If you’ve been glued to the couch since August, this is the weekend you've actually been waiting for. The Wild Card craziness is officially in the rearview mirror. Now, the stakes are higher, the hits feel harder, and the margin for error basically disappears. People always ask, what is the nfl schedule for sunday, and honestly, this particular Sunday—January 18, 2026—is a massive one. We are down to the final eight teams. Two spots in the Conference Championships are up for grabs.
It isn’t just about having games on; it’s about the specific matchups that the football gods have handed us. We’ve got a young superstar in Houston trying to outmaneuver the most disciplined team in the league, followed by an NFC showdown in the Windy City that could go either way.
The NFL Schedule for Sunday: Times and Matchups
Forget the regular season fluff. Sunday's slate features two high-stakes Divisional Round games. If you’re planning your day around the TV, here is how the timing shakes out.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Network: ESPN / ABC / ESPN+
- The Vibe: C.J. Stroud vs. the New England defense. It’s the "new kid on the block" meeting the "reborn dynasty."
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
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- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Network: NBC / Peacock
- The Vibe: A classic cold-weather playoff game at Soldier Field. Expect a lot of breath-fog and high-tension moments.
These two games follow the Saturday double-header of Buffalo at Denver and San Francisco at Seattle. By the time Sunday night wraps up, the Final Four will be set for the AFC and NFC Championship games.
Why the Patriots vs. Texans Game is Must-Watch
The afternoon starts in Foxborough. New England is coming off a suffocating 16-3 win over the Chargers where their defense looked like the 2000s-era "Boogeymen." They are the No. 2 seed for a reason. They run the ball, they don't turn it over, and they make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
But Houston? They are different. C.J. Stroud and the Texans just dismantled the Steelers 30-6. They’ve won nine games in a row. Nine! Most analysts, including the crew over at SportsGrid, see the Texans as the "value play" this weekend. The spread is currently sitting at Patriots -3, which basically means Vegas thinks these teams are nearly equal on a neutral field.
Can Stroud handle the "postgraduate" defensive looks that New England is going to throw at him? That’s the big question. Houston has never won a road playoff game in franchise history, so they’re fighting more than just the Patriots; they’re fighting their own history.
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Primetime in Chicago: Rams vs. Bears
The nightcap takes us to Soldier Field. This is where things get kinda gritty. The Chicago Bears, often called the "Cardiac Kids" this season, survived a 31-27 nail-biter against Green Bay to get here. Now they host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are favorites on the road (-3.5), which is a bit of a slap in the face to a No. 2 seed Bears team. But the Rams have been an offensive juggernaut. Stafford had an MVP-caliber season, and after surviving a 34-31 shootout against Carolina, the Rams' confidence is through the roof.
Chicago’s defense is going to have to play the game of their lives. Soldier Field in mid-January is usually a nightmare for visiting teams from California, but Stafford has plenty of experience in the cold from his Detroit days.
Where to Stream the Games
If you’ve cut the cord, don’t panic. You aren’t going to miss out.
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- For Texans/Patriots: Since it’s on ESPN and ABC, you can stream it on ESPN+ or via any service that carries ABC (like YouTube TV or Fubo).
- For Rams/Bears: This one is an NBC game, which means Peacock is your best friend. They’ll be streaming the game live in 4K for those who want to see every blade of grass at Soldier Field.
Survival Tips for the Divisional Round
If you’re hosting people or just settling in for a 7-hour football marathon, here’s some quick advice from someone who’s done this a few times.
- Order food early. Don’t wait until the 3:00 PM kickoff to call for wings. Every pizza place in the country is going to be slammed.
- Check your local listings. While the times are set for 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM ET, pre-game coverage usually starts an hour or two before. FOX NFL Sunday actually starts at noon ET if you want to catch the early hype.
- Watch the weather. It’s January in New England and Chicago. Wind speeds can change the kicking game and the deep ball strategy. If the wind is whipping over 20 mph, start looking at those "under" bets.
The winner of the AFC matchup will likely head to Denver (if the Broncos win) or host Buffalo for the AFC title. In the NFC, the winner of Rams/Bears will face either the Seahawks or the 49ers. The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting very narrow.
Next Steps for Your Sunday:
Check your internet connection if you're streaming on Peacock, and make sure your ESPN+ login hasn't expired since the regular season ended. Once the first kickoff happens at 3:00 PM ET, the intensity won't let up until the final whistle in Chicago.