If you’ve been living under a rock, let me catch you up: the NFL playoffs just hit another gear. Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are officially into the Divisional Round. This is arguably the best weekend of the entire football calendar. The pretenders from the Wild Card round are mostly gone, and the heavy hitters—the ones who earned those precious byes—are finally stepping onto the field.
Honestly, there is something different about a Saturday playoff double-header. The air is thinner, the hits sound louder, and for the four teams playing today, the Super Bowl in Santa Clara is suddenly close enough to touch.
NFL Football Who’s Playing Today: The Afternoon Opener
Kicking things off at 4:30 p.m. ET, we have a fascinating AFC clash. The No. 6 Buffalo Bills are heading into the high altitude of Empower Field at Mile High to take on the No. 1 Denver Broncos.
You can catch this one on CBS. If you’re a cord-cutter, it’s also streaming on Paramount+.
The storylines here are everywhere. You have Josh Allen, who is basically a human cheat code, trying to lead a "road warrior" Bills team that just handled the Jaguars last week. On the other side? The Broncos. Bo Nix has been the talk of the league, leading Denver to the top seed in the AFC. It’s a matchup of the established superstar versus the ascending rookie who has revitalized a franchise.
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Denver is currently a slim 1.5-point favorite. That’s basically a toss-up. The Broncos are rested, having sat out the Wild Card round, but the Bills have that "nobody believes in us" momentum that makes them dangerous. If Buffalo can handle the thin air and the crowd noise, we might see the first major upset of the weekend right out of the gate.
The Prime Time Showdown: A Rivalry Renewed
Once the sun goes down, the action shifts to the Pacific Northwest. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers face the No. 1 Seattle Seahawks.
This one is on FOX.
Lumen Field is going to be deafening. It’s an NFC West rivalry with the highest possible stakes. The Seahawks (14-3) have been a juggernaut this year, boasting a top-five offense and the league’s stingiest defense, allowing only 17.2 points per game. But here’s the kicker: the 49ers just beat the Eagles on the road and they don’t care about your seeding.
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- Quarterback Watch: Sam Darnold is dealing with an oblique injury for Seattle. He’s listed as questionable, but the word from the Seahawks camp is that they expect him to go. If he’s limited, the 49ers' pass rush will smell blood.
- The Matchup: This is the third time these two have met this season. They split the regular-season series. It's personal.
- The Spread: Seattle is a 7-point favorite, but don’t let that fool you. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey have a knack for keeping games close, even when they’re playing on a short five-day rest.
Why Today’s Games Feel Different
Let’s be real. In previous years, the No. 1 seeds felt like locks. This year? Not so much. The Bills and 49ers both had to fight through the Wild Card round, which means they’re "battle-tested"—a term coaches love to use when they want to sound gritty.
The Broncos haven't played a meaningful snap in two weeks. Sometimes that rest is a blessing; other times, it’s a recipe for a slow start. If Bo Nix comes out shaky against a Buffalo defense that has been opportunistic lately, Denver fans might start sweating by the second quarter.
The night game is even more volatile. Seattle has been the best team in the NFC all year, but the 49ers are the nightmare matchup nobody wanted as a six-seed. They know how to run the ball, they know how to shorten the game, and they know exactly how to frustrate Sam Darnold.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
If you’re already planning your snacks for tomorrow, the NFL isn't letting up. Sunday, January 18, features the other half of the Divisional bracket:
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock)
The Texans’ defense is coming off a masterpiece against Pittsburgh, where they scored two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. They’ll be facing Drake Maye, who looked surprisingly poised in his first postseason start. Then, you’ve got the Rams and Bears in what should be a cold, physical fight at Soldier Field.
How to Handle Your Game Day
If you’re watching today, keep an eye on the injury reports right up until kickoff. Specifically, watch the status of Ricky Pearsall for the 49ers and the aforementioned Sam Darnold. In games this tight, a single missing starter can flip the script.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round:
- Check the Weather: Seattle is looking at temperatures in the mid-40s with light winds. Not a "snow bowl," but slick enough to affect the passing game.
- Watch the Live Lines: With the Broncos only favored by 1.5, the live betting odds will swing wildly with every score.
- Stream Early: If you’re using Paramount+ or FOX One, log in 15 minutes before kickoff. Playoff traffic usually causes lag for latecomers.
The path to Super Bowl LX runs through Denver and Seattle today. Enjoy the chaos.