If you were looking for a quiet weekend, you definitely picked the wrong time to check the NFL scoreboard. Saturday night was absolute mayhem. I’m sitting here looking at the fallout from the first two Divisional Round games and honestly, it’s a lot to process. We’ve got a massive blowout in the Pacific Northwest and a heart-stopping overtime thriller in the Rockies.
The search for nfl scores today 2025 (well, technically the 2025 season playing out in early 2026) is peaking for a reason.
People always underestimate the "No. 1 seed rest versus rust" debate. Well, after seeing how Seattle and Denver handled their business yesterday, "rust" doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary. But today? Today is where the real pressure builds. We have the Texans traveling to Foxborough and the Rams heading into the frozen grass of Soldier Field.
The Saturday Night Scoreboard: Seattle and Denver Advance
Let’s talk about the absolute beatdown in Seattle first.
The San Francisco 49ers went into Lumen Field thinking they had a chance to upset the top-seeded Seahawks. They didn't. Seattle didn't just win; they dismantled them 41-6. It started with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by Rashid Shaheed just 13 seconds in, and the Niners never recovered.
Kenneth Walker III was basically a human highlight reel. He finished with 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns. If you missed the highlights, just imagine a guy running through a brick wall that was actually made of wet paper. Brock Purdy had a rough night, to put it mildly. Two fumbles and an interception against that "Dark Side" defense. It was ugly.
The Mile High Heartbreaker
Then we had Buffalo at Denver. This was the game of the year.
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The Broncos pulled it out 33-30 in overtime. Wil Lutz drilled a 24-yard field goal to end it, but the cost was astronomical. Sean Payton confirmed after the game that Bo Nix broke his ankle during that final overtime drive.
- Final Score: Denver 33, Buffalo 30 (OT)
- The Hero: Wil Lutz (Game-winning FG)
- The Tragedy: Bo Nix (Broken ankle, out for season)
Buffalo fans are going to be seeing Ja'Quan McMillian's overtime interception in their nightmares for a decade. Josh Allen played his heart out—283 yards and three scores—but five team turnovers are impossible to overcome in January. You just can't do it.
NFL Scores Today 2025: Sunday's High-Stakes Schedule
The drama isn't over. We have two massive games today, Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you're looking for the live nfl scores today 2025, here is the slate for the remaining Divisional Round matchups.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Channel: ABC / ESPN
- The Vibe: C.J. Stroud is looking to prove he’s the new king of the AFC, but he has to go through Drake Maye and a Patriots defense that has been suffocating lately. New England is a 3-point favorite, but honestly, this feels like a coin flip.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Channel: NBC / Peacock
- The Vibe: It’s going to be cold. Really cold. The Bears are the No. 2 seed for a reason, but the Rams are the "team no one wants to play" right now after they bounced the Panthers last week. Watch the trenches in this one. If the Rams can't run the ball in the Chicago wind, it's over.
Why the "Underdog" Narrative is Shifting
Most people think the higher seeds always coast through the Divisional Round. That’s rarely true, even if Seattle made it look easy.
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Look at Denver. They won, sure. But losing their starting quarterback in the process changes the entire complexion of the AFC Championship. If the Patriots win today, they’ll host a Jarrett Stidham-led Broncos team next week. That is a massive shift in the betting lines.
The Texans are also a weird case. They blew out Pittsburgh 30-6 last week. C.J. Stroud is playing with house money right now. When a young quarterback stops worrying about "the moment" and just starts slinging it, they become dangerous. The Patriots haven't faced a vertical threat like Nico Collins in over a month.
What to Watch for in the Rams-Bears Game
Chicago's defense is the story here. They allowed 27 points to the Packers last week but made the stops when it counted.
The Rams, on the other hand, put up 34 points against Carolina. Matthew Stafford (assuming he's still playing at this level in 2025) has seen every blitz package known to man. But can the Rams' defense hold up against the Bears' ground game? Chicago thrives on those 8-minute drives that just suck the soul out of an opponent.
Real Talk: The Bracket is Wide Open
With Bo Nix out, the AFC is suddenly a chaotic mess.
- Denver: In the AFC Championship, but without their QB1.
- Seattle: Waiting in the NFC Championship, looking like a juggernaut.
- The Field: Today's winners will determine if we get a "Classic Powerhouse" matchup or a "New Blood" showdown.
If the Texans pull off the upset today, they travel to Denver. If the Patriots win, Denver travels to Foxborough. On the NFC side, the winner of Rams-Bears has the unenviable task of traveling to Seattle to face a team that just won by 35 points.
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Actionable Steps for NFL Fans Today
If you're following the games today, don't just stare at the box score.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for New England's secondary before kickoff. They’ve been dealing with some lingering soft-tissue issues that could be a problem against Houston's speed. Also, check the wind speeds in Chicago around 6:00 PM. Anything over 15 mph usually means the under is a safe bet for the total points.
Keep your eyes on the live updates. The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting shorter, and after yesterday's chaos, literally anything can happen.
Watch the injury updates for the Broncos throughout the day, too. Even though they aren't playing, the news on Nix's surgery will dictate how the betting lines move for the AFC Championship. If you're into sports betting, that information is more valuable than the actual scores today.
Check the official NFL app or your preferred streaming service early to make sure you have the ABC/ESPN and NBC feeds ready. These games back-to-back are going to be a marathon.