So, you’re looking for the NFL football game for today, Thursday, January 15, 2026. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’re staring at your TV remote right now hoping for a primetime kickoff, you’re going to be staring for a while. There isn't a game on tonight.
It feels kinda weird, right? We’ve spent months conditioned to expect Thursday Night Football to anchor our week. But now that we’ve hit the teeth of the postseason, the schedule shifts. Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday slate is officially wrapped up for the year. We are currently in that quiet, slightly agonizing "calm before the storm" between the chaos of Wild Card weekend and the upcoming Divisional Round.
Honestly, it’s probably for the best. The teams remaining—eight total, four in each conference—need every second of recovery they can get. Especially considering the absolute gauntlet that just happened.
The NFL Football Game for Today is Actually... Preparation
While there’s no live action tonight, the news cycle is moving fast. If you’re a Seahawks fan, you’re probably refreshing your feed every five minutes. Sam Darnold was added to the injury report today with an oblique issue. He’s telling anyone who will listen that he’s "really confident" about playing Saturday, but that’s the kind of news that keeps a city from sleeping.
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The Divisional Round is where the "real" season starts for the heavyweights. The top seeds, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, finally get to step onto the field after watching the Wild Card round from their couches.
Why there's no game on Thursday
The NFL generally avoids Thursday games in the playoffs for one simple reason: fairness. In a sudden-death tournament, playing on a short week is a massive competitive disadvantage. Since the Wild Card games ended as late as Monday night (where the Texans handled the Steelers 30-6), asking a team to turn around and play on a Thursday would be coaching malpractice.
Instead, the league stacks the weekend. We get a double-header on Saturday and another on Sunday. It’s a marathon of high-stakes football that basically requires you to clear your schedule and buy extra wings.
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Looking Ahead: The Divisional Round Schedule
Since you can't watch an NFL football game for today, let’s look at what is actually happening in roughly 48 hours. The bracket is set, and the matchups are honestly fascinating.
Saturday, January 17
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+): This is the rematch people have been screaming for. Last year, the Bills knocked Denver out of the Wild Card round. This year, the Broncos have home-field advantage and the AFC's No. 1 seed. The spread is tiny—Denver is only a 1.5-point favorite.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET, FOX): A classic NFC West bloodbath. The Niners just escaped Philadelphia with a 23-19 win, thanks to some "Jauan Jennings magic" (the dude threw another TD pass to McCaffrey!). But playing in Seattle at night? That’s a different beast entirely.
Sunday, January 18
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN): The Patriots are the feel-good story of the year, going 14-3. But they’re facing a Texans defense that just put the clamps on Pittsburgh.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock): It is going to be freezing. Single digits. The Rams are road warriors right now, but Ben Johnson has that Bears offense humming at Soldier Field.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Break
A lot of fans think this "off day" is just dead air. It isn't. This is when the most important chess moves happen.
For instance, the Chicago Bears are currently prepping for a Rams team that is ranked top five in DVOA on both sides of the ball. If you’re Bears coach Ben Johnson, you’re not resting today. You’re looking at film of how the Rams defense handled the Panthers last week and wondering if your offensive line can hold up in the sub-zero temperatures forecasted for Sunday.
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And then there's the Buffalo Bills. They are the No. 6 seed, the "underdogs" on paper, but Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed. He’s got the best TD-INT ratio of any active playoff QB. If you think the 1-seed Broncos are comfortable right now, you haven't been paying attention to how Buffalo travels.
Actionable Tips for the NFL Postseason
Since you have the night off, here is how you can actually prepare for the upcoming weekend of games. Don't just sit there; get your setup ready.
- Check your streaming logins: Saturday’s Bills/Broncos game is on CBS/Paramount+, but Sunday’s nightcap is NBC/Peacock. Make sure you aren't resetting passwords five minutes before kickoff.
- Monitor the Seattle Injury Report: If Sam Darnold’s oblique injury limits his mobility, the 49ers' pass rush will feast. Keep an eye on the Friday practice participation report.
- Watch the Weather: The Rams-Bears game in Chicago is looking like a "frozen tundra" special. In games that cold, the over/under (currently around 48.5) might be a bit ambitious. Expect a lot of ground-and-pound.
- Audit the "VFL" Presence: If you follow college ball, Tennessee has a weirdly high number of players (10!) on these Divisional rosters. From Joshua Palmer in Buffalo to Darnell Wright in Chicago, the Vols are everywhere this weekend.
The wait for the next NFL football game for today might be annoying, but the Divisional Round is historically the best weekend of the entire year. Better than the Super Bowl. Four games, two days, and the highest level of football on the planet. Grab a drink, relax tonight, and get ready for Saturday.