Honestly, trying to figure out nfl today what channel used to be simple. You’d grab the remote, flip to CBS or FOX, and settle in with a bowl of wings. But it’s 2026, and the NFL has basically turned finding a game into a high-stakes scavenger hunt. If you’re looking for a game right now, on Friday, January 16, 2026, I have some news that might be a bit of a letdown: there are actually no NFL games scheduled for today.
We are currently sitting in that quiet, jittery window between the chaos of Wild Card Weekend and the heavyweight battles of the Divisional Round. It’s the "calm before the storm" day. While the TV guides might be filled with talking heads debating if the 49ers can actually stop the Seahawks' pass rush, the actual live action doesn't kick off until tomorrow.
The NFL Today What Channel Dilemma: Divisional Round Schedule
If you were searching for "nfl today what channel" because you're planning your weekend, you’ve come to the right place. The Divisional Round is arguably the best weekend in sports. Four games. Two days. Everything on the line. But the "channel" part is where it gets tricky because the NFL has sliced up the rights like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Here is how the next 48 hours look for the 2026 Divisional Playoffs:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The action starts in the high altitude of Denver. The Buffalo Bills are heading to Empower Field to take on the Denver Broncos. You can catch this one at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. If you’ve cut the cord, you’ll need Paramount+ to stream it.
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Once that wraps up, we head to the Pacific Northwest. It’s an NFC West slugfest as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks. This is the primetime slot, 8:00 PM ET, and it’s airing on FOX. For the streamers, this is where it gets interesting—you’ll be looking for the FOX Sports app or the newer FOX One service.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday starts with the Houston Texans visiting the New England Patriots. This one kicks off at 3:00 PM ET. You can find it on ABC and ESPN. If you're on your phone or tablet, the ESPN+ or the ESPN Unlimited app will be your best friend here.
To close out the weekend, the Los Angeles Rams travel to the "Windy City" to face the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. For the digital crowd, Peacock is the exclusive streaming home for this one.
Why the Channel Changes Every Five Minutes
It’s easy to get frustrated. One week a game is on Amazon Prime, the next it's on Peacock, and then suddenly you're searching for a cable login you haven't used since 2019. The NFL's current broadcasting strategy is built on "fragmentation." They want to be everywhere.
By spreading games across CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC/ESPN, and Amazon, the league maximizes its reach (and its bank account). But for the fan just trying to figure out nfl today what channel, it means you basically need a spreadsheet. For example, during the Wild Card round last week, the Green Bay vs. Chicago game was tucked away on Prime Video, leaving many fans scrambling to remember their passwords ten minutes before kickoff.
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The 2026 Streaming Survival Guide
If you don't have a traditional cable box, the "channel" is actually an app. To see every game in the 2026 postseason, you kind of have to be a subscriber to the "Big Four" of sports streaming.
- Paramount+: Covers all the games that air on CBS. Essential for the AFC side of the bracket.
- Peacock: This is NBC’s turf. You’ll need this for the Rams-Bears game and, looking ahead, it's actually the home for Super Bowl LX on February 8.
- FOX One / FOX Sports App: This handles the FOX broadcasts. They’ve been pushing their "FOX One" branding heavily this year as a standalone hub.
- ESPN Unlimited: The latest iteration of ESPN’s streaming service, which carries the ABC/ESPN simulcasts.
If that sounds like too much work, you can always go the "Live TV" route. Services like YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV carry almost all of these local channels. The only thing they usually miss is the exclusive Amazon Prime games, but luckily, there aren't any of those left in this year's playoff schedule.
What People Often Get Wrong About "Today's Game"
A common mistake is assuming that "NFL Today" refers to the pregame show. If you're looking for the show called "The NFL Today," that's the legendary CBS pregame crew. They’ll be on air tomorrow (Saturday) starting around 3:30 PM ET to lead into the Bills-Broncos game.
Another misconception? Thinking all games are available on NFL+. While NFL+ is great for the regular season, the playoff blackout rules are still surprisingly strict. You can usually watch on a mobile device, but if you want that 70-inch 4K experience, you usually have to go through the specific network's app or a cable provider.
Looking Ahead to the Big One
Since there isn't a game literally today, it's the perfect time to prep for the rest of the journey. After this weekend, we move to the Conference Championships on January 25.
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The AFC Championship will be at 3:00 PM ET on CBS, and the NFC Championship follows at 6:30 PM ET on FOX. And then, of course, the grand finale: Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. That one is on NBC this year.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check your subscriptions now: Don't wait until 4:25 PM tomorrow to find out your Paramount+ password expired. Log in today.
- Download the apps: If you're planning to watch on the go, get the FOX Sports and ESPN apps updated on your device.
- Antenna check: If you live in a major city, a $20 digital antenna will get you CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC for free in high definition. It’s the ultimate "life hack" for the NFL playoffs.
- Set your alerts: Since today is a "dark day" for games, use it to set calendar reminders for Saturday’s 4:30 PM ET kickoff so you don't miss a second of the Bills vs. Broncos.
Knowing nfl today what channel is half the battle in 2026. The other half is just making sure you have enough snacks to last through a double-header.