If you just sat down on your couch, cracked a drink, and started scrolling through the TV guide for nfl games scheduled today, I’ve got some bad news. There aren’t any. None. Zero. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026, and the NFL is currently in that weird, quiet "eye of the storm" between a chaotic Wild Card weekend and the Divisional Round.
Honestly, it’s kinda frustrating. We just came off a Monday night where the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6, and now we’re forced to wait. But don’t let the empty schedule fool you. While there are no live snaps today, this 24-hour gap is basically the most important day for the eight teams left standing.
You’ve got coaching staffs in Denver and Seattle pulling all-nighters right now. The players are doing their final walk-throughs. The rest of us? We’re just stuck looking at a "To Be Determined" screen until tomorrow afternoon.
The Reality of the NFL Games Scheduled Today (Or Lack Thereof)
The league loves its "Super Wild Card Weekend" with Saturday, Sunday, and Monday games. It’s a marathon of football. But when it comes to the Divisional Round, they snap back to the classic Saturday-Sunday format.
So, while there are no nfl games scheduled today, we are less than 24 hours away from the top seeds finally hitting the turf. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have been sitting at home for two weeks watching everyone else beat each other up. They’re rested. They’re healthy. And tomorrow, that rust-vs-rest debate starts all over again.
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What the Playoff Bracket Looks Like Right Now
The Wild Card round was a bloodbath for home teams. We saw the Los Angeles Rams sneak past Carolina in a 34-31 thriller, and the Buffalo Bills—as a 6-seed—went into Jacksonville and pulled off a gutsy 27-24 win.
- AFC Side: The Broncos (1) are waiting for the Bills (6).
- NFC Side: The Seahawks (1) get a rubber match against the 49ers (6).
- The Sunday Crew: Texans (5) at Patriots (2) and Rams (5) at Bears (2).
It’s rare to see two 6-seeds still alive this late. Usually, the heavy hitters crush the underdogs by now, but this 2025-26 season has been anything but normal.
Why the Divisional Round is the Best Weekend in Sports
Forget the Super Bowl for a second. Most die-hard fans will tell you the Divisional Round is actually the peak of the season.
The games are higher quality. The desperation is palpable. You’re one win away from a Conference Championship, and the pretenders have already been filtered out. Even though we have zero nfl games scheduled today, the anticipation is arguably better than the games themselves sometimes.
Take the Buffalo at Denver matchup tomorrow. Josh Allen is trying to drag this Bills team to consecutive AFC Championship games for the first time since the early 90s. On the other side, Sean Payton is 4-0 in the playoffs when he has a bye week to prepare. That’s a massive coaching advantage.
Then you have the 49ers heading up to Seattle. This is the third time these division rivals are meeting this year. Seattle won the last one in Week 18 to clinch the top seed, but Brock Purdy is 5-2 in the playoffs for a reason. He’s been through the fire.
The Quarterback Narrative
It’s all about the names under center this weekend.
- The Vets: Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen.
- The New Era: Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
- The Redemption Arc: Sam Darnold.
Darnold has been incredible for Seattle, going 28-6 as a starter over the last two years. But he’s 0-1 in the postseason. If he loses tomorrow night at home, people are going to start talking. The pressure in that building at Lumen Field is going to be suffocating.
Practical Steps for Your NFL Saturday
Since there aren't any nfl games scheduled today, you should probably use this time to get your setup ready for tomorrow’s 4:30 PM ET kickoff.
First, check your subscriptions. The Bills-Broncos game is on CBS and Paramount+, while the late-night Niners-Seahawks clash is on FOX. If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure your logins actually work before the coin toss. Nothing ruins a playoff game like a "Forgot Password" loop during a kickoff return.
Second, watch the weather reports for Foxborough. There’s a rumor of snow for the Texans-Patriots game on Sunday. If that holds up, the Texans' high-flying offense might have a rough time in the slush at Gillette Stadium.
Lastly, pay attention to the injury reports coming out this afternoon. We know Nico Collins is out for the Texans, which is a massive blow to CJ Stroud’s options. If you're into the betting side of things or just playing fantasy, these Friday afternoon status updates are more important than any "expert" analysis you’ll hear on TV.
Get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow is going to be loud.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Sync your calendar: The action starts Saturday, Jan 17 at 4:30 PM ET with Bills vs. Broncos.
- Check the Weather: Monitor the Foxborough forecast if you’re tracking the Texans vs. Patriots game.
- Verify Stream Access: Ensure your Paramount+ and Fox Sports apps are updated and logged in today.