The dust has finally settled after a chaotic Wild Card weekend, and honestly, if you didn’t have a minor heart attack watching the Bills scrape by Jacksonville or the Niners end Philadelphia’s season, are you even a football fan? The bracket is set. The big dogs are coming off their bye. We are officially entering the best two days of the entire year: the Divisional Round.
If you are looking for the nfl schedule for this week, you probably already know that the stakes just quadrupled. We’ve got the No. 1 seeds—Denver and Seattle—finally stepping onto the field after a week of rest, and they are facing hungry, battle-tested teams that just survived the opening round gauntlet.
It’s gonna be a wild one.
Saturday, January 17: Altitude and Rivalries
The action kicks off in the Mile High City. Denver has been sitting pretty with that 14-3 record, but they’ve got a massive problem coming to town in the form of Josh Allen.
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Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS / Paramount+
Buffalo is riding high after that 27-24 nail-biter against the Jaguars. Josh Allen looked like a man possessed in the final four minutes. On the other side, Sean Payton has had two weeks to draw up ways to exploit a Buffalo defense that looked a little gassy in the fourth quarter last Sunday. The Broncos are currently favored by 1.5, which is basically Vegas saying, "We have no clue what’s going to happen."
Denver’s home-field advantage is real. The thin air matters. But Buffalo has that "team of destiny" vibe going right now that’s hard to ignore.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
This is the one everyone’s talking about. An NFC West trilogy. These two split their regular-season games, with Seattle taking the most recent one to clinch the top seed. Seattle’s Lumen Field is going to be deafening.
Brock Purdy proved a lot of people wrong last week by orchestrating that comeback against the Eagles. But going into Seattle is a different beast entirely. Jauan Jennings is becoming a playoff legend—did you see that double-reverse TD pass to McCaffrey? Crazy. If the Niners can keep that creativity going, Seattle’s defense is going to have a long night.
Sunday, January 18: Cold Fronts and Defensive Battles
Sunday shifts the focus to the East and the Midwest. If you like smash-mouth football and seeing players' breath in the air, this is your day.
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Houston Texans at New England Patriots
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN / ABC / ESPN+
The Texans looked absolutely terrifying against the Steelers. A 30-6 blowout? In the playoffs? That defense is suffocating. They’re heading into Foxborough to face a New England team that finished 14-3 and hasn't really missed a beat all season.
New England’s defense only gave up 3 points to the Chargers last week. Three! This game is going to be a chess match between two of the best-coached units in the league. Don't expect a high-scoring affair here; it's going to be a grind.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC / Peacock
Single digits. That is the forecast for Soldier Field on Sunday night. The Rams are coming off a 34-31 shootout win over Carolina, and now they have to go from the nice weather of Charlotte to the "Windy City" freezer.
The Bears are the No. 2 seed for a reason. Their offensive line, led by Darnell Wright, has been moving people all year. Watching the Rams' speed-based offense try to operate in a Chicago tundra is going to be fascinating. Can Matthew Stafford’s arm outrun the frostbite? We’ll find out.
Why This Week's NFL Schedule Hits Different
Most people get it wrong when they think the No. 1 seeds are safe. In fact, the Divisional Round is notorious for "rust vs. momentum" upsets. The Seahawks and Broncos haven't played a meaningful snap in nearly 14 days. Meanwhile, the Bills and Rams are already in "win or go home" mode.
The Underdog Factor
- The Buffalo Bills are the No. 6 seed, but nobody is treating them like one.
- The San Francisco 49ers also carry that No. 6 seed tag, yet they just knocked out the defending champs.
- Houston (No. 5) has a defense that can win a game by itself.
History tells us at least one of these home teams is going to struggle. The nfl schedule for this week is designed for maximum drama, pairing familiar rivals with some of the coldest weather venues in the country.
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Final Insights for the Weekend
If you’re planning your weekend around the games, keep an eye on the injury reports for Denver’s secondary and the weather updates for Chicago. Those two factors will likely decide the outcomes more than any coaching scheme.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Check the Weather: If the wind kicks up in Chicago, the "Under" is the only smart play.
- Streaming Prep: Make sure your Paramount+ and Peacock logins are actually working before kickoff. Nothing ruins a Saturday like a "forgot password" loop during the first quarter.
- Watch the Stars: Keep an eye on the Tennessee "VFLs" spread across these rosters; with 10 former Volunteers in the mix, they are literally everywhere this weekend.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. By Monday morning, only four teams will be left standing. Enjoy the ride.