It is that specific time of year where the casual fans finally start paying attention and the die-hards haven't slept in weeks. We just survived a Wild Card weekend that, honestly, felt like a fever dream. The Philadelphia Eagles are out. The Green Bay Packers couldn't pull off the Lambeau-style magic in Chicago. Now, we are staring down the barrel of the NFL games next week, and if you think you know how the Divisional Round is going to go, you probably haven't been watching this season closely enough.
Everything changes now. The No. 1 seeds are finally coming off their couches.
There’s a weird myth that a first-round bye makes a team "rusty." People say it every January. But look at the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks this year. They aren't just rested; they are essentially different teams than the ones we saw in December. The Broncos finished 14-3, tied with the Patriots but owning the tiebreaker, and they’ve spent the last week watching Buffalo grind out a physical win over Jacksonville.
The Saturday Slate: High Altitude and Rivalry Heat
Saturday, January 17, is basically a holiday for football junkies. We start at 4:30 PM ET with the Buffalo Bills heading into Empower Field at Mile High to face the Broncos.
The Bills are coming off a 27-24 nail-biter against the Jaguars. Josh Allen is playing that "controlled chaos" style of football that makes Buffalo fans either scream in joy or throw their remote across the room. The problem? Denver’s defense is a brick wall at home. CBS is carrying this one, and you can bet the "altitude factor" will be mentioned at least forty times by the third quarter. It's a rematch of last year's blowout, but these Bills feel different. They’re grittier.
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Then, the nightcap. 8:00 PM ET on FOX. San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. Lumen Field is going to be deafening. Seattle earned that top seed for a reason, finishing 14-3 and looking like the most complete team in the NFC. But the 49ers? They just walked into Lincoln Financial Field and sent the Eagles packing with a 23-19 win. This is an NFC West bloodbath. We've seen these teams play twice already. They know each other's favorite breakfast spots. Expect a low-scoring, physical game where the winner is whoever has the ball last.
Sunday’s Tactical Chess Matches
Sunday, January 18, shifts the energy from "grit" to "scheme."
At 3:00 PM ET on ABC and ESPN, the Houston Texans travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. Honestly, seeing the Patriots back in the Divisional Round feels like a glitch in the Matrix for some fans, but they earned it. They just dismantled the Chargers 16-3 in a game that was about as exciting as watching paint dry—unless you love defensive masterclasses.
The Texans, meanwhile, looked terrifying against Pittsburgh. They won 30-6. Their defense is fast, mean, and perfectly suited to frustrate a veteran team like New England. If Houston can jump out to an early lead, Gillette Stadium might get quiet very quickly.
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The final game of the weekend kicks off at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears. The "Monsters of the Midway" are actually back. Chicago held off a late Packers surge to win 31-27, and now they host a Rams team that just survived a shootout in Carolina. This is the classic "Offense vs. Defense" trope. The Rams have the firepower to score 40 on anyone, but Soldier Field in mid-January is a nightmare for California teams.
Why the NFL Games Next Week Feel Different
Most people think the No. 1 seeds are locks. They aren't.
Since the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams, we’ve seen more chaos in the Divisional Round than ever before. The gap between the No. 1 and No. 6 seeds is smaller than it used to be. Buffalo (No. 6) and San Francisco (No. 6) aren't your typical "underdogs." They are battle-tested teams that had to play playoff-intensity games for the last month just to get here.
Also, look at the quarterback matchups. You have the established legends trying to hold off the wave of young guns like C.J. Stroud and the San Francisco system. It's a transition of power happening in real-time.
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- TV Coverage: You’ll need a mix of CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN/ABC to catch everything.
- Streaming: Paramount+, Peacock, and NFL+ are the go-to's for the cord-cutters.
- The Betting Line: Expect the home teams (Broncos, Seahawks, Patriots, Bears) to be favored by 3.5 to 6 points, but keep an eye on those "road warrior" 49ers.
What to Watch For
The biggest variable for the NFL games next week isn't the playbook; it's the weather and health.
In Denver and Chicago, the forecast is already looking "crisp," which is a nice way of saying "your toes might fall off." For a team like the Rams, who rely on timing and speed, a frozen turf at Soldier Field changes the entire math of their offense. They might have to lean on the run game more than they'd like.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Broncos. Having a week off is great, but it can sometimes hide lingering issues that pop up once the first hit happens.
Next Steps for Your Weekend:
- Check the local weather for Denver and Chicago on Friday night; if it's snowing, the Under becomes your best friend.
- Verify your streaming logins now. There is nothing worse than missing a kickoff because you forgot your Paramount+ password.
- Watch the Texans' injury report regarding their offensive line; if they can't protect against the Patriots' blitz, that game is over by halftime.