Look, if you’re staring at your phone trying to find out what are the nfl football scores today, you already know the stakes. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026. We are officially in the meat of the Divisional Round, and honestly, this is the best weekend of the entire year. Better than the Super Bowl? For most purists, yeah, probably. You’ve got eight teams left, the pretenders are gone, and the heavyweights are finally stepping into the ring after their first-round byes.
Today is all about the No. 1 seeds making their postseason debuts. In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills are in the thin air of Denver to take on Bo Nix and the top-seeded Broncos. Then, the nightcap gives us an absolute slugfest between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. It’s a double-header that basically dictates the path to the Lombardi Trophy.
Breaking Down What are the NFL Football Scores Today
Right now, the scoreboard is the only thing that matters. As of this afternoon, the Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos matchup is the first order of business.
Kickoff at Empower Field at Mile High was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. The Bills are coming off a grit-it-out 27-24 win over Jacksonville in the Wild Card round where Josh Allen basically willed them to victory. Denver, on the other hand, hasn't played a meaningful snap in two weeks. That rest-versus-rust debate? It's being settled on the field right now.
Early reports from Denver suggest a chilly, tactical start. The Broncos finished the regular season at 14-3, largely because Bo Nix has played like a seasoned vet instead of a guy still finding his footing. Buffalo's defense, bolstered by the return of Ed Oliver, is trying to rattle him early.
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The Late Window: 49ers vs. Seahawks
Once the dust settles in Denver, the focus shifts to the Pacific Northwest. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers.
This is the third time these rivals have met this season. Seattle took the most recent one in a 13-3 defensive masterclass back on January 3rd. But the 49ers just dispatched the Eagles 23-19 and look like a team that’s finally got Christian McCaffrey back to 100%.
Sam Darnold is the story here for Seattle. He’s been dealing with an oblique injury, but word out of the Seahawks camp is that he's a go. If he’s limited, it changes the entire geometry of that Seattle offense against a Niners pass rush that can be terrifying.
What Happened in the Wild Card Round?
To understand why today’s scores feel so heavy, you have to look at how we got here. Last weekend was pure chaos.
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- The Bears are actually back: Chicago beat Green Bay 31-27 behind Caleb Williams' two fourth-quarter touchdowns. It was their first playoff win since 2010.
- Houston's Defense is terrifying: They absolutely smothered Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers 30-6. It might have been Rodgers' last ride, and it wasn't a pretty one.
- Stafford's Agelessness: The Rams narrowly escaped the Panthers 34-31. Matthew Stafford threw for over 300 yards because of course he did.
The winners of today's games move on to the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25th. If the favorites hold today, we are looking at a Denver vs. New England/Houston AFC title game and a Seattle vs. Chicago/LA Rams NFC clash. But let's be real—when does it ever go perfectly according to the script?
Looking Ahead to Tomorrow
The scores you're seeing today only tell half the story. Sunday, January 18, completes the Divisional puzzle with two more massive games.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Patriots finished 14-3, just like the Broncos and Seahawks. It’s rare to see three teams with that kind of dominant record, but here we are. Drake Maye vs. the Texans' pass rush is the matchup to watch there. Then, Sunday night in Chicago is going to be loud. Soldier Field hasn't seen a Divisional game in a long, long time.
Critical Betting and Performance Factors
If you're tracking these scores because you've got skin in the game, pay attention to the trenches.
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The Seahawks have won 11 straight games as a favorite. That’s a stat that usually screams "safe bet," but the 49ers are 6.5-point underdogs and they thrive in that role. Josh Allen has gone six straight games without an interception. If that streak ends today in the Denver altitude, Buffalo is in big trouble.
Also, keep an eye on the weather. Denver is hovering in the mid-30s. Seattle is looking at high 40s with a chance of that classic misty rain. It’s January football. It’s supposed to be uncomfortable.
Practical Steps for Following the Rest of the Playoffs
Check the live box scores on the NFL app or your preferred sports outlet every 15 minutes if you can't be in front of a TV. The momentum swings in the Divisional Round are notoriously fast.
Make sure your streaming setup is ready for tomorrow's games too. You'll need access to Paramount+ for today's CBS game, Fox One for the night game, and Peacock for the Sunday finale.
If you're planning a watch party for the Conference Championships next week, the AFC kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET and the NFC follows at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 25. Block those times out now because the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting very narrow, very quickly.