Look, we all know the drill. You wake up on a playoff Saturday, and the first thing you do is check the remote to see exactly when the chaos starts. Today is January 17, 2026, and if you’re asking what nfl games come on today, you’re looking at the meat of the Divisional Round. This isn't the Wild Card warm-up anymore. This is where the No. 1 seeds—who have been sitting at home eating snacks and watching film for a week—finally have to defend their turf against battle-tested underdogs.
Honestly, the energy is just different today. We have two massive matchups on the slate. First, we head to the altitude of Denver, and then we wrap things up with a literal Pacific Northwest grudge match.
The Saturday Slate: Who is Playing Right Now?
If you're trying to plan your grocery run or your wings delivery around the nfl games come on today, here is the actual, factual breakdown of what’s happening.
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
- Kickoff: 4:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: Paramount+
This one is wild. The Buffalo Bills (the No. 6 seed) are fresh off a narrow 27-24 win over the Jaguars. They had to travel to Jacksonville, survive a humidity-soaked slugfest, and now they have to fly into the thin air of Empower Field at Mile High. On the other side? The Denver Broncos. They secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 14-3 record. Bo Nix has been playing out of his mind, but Josh Allen is... well, he’s Josh Allen. He does superhero things when the stakes are highest.
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San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX
- Live Stream: FOX One / FOX Sports App
The nightcap is a divisional rivalry that usually ends in someone losing a tooth. The Seattle Seahawks, led by Geno Smith, earned that coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC (14-3 record). They’re rested. They’re at home. Lumen Field is going to be deafening. But they’re facing a San Francisco 49ers team that just dismantled the Eagles 23-19. Brock Purdy and that Kyle Shanahan offense are the No. 6 seed, but nobody—and I mean nobody—is treating them like an underdog.
Why Today’s Matchups Are Historically Weird
It’s pretty rare to see two No. 6 seeds playing on the same Saturday in the Divisional Round. Usually, you’d expect the "chalk" teams to advance, but 2026 has been a year of upsets. Both Buffalo and San Francisco had to win on the road last week just to get here.
Most people get wrong the idea that the "rest" the Broncos and Seahawks got is an automatic advantage. Sometimes it is. But sometimes, those teams come out flat. They haven't hit anyone in a real game in 14 days. Meanwhile, the Bills and 49ers are in "survive and advance" mode. They have the momentum.
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How to Catch the Action (Without the Lag)
If you aren't sitting in front of a traditional cable box, you've got options, but you need to be smart about it. Streaming is great until your neighbor’s Wi-Fi interferes with the final drive.
- Paramount+: This is your home for the Bills vs. Broncos game. If you have the app, you're set for the CBS broadcast.
- FOX Sports App: You’ll need a TV provider login for this, but it’s usually the most stable way to watch the 49ers and Seahawks.
- NFL+: If you’re stuck on a bus or at a wedding you didn't want to go to, you can watch on your phone. Just remember, the "Premium" version is what gets you the live playoff games on mobile.
- YouTube TV & Fubo: These are the gold standards for cord-cutters. They carry both CBS and FOX, so you don't have to hop between apps like a maniac.
What Really Happened with the Seedings?
A lot of folks are confused about why the Patriots or the Bears aren't playing today. Basically, the NFL splits the Divisional Round across two days. Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, is when we get the New England Patriots hosting the Houston Texans at 3:00 PM ET, followed by the Chicago Bears taking on the LA Rams at 6:30 PM ET.
Today is all about the No. 1 seeds trying to prove they deserved that bye week. If Denver loses today, the AFC bracket completely shatters. If Seattle falls to San Francisco, the NFC West crown they won in the regular season feels a lot less shiny.
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Key Storylines to Watch
You should keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Denver. Bo Nix has been healthy, but playing at that altitude after a week off can be tricky for the offensive line's conditioning.
In Seattle, watch the weather. January in the Northwest is unpredictable. If it starts pouring, the 49ers' run game with Christian McCaffrey (assuming he's seeing his usual 20+ touches) might actually have the edge over Seattle's explosive passing attack.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check your local listings right now to ensure your digital antenna or streaming service is actually authenticated. There is nothing worse than a "Please Log In" screen at 4:29 PM.
- Sync your fantasy or betting apps before the 4:30 PM kickoff. Once that first ball is kicked in Denver, the live odds are going to jump around like crazy.
- Prepare for a late night. With an 8:00 PM ET start for the second game, you’re looking at an 11:30 PM finish if we get any overtime drama.
- Monitor the weather in Seattle specifically. Wind gusts over 20 mph can turn a passing clinic into a ground-and-pound struggle, which changes how you should view the point spread.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara goes through Denver and Seattle today. Grab your jersey, clear your schedule, and get ready for the best weekend of football in the calendar year.