If you just looked at the calendar and realized it's mid-January, you already know the stakes. The regular season is a distant memory, and the Wild Card chaos is finally in the rearview mirror. Honestly, if you're asking someone to show me the nfl schedule for this week, you aren't just looking for times and channels. You’re looking for the road map to the Super Bowl. We are down to the final eight teams. The heavy hitters—the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos—are coming off their bye weeks, fresh and probably a little bit terrifying for whoever has to walk into their stadiums.
Last weekend was a total blur. We saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Steelers on Monday night, which basically felt like the end of an era in Pittsburgh. It might have been the last time we see Aaron Rodgers in a uniform, which is wild to think about. But that's the playoffs. It’s brutal. Now, the Divisional Round is here, and the schedule for Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, is set in stone.
The Saturday Doubleheader: West Coast Vibes and Mile High Air
Saturday is usually when things get real. The NFL likes to start with a bang, and this year is no different.
First up, we’ve got the Buffalo Bills traveling to face the Denver Broncos. This game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. If you aren't near a TV, you can catch it on Paramount+. Denver has been the class of the AFC all year, finishing 14-3 and earned that top seed for a reason. But Buffalo? They just scraped by Jacksonville in a three-point nail-biter. They’re playing with house money at this point, but playing at Mile High in January is a different kind of beast. The air is thin, the fans are loud, and Sean Payton has that offense humming.
The Nightcap: 49ers vs. Seahawks
Once that finishes up, flip over to FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET. We are getting a classic NFC West divisional rivalry. The San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks.
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Seattle is the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but there’s a bit of drama brewing. Quarterback Sam Darnold was added to the injury report late this week with an oblique issue. He’s listed as questionable. If he can't go, or if he's limited, that San Francisco defense is going to smell blood. The Niners just knocked off the Eagles in Philly, so they’re coming in hot. This game will also be streaming on the FOX One app if you’re trying to watch on your phone under the dinner table.
Sunday’s Slate: Blue Bloods and the Windy City
Sunday's schedule is just as heavy. We start in Foxborough. The Houston Texans head to New England to play the Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. You can watch this one on ESPN or ABC.
The Texans are the "it" team right now after that 30-6 thumping of Pittsburgh. C.J. Stroud looks like he's been playing in the postseason for a decade. However, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed. They didn't get there by accident. Their defense is suffocating, and they just handled the Chargers with ease in the Wild Card round. It’s the young guns versus the established system.
Finishing the Weekend in Chicago
To wrap everything up, we go to Soldier Field. The Los Angeles Rams face the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
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Chicago fans have been waiting for a home playoff game like this for a long time. The Bears took down the Packers last week in a game that probably took five years off every Chicagoan's life. Now they have to deal with a Rams team that put up 34 points on Carolina. If you’re a cord-cutter, this one is exclusive to Peacock for streaming, so make sure your login actually works before kickoff.
Why This Week’s Schedule Hits Different
When you look at the nfl schedule for this week, you notice something. Every single game is a rematch or a high-stakes divisional battle. The NFL reseeds, so the best teams always play the lowest remaining seeds.
- Experience vs. Momentum: You have Denver and Seattle well-rested.
- The Road Warriors: Buffalo and San Francisco are trying to prove that seeding doesn't matter.
- The Weather Factor: It's January. Chicago and Foxborough are going to be cold. Denver is going to be freezing.
Most people get the Divisional Round wrong by assuming the home team always wins because they’re "better." But look at the Wild Card results. Four of those games were decided by a touchdown or less in the final three minutes. The gap between the No. 1 seed and the No. 6 seed is a lot smaller than it used to be.
Quick Reference for the Divisional Round
If you're just trying to plan your grocery run around the games, here is the basic breakdown of the nfl schedule for this week without all the fluff:
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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
What Happens Next?
Once these four games wrap up, we'll know the matchups for the Conference Championships on January 25. The winners of the Saturday games don't necessarily play each other; it all depends on the seeds. The highest remaining seed will always host the lowest remaining seed.
If you're planning to watch, double-check your streaming apps now. Between Peacock, Paramount+, and ESPN+, the NFL has spread these games across every corner of the internet.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Injury Reports: Keep a close eye on Sam Darnold’s status in Seattle; that changes the entire betting line for the NFC.
- Verify Local Listings: While these are national broadcasts, some local affiliates might have pre-game specials starting an hour early.
- Sync Your Fantasy/Betting Apps: The Divisional Round is notorious for "ladder" plays where quarterbacks like Stroud or Allen might go for 300+ yards regardless of the weather.
The road to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium is narrowing. Enjoy the games.