA action.
Over in the NBA, we had a packed Sunday slate. Most of those games started between 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets went late, with Denver missing Nikola Jokić due to that nagging knee injury. That game ended around 10:22 PM ET.
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Meanwhile, across the globe in Melbourne, the Australian Open kicked off its first round. Because Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of New York, their "tonight" is actually Monday morning. We saw Aryna Sabalenka dominate her opening match on Rod Laver Arena, which finished up around 4:30 AM ET (our time).
What This Means for Next Week
Now that the dust has settled and the stadium lights are off, the bracket is set. The Patriots move on, and the winner of the Rams/Bears slugfest is heading to the NFC Championship.
If you're planning your life around the Conference Championships next Sunday, expect similar timing. The early game usually starts at 3:00 PM ET and the late game at 6:30 PM ET. If history—and tonight—is any indication, don't make dinner reservations before 10:00 PM.
Immediate Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Injury Reports: Both the Bears and Rams saw players leave the field tonight; keep an eye on the Wednesday practice reports to see who is actually going to be healthy for the Championship round.
- Verify Kickoff Times: Network television likes to flex these times slightly for maximum viewership, so double-check your local listings by Friday.
- Update Your Bracket: If you’re in a playoff pool, the window to lock in your Super Bowl LXI picks is closing fast.
Tonight was a reminder that in January, the clock is just a suggestion. Whether it's the refs, the weather, or a rookie quarterback trying to orchestrate a two-minute drill, the game is over when the drama finally runs out of oxygen.