The regular season is a long, grueling marathon, but let's be honest: this is when the real season starts. Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. We've survived the Wild Card chaos and now we're staring down the barrel of the Divisional Round. This is where the pretenders get sent home and the heavyweights finally trade blows.
People always say the No. 1 seeds have it easy because they're coming off a bye week. Honestly, it’s not that simple. Rest is great, but rust is real. Today, we get to see if the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks can handle the pressure of being the hunted.
If you're looking for the schedule for all nfl football games today, you’ve got two massive matchups on the docket. We’re talking about Bo Nix vs. Josh Allen in the thin air of Denver, followed by a brutal NFC West rivalry game in the Pacific Northwest. It’s going to be a long day on the couch. You've probably already checked the spreads, but there is a lot more going on under the hood of these games than just the betting lines.
NFL Football Games Today: The Full Saturday Slate
First things first, let’s get the logistics out of the way. If you’re trying to plan your Saturday around the TV, here is exactly when and where these games are happening.
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
- Channel: CBS / Streaming on Paramount+
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
- Channel: FOX / Streaming on the FOX Sports App
The Sunday games (Texans at Patriots and Rams at Bears) are still a sleep away. Today is all about these two matchups.
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Why the Bills vs. Broncos Game Is a Schematic Nightmare
Most people look at the Bills and see Josh Allen's "superhero" highlights. They see the 60-yard bombs and the way he hurdles linebackers like they're hurdles on a track. But Buffalo's path to a win today isn't about the long ball. It’s about the quick game.
The Denver Broncos, led by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, have been a defensive buzzsaw this year. They led the league with 68 sacks during the regular season. That’s insane. They don't just pressure you; they live in the backfield.
But here's the catch: Denver’s defense is actually somewhat vulnerable to the quick passing game. They rank 17th in defensive efficiency on throws made in under 2.5 seconds. Josh Allen has been elite in that specific category lately, completing nearly 95% of his quick-release throws in last week's win over the Jaguars.
If Buffalo tries to let plays develop downfield, Denver's pass rush—led by a relentless front that pressured QBs on over 40% of dropbacks—will swallow Allen whole. Especially since Allen is reportedly playing through a fair amount of "battered body" pain after a physical Wild Card weekend.
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On the other side of the ball, you've got Bo Nix. The second-year QB has been a bit of a rollercoaster. One quarter he looks like a Hall of Famer, the next he’s throwing balls into the third row. But Sean Payton has found a way to win 11 one-score games this year. That isn't luck. It's situational football. The Broncos are lethal in the red zone, and the Bills' run defense is, frankly, suspect. Buffalo allowed 24 rushing touchdowns this season, which was the worst in the league. If Denver can run the ball with RJ Harvey and use Nix’s mobility, they might just grind the Bills into the dirt.
The 49ers vs. Seahawks Grudge Match
Later tonight, the San Francisco 49ers head to Seattle. This is the third time these teams have met this season. Usually, that favors the team that lost the previous matchups, but Seattle isn't your typical No. 1 seed.
Seattle has the best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 17.2 points per game. They are disciplined, fast, and they play at Lumen Field—one of the loudest, most hostile environments in professional sports.
Brock Purdy is coming off a solid win against the Eagles, but he took a massive hit to his arsenal. George Kittle is out. That is a huge problem. Kittle isn't just a pass-catcher; he’s the engine of their run-blocking scheme. Without him, the Niners' offense becomes much more predictable.
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The "hidden" stat of this game is the blitz. When Brock Purdy is blitzed, his efficiency falls off a cliff. He goes from a +0.21 EPA (Expected Points Added) to a -0.10 EPA. Seattle knows this. While they didn't blitz much in their Week 1 loss to San Francisco, they dialed it up significantly in their Week 18 win. Expect Mike Macdonald to send the house early and often to see if Purdy can handle the heat without his security blanket at tight end.
Historical trends are also heavily on Seattle's side. Since 1984, teams with an eight-day or more rest advantage in the playoffs are a perfect 7-0. The Seahawks are rested, healthy, and playing at home. The 49ers are bruised, missing a Pro Bowler, and playing on short rest. It’s a steep hill to climb.
Actionable Insights for Today's Games
If you're watching all nfl football games today, keep an eye on these specific details rather than just the scoreboard. They’ll tell you who’s actually winning before the points show up.
- The 2.5-Second Clock: Watch how fast Josh Allen gets rid of the ball. If he's holding it for 3+ seconds in the first quarter, the Broncos' pass rush will eventually get home, and it’s going to be a long afternoon for Buffalo.
- Denver's Red Zone Rushing: If the Broncos get inside the 20, watch for Bo Nix to keep the ball on a read-option. The Bills have struggled with mobile QBs in the red zone all year.
- Seattle’s Blitz Rate: In the night game, look at how often the Seahawks send extra rushers on the first two drives. If they are aggressive early, it means they don't fear the Niners' run game without Kittle.
- Weather and Altitude: Denver in mid-January is no joke. The thin air tires out defensive linemen faster than usual. If the Bills can sustain a 10-play drive early, they might wear out that ferocious Denver front.
Watching the playoffs is about understanding the chess match. These aren't just athletes running around; these are highly specific schemes designed to exploit tiny weaknesses. Today, those weaknesses involve quick passes, blitz pickups, and the absence of star tight ends. Enjoy the games—the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting very narrow.