You're probably waking up, grabbing a coffee, and checking the schedule to see what time does ny giants play today because, honestly, that's what we do in New York in January. Or at least, that's what we hope to do.
The short answer for January 17, 2026? The New York Giants are not playing today. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Big Blue fans, especially with the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs officially kicking off this afternoon. While the Giants' season wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, the rest of the league is still moving toward Super Bowl LX. Today’s schedule features some heavy hitters, but unfortunately, Brian Daboll’s squad will be watching from the couch like the rest of us.
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Why aren't the Giants on the schedule today?
To understand the current situation, you have to look back at how the 2025-2026 regular season ended. The Giants finished their campaign on January 4, 2026, with a fairly solid 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. While beating Dallas is always a highlight for the fanbase, it wasn't enough to propel the team into the postseason conversation.
The Giants finished the year with a 4-13 record. It was a season defined by close losses and an offense that struggled to find its rhythm during the middle stretch of the schedule. Because they didn't qualify for the Wild Card round last week, they aren't part of the elite group of teams fighting in the Divisional Round today.
What is the NFL schedule for today, Jan 17?
Even though the Giants aren't on the field, there is plenty of playoff football to get into. If you were looking for "Giants time" but just want to see some high-stakes games, here is who is actually suiting up:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. It’s the early window game for the Divisional Round.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: A classic NFC West showdown starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
If you’re a Giants fan looking for someone to root against, you might find yourself watching the NFC game tonight. The 49ers have been a powerhouse, and seeing how the NFC hierarchy shakes out usually gives us a good idea of what the Giants will be up against next year.
Looking ahead: When do the Giants play next?
Since there is no game today, the "next" time the Giants will take the field will be in the 2026 Preseason, typically starting in early August.
The NFL usually releases the official 2026 regular-season schedule in May. However, we already know who they are going to play because of the way the NFL rotation works. The 2026 season is going to be a gauntlet. The Giants are slated to face the entire NFC West and the AFC South.
Home Games at MetLife (2026 Season)
The atmosphere at MetLife should be electric next year, mostly because some massive franchises are coming to town. You've got the usual suspects like the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders. But the out-of-division slate is where it gets interesting.
The Giants will host the San Francisco 49ers, which is always a measuring stick game. They also have the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans coming to East Rutherford. Oh, and the Cleveland Browns are on the home list too, thanks to the formula for same-place finishers in the AFC North.
Road Trips on the Horizon
If you're the kind of fan who likes to travel, the 2026 away schedule has some great destinations. Outside of the NFC East road games, the Giants will be heading to:
- Detroit Lions (Ford Field)
- Houston Texans (NRG Stadium)
- Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium)
- Los Angeles Rams (SoFi Stadium)
- Seattle Seahawks (Lumen Field)
Addressing the "What Time" Confusion
A lot of people are searching for what time does ny giants play today because of how the NFL playoff schedule is structured. Sometimes, casual fans see "NFL Playoffs" on the calendar and assume their team might be involved if they had a strong finish.
The Giants did show some late-season life by winning two of their last three games, including that blowout against Dallas. That momentum is great for 2026, but it didn't change the fact that their playoff hopes were mathematically eliminated by mid-December.
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Another reason for the confusion? The NFL Wild Card Weekend just happened last week. If the Giants had managed to sneak in as a 7th seed, they would have played then. But since we are now in the Divisional Round (the final 8 teams), the window for "Giants football" has officially closed for the winter.
What should Giants fans do today?
Honestly, today is a scouting day. If you're a die-hard, you aren't just looking for what time does ny giants play today; you're looking at the teams that are playing to see what the Giants are missing.
Keep an eye on the Seahawks vs. 49ers game tonight. Both of these teams are on the Giants' 2026 schedule. Watching how the 49ers' defense operates or how Seattle handles the noise at Lumen Field gives you a preview of what the G-Men will face in a few months.
Also, the 2026 NFL Draft is the next big "game" for New York. With a 4-13 record, the Giants are locked into a very high draft pick. The front office—led by Joe Schoen—will be watching these playoff games to see which prospects fit the mold of a championship-caliber roster.
Key Takeaways for Big Blue Fans
- Today's Status: No game. The Giants are in the offseason.
- The Keyword: Whenever you're asking what time does ny giants play today during the month of January, always check if they made the playoff cut first.
- Next Milestone: The NFL Combine in February and the Draft in April.
- 2026 Outlook: A tough schedule featuring the NFC West and AFC South.
The cycle of being a Giants fan is basically 20% cheering and 80% waiting for next year. While it’s a bummer not to have a game to watch today, the win over Dallas to end the season at least left a better taste in everyone's mouth than the middle-of-the-season slump did.
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Actionable Next Steps
Since you can't watch the Giants today, your best bet is to set a calendar alert for the NFL Schedule Release in mid-May 2026. That is when we will get the exact dates and kickoff times for the home-and-away matchups we already know are coming. Also, keep an eye on the Senior Bowl at the end of this month (January 31); that’s where the Giants’ coaching staff will be scouting the next generation of New York stars.