So, you’re looking for the NFL schedule today. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026. If you were hoping to crack a beer and settle in for some Friday night football, I’ve got a bit of a "good news, bad news" situation for you.
The bad news? There is no NFL game playing today. Honestly, it’s that weird, quiet lull in the postseason. We just finished a wild Wild Card weekend where the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Steelers and the Rams managed to survive a nail-biter against the Panthers. Now, the league is taking a breath. Friday is basically the deep-breath-before-the-plunge day.
Why there isn't an NFL game playing today
The NFL is pretty protective of its rhythm during the playoffs. While we’ve seen them experiment with Black Friday games and Monday night Wild Card matchups, Fridays remain almost exclusively reserved for high school ball or, this late in the year, just pure hype-building.
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The Divisional Round is the "meat" of the postseason. It’s when the No. 1 seeds—the Denver Broncos in the AFC and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC—finally get off their bye weeks and put their seasons on the line. But that action doesn't start until tomorrow.
If you're checking your calendar thinking you missed something, don't worry. You didn't. The league spaces these games out to maximize TV ratings, and Friday night just isn't part of that playoff formula yet.
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What is playing tomorrow? (The Divisional Round)
Since today is a wash for live action, you’re likely really asking about the weekend slate. Things get real very fast starting tomorrow afternoon.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+): This is the heavy hitter. Josh Allen is taking that "Buffalo against the world" energy into the thin air of Mile High. The Broncos earned that top seed for a reason, but the Bills just coming off a win against Jacksonville look dangerous.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET, FOX): A classic NFC West rivalry in the postseason? Yes, please. Brock Purdy and the Niners had to fight through the Wild Card round to get here, while Seattle has been resting. Lumen Field is going to be deafening.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN): C.J. Stroud is officially the real deal. After that 30-6 thumping of Pittsburgh, they head to Foxborough. The Patriots' defense under Jerod Mayo has been suffocating, making this the "immovable object vs. unstoppable force" game of the week.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock): Caleb Williams vs. Matthew Stafford. The rookie phenom against the grizzled Super Bowl vet. Chicago’s defense is legit, but Stafford has that playoff "it" factor that's hard to bet against.
The "Friday" Misconception
People often search for what NFL game is playing today on Fridays because the schedule has become so cluttered. Between Thursday Night Football and those late-season Saturday triple-headers, it feels like there should always be a game on.
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In the playoffs, however, the NFL sticks to a tight window. They want the Divisional Round to feel like an event. By keeping Friday empty, they allow the talking heads on ESPN and NFL Network to spend 24 hours debating whether the Broncos' rust will be a factor or if the Texans can actually pull off an upset in the cold of New England.
What to watch instead
If you absolutely need a football fix tonight, you're mostly looking at replay territory. NFL+ usually has the "all-22" coaches' film or condensed replays of the Wild Card games. Watching the Texans' defensive front from last Monday is actually a pretty good way to spend an hour if you want to see how they might handle the Patriots' offensive line.
Otherwise, use today to set your fantasy playoff lineups (if your league does that) or check the injury reports. Keep an eye on the weather in Denver; January in the Rockies can turn a passing game into a slog real quick.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: Set your alerts for 4:30 PM ET tomorrow for the Bills/Broncos kickoff.
- Check streaming logins: If you're watching on Paramount+ or Peacock, make sure you aren't logged out. There's nothing worse than missing a kickoff because you forgot your password.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Pay close attention to the 49ers' injury list later tonight; their depth at receiver is going to be the deciding factor against that Seattle secondary.