So, you're looking for nfl games today, right? I’ll be honest with you: the answer is probably going to annoy you if you’ve already got the wings in the air fryer and your lucky jersey on.
There are zero NFL games scheduled for today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Yeah. None. It’s that weird, quiet "eve of the storm" before the Divisional Round kicks off tomorrow. We just came off a Wild Card weekend that was, frankly, kind of exhausting. Twelve fourth-quarter lead changes? Four games decided by a touchdown in the final three minutes? My heart needed this Friday off, and yours probably did too. But if you’re staring at the TV guide wondering where the football went, you aren’t alone. The NFL loves building this specific kind of Friday tension.
The 2026 NFL Divisional Round Schedule
Since there are no nfl games today, your real focus should be on Saturday and Sunday. The league has set up a massive four-game slate that basically determines who's actually a Super Bowl contender and who just got lucky last week.
Here is the actual schedule for the next 48 hours:
🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos | 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS/Paramount+)
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks | 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX/FOX One)
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots | 3:00 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears | 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Why Today is the "Deep Breath" of the Postseason
NFL scheduling is a science of anticipation. By keeping Friday clear of nfl games today, the league forces us to talk about nothing but the matchups. And there is a lot to talk about.
Take that Saturday night game. The 49ers and Seahawks. Again. They just played in Week 18, and now they’re doing it with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line. Seattle has been the best scoring defense in the league this year, giving up only 17.2 points per game. But San Francisco just went into Philly and knocked off the defending champs. If you think you know how that ends, you're braver than I am.
💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Then you’ve got the Broncos. Denver finished as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They’ve been sitting at home, resting, while the Bills had to grind out a 27-24 nail-biter against Jacksonville.
Historically, that Week 1 bye is a massive advantage, but it also creates "rust vs. momentum" debates every single January. Buffalo is coming in hot. Denver is coming in rested. It's the classic postseason collision.
The Quarterback Narrative Nobody is Mentioning
Everyone is talking about the "new guard" of QBs, but look at Sunday’s nightcap. The Rams and the Bears. Matthew Stafford is still out here slinging it for LA, while Chicago has finally found their rhythm at Soldier Field.
The Rams' win over Carolina was a shootout—34-31. It showed they can score with anyone, but it also showed their defense can be had. If the Chicago weather holds true to form for mid-January, that high-flying Rams offense might find itself in a slog.
📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
Watching Options for the Weekend
Since you can't watch nfl games today, you might want to spend the afternoon making sure your streaming logins actually work. The NFL has split these games across every major network.
- CBS/Paramount+: Usually the home of the AFC, they’ve got the Bills-Broncos opener.
- FOX: They have the exclusive on that NFC West rivalry game Saturday night.
- ESPN/ABC: The Sunday afternoon slot for Houston and New England.
- NBC/Peacock: The "Sunday Night Football" crew handles the Rams and Bears.
Actionable Next Steps for Football Fans
Since the field is empty today, here is how you actually prepare for the Divisional Round:
- Check the Injury Reports: Friday afternoon is when the final "Out/Questionable" designations drop. Keep a close eye on the Bills' secondary; they took some hits in the Wild Card round that could be disastrous against Denver’s deep threats.
- Verify Your Streaming Apps: If you're planning to watch via Paramount+ or Peacock, log in now. Don't be the person resetting their password at 4:29 p.m. on Saturday while the opening kickoff is in the air.
- Watch the Weather in Chicago: Early forecasts for Sunday at Soldier Field suggest "classic" playoff weather. If the wind kicks up, it drastically changes how you should feel about the Rams' chances.
- Plan Your Saturday Menu: Divisional Saturday is the best day of the sports year. Get the grocery run done today so you don't miss a single snap of the Bills-Broncos game tomorrow afternoon.
The wait for nfl games today is a bit of a letdown, but the 48-hour window starting tomorrow is likely to be the most intense stretch of the entire 2025-26 season. Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.