The drama is basically hitting a fever pitch. If you spent your Saturday glued to the screen, you know that the NFL football scores results from this Divisional Round weekend aren't just numbers on a ticker; they are a total shift in the Super Bowl landscape. We came into today with heavyweights like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks coming off their byes, rested and ready. Meanwhile, the "underdogs" were anything but quiet.
Honestly, the energy at Empower Field and Lumen Field today felt like something out of a movie. You’ve got Josh Allen trying to rewrite his postseason legacy against a Bo Nix-led Broncos team that has been nearly unbeatable at home. Then you have the NFC West civil war. It's absolute chaos.
The AFC Shocker: Bills vs. Broncos Breakdown
Buffalo didn't come to Colorado to play nice. Coming off a gritty 27-24 win over Jacksonville in the Wild Card round, the Bills looked like a team that had already found its playoff rhythm. Josh Allen didn't throw an interception in six straight games leading into this, and that discipline showed early.
The Broncos, despite being the top seed with a 14-3 record, looked a little rusty in the first quarter. Bo Nix has been phenomenal, but the Buffalo pass rush, led by a newly healthy Ed Oliver, kept him on his heels. It’s wild to think that Denver has been 13-1 over their last 14 games, yet the Bills came in as only slight underdogs.
- Key Moment: James Cook III finding a gap in the third quarter that felt like it shifted the entire stadium's gravity.
- The Stats: Bo Nix threw for nearly 4,000 yards this season, but the Bills' secondary played him tighter than a drum today.
- Betting Impact: The spread was sitting at Broncos -1.5, which tells you exactly how much respect Vegas had for Buffalo's momentum.
NFC West War: 49ers and Seahawks Trade Blows
Over in Seattle, it was loud. Like, "can't hear your own thoughts" loud. The Seahawks entered today as 7-point favorites, and for good reason. They’ve won 11 straight games when they are favored. But the 49ers are the ultimate "zombie team"—you just can't kill them.
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After Christian McCaffrey basically willed them past the Eagles last week with a late 4-yard TD catch, everyone knew he’d be the focal point. Brock Purdy isn't putting up 400-yard games, but he’s efficient. He knows exactly where his playmakers are.
Seattle’s Sam Darnold was the big question mark all week with that oblique injury. He didn't even throw a ball in practice on Thursday. Seeing him trot out for the first series was a massive boost for the 12th Man, but you could tell he was favoring that side. It changed how they called the game. They leaned heavily on Kenneth Walker III, which is a bold strategy against a San Francisco front that eats runners for breakfast.
Why the "Home Field Advantage" Felt Different Today
Usually, the #1 seed owns the Divisional Round. They're rested. They're at home. But today's NFL football scores results suggest that the "bye week rust" is a very real thing in 2026.
Look at the history. We’ve seen teams like the 2023 Ravens or the 2021 Titans struggle after a week off. Today, both Denver and Seattle looked like they were trying to find their legs while their opponents were already in a full sprint. It’s kinda crazy that we still debate this every year, yet the results keep surprising us.
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What This Means for Tomorrow’s Slate
We aren't done. Not even close. Tomorrow gives us the Houston Texans heading into the freezer that is Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. Drake Maye vs. C.J. Stroud is the young QB matchup we’ve been waiting for all season.
Then you’ve got the Rams and Bears. Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best football of his 17-year career. Seriously, the guy made All-Pro this year. He’s going up against Caleb Williams, who just orchestrated a miraculous comeback against Green Bay where he threw two touchdowns in the final seven minutes.
- Texans vs. Patriots: Watch the Houston pass protection. If they can't keep Stroud clean, it’s going to be a long afternoon in the snow.
- Rams vs. Bears: This is the game everyone is circling for "Potential Classic" status. Puka Nacua is a monster, but the Bears' secondary has been ball-hawking all month.
Navigating the Road to Super Bowl LX
If you’re looking at the updated bracket, the path to Santa Clara is getting narrow. The winners from today’s games are moving on to the Conference Championships on January 25th.
For the Bills, if they survive this gauntlet, they’ve proven they can win anywhere. They haven't won a road playoff game of this magnitude since the early 90s. Breaking that curse today changes the entire narrative around Sean McDermott and Josh Allen.
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For the 49ers, it’s all about health. They’ve been playing "playoff football" for a month just to get into the dance. Eventually, that wears on a roster. Keep an eye on Ricky Pearsall’s status; his knee has been a nagging issue, and they need his vertical threat to keep defenses from stacking the box against McCaffrey.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Now that today's scores are settling in, here is how you should prep for the rest of the weekend:
- Check the Injury Reports: Specifically watch for Sam Darnold’s oblique status if the Seahawks advanced, and monitor the Patriots' defensive line health before the noon kickoff tomorrow.
- Adjust Your Bracket: If you’re in a playoff pool, the "home team sweep" is officially under threat. Look at the Rams as a serious "live" underdog tomorrow based on how the road teams performed today.
- Secure Your Viewership: Tomorrow’s games are split between ESPN/ABC (Patriots) and NBC/Peacock (Bears). Make sure your subs are active before the 3:05 PM ET kickoff.
The road to Super Bowl LX is officially wide open. Today's NFL football scores results proved that in the postseason, records are basically irrelevant once the ball is kicked off. It’s about who can handle the pressure of the moment.