You woke up today, January 13, 2026, ready to park it on the couch for some postseason pigskin. You’re scrolling through the guide, checking the "nfl football game channels today" searches, and... nothing. It’s a ghost town.
The harsh reality? There aren't any games today.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a letdown after the absolute chaos we just witnessed. If you caught that Monday Night Football finale last night, you saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30–6 at Acrisure Stadium. It was brutal. C.J. Stroud looked like a seasoned vet while the Steelers' offense basically stalled out in the snow.
Since that game wrapped up the Wild Card round, the NFL is officially on a "reset" break. This is that awkward Tuesday and Wednesday where players get into the ice baths and we, the fans, have to actually talk to our families or find a hobby.
The nfl football game channels today Reality Check
If you’re seeing listings for NFL games today, they are almost certainly replays on the NFL Network. They love to loop the best matchups from the weekend during these mid-week lulls.
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Don't get it twisted—the playoffs aren't over. We are just in the eye of the storm. The league spaces these out to maximize ratings (obviously) and to give the teams that played on Monday a fighting chance to recover before the Divisional Round kicks off.
Why the schedule is blank right now
- Rest Cycles: Teams like the Texans just finished playing less than 24 hours ago. They need time to travel and game-plan for the next monster on their schedule.
- TV Windows: The NFL owns the weekends. They aren't going to "waste" a playoff game on a Tuesday night when they can pull 30 million viewers on a Saturday afternoon.
- The Bye Week Advantage: The Denver Broncos (AFC No. 1 seed) and the Seattle Seahawks (NFC No. 1 seed) have been sitting at home, watching the carnage. They’re the real winners today, getting an extra week of health while everyone else is bruised up.
Looking Ahead: When do the games actually start?
Since you can't find nfl football game channels today, you’re probably wondering when the TV is going to be worth turning on again. Mark your calendar for Saturday, January 17. That’s when the Divisional Round starts, and the matchups are actually incredible.
The NFL literally just released the official times and networks last night after the Texans game ended. Here is what the upcoming weekend looks like:
Saturday, January 17 (Divisional Round Openers)
The Buffalo Bills travel to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch that one on CBS. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, which usually means we're in for some "Oh-ho-ho, I don't know, Jim!" commentary.
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Later that night, it's a divisional bloodbath. The San Francisco 49ers head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. This is the prime-time slot, and seeing Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth for a Seahawks home playoff game is going to be something else.
Sunday, January 18 (The Final Four Push)
Sunday starts with the Houston Texans heading to Foxborough to play the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. That’s an ESPN/ABC game. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are handling this one. It’s a huge test for Stroud to see if he can handle the January chill in Massachusetts.
The weekend wraps up with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be calling the action. If the weather in Chicago holds up, it could be a classic; if it doesn't, it'll be a frozen slog.
How to watch the rest of the 2026 NFL Playoffs
Since there are no nfl football game channels today, now is the time to make sure your subscriptions haven't expired. The "fragmentation" of sports media is getting a bit ridiculous, but basically, you need a mix of cable and streaming to see it all.
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- The Big Four: You still need CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC. If you have a digital antenna and live near a city, you can get these for free. Honestly, it's the best $30 investment for any football fan.
- Peacock: NBC is putting more and more weight on their streaming service. The Rams-Bears game will be live there.
- Paramount+: This is your best bet for the Bills-Broncos game if you don't have traditional cable.
- NFL+: If you're okay with watching on a phone or tablet, NFL+ is the easiest way to catch every single playoff game live.
What most people get wrong about the Tuesday "off" days
A lot of fans think the "NFL season" is just the games. But if you're looking for content today, the real "game" is the injury report.
Keep an eye on the news coming out of Pittsburgh and Houston. The Steelers' loss was heavy, and there are already rumors swirling about whether Mike Tomlin’s seven-game postseason losing streak (which ties Marvin Lewis for a record nobody wants) means a coaching change is coming.
Also, watch the weather. Denver and Chicago in mid-January are no joke. The "nfl football game channels today" might be empty, but the betting lines are moving based on the forecast for those Saturday and Sunday games.
Summary of the 2026 Playoff Bracket
- AFC Matchups:
- No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 1 Denver Broncos
- No. 5 Houston Texans at No. 2 New England Patriots
- NFC Matchups:
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks
- No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 2 Chicago Bears
Basically, the "Old Guard" (Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos) is defending their home turf against the "New Wave" (Texans, Bills, Rams). It’s the kind of narrative that scriptwriters dream of.
Actionable Next Steps
Since there isn't a game on right now, don't waste your night clicking through channels. Instead, get ready for the weekend. Check your Peacock and Paramount+ logins now so you aren't doing the "forgot my password" dance five minutes before kickoff on Saturday. If you’re a bettor, the opening lines for Bills-Broncos just dropped with Denver as a slight home favorite—lock in those early numbers before the public moves them. Finally, if you missed the Texans-Steelers game, go find the highlights on the NFL's YouTube channel to see exactly why Houston is the team everyone is suddenly afraid of.