So, you’re looking for the scoreboard. You probably typed "show me nfl scores today" into your phone, expecting to see a live ticker or at least some early-morning highlights from a Thursday night thriller.
Here is the quick, honest truth: there are no NFL games today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
It feels a little weird, right? We’ve spent months getting used to football being on almost every night of the week—Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and those occasionally messy Thursday night matchups. But we are officially in the eye of the storm. The Wild Card round is in the rearview mirror, and the Divisional Round doesn't kick off until tomorrow.
Think of today as the "calm before the chaos."
The NFL Scores You Actually Missed (Wild Card Recap)
If you’re looking for scores because you’re catching up on the start of the postseason, last weekend was a total fever dream. Seriously. If you missed the NFC North showdown, you missed one of the gutsiest performances of the year.
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The Chicago Bears managed to survive a massive scare from the Green Bay Packers, winning 31–27. Jordan Love was dealing early, putting the Packers up 21–3, but the Bears roared back with a 25-point fourth quarter. Cairo Santos hit a couple of clutch field goals, but it was the defense that eventually slammed the door.
Down in the AFC, the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 30–6 victory. It wasn't even as close as the score suggests. C.J. Stroud looked like a seasoned vet, and the Steelers' offense just couldn't find a rhythm against a Houston pass rush that seemed to be in the backfield on every single snap.
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31 (A legitimate nail-biter that went down to the final drive)
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24 (Josh Allen did Josh Allen things late in the game)
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19 (A defensive slugfest that ended the Eagles' hopes of a return to the Super Bowl)
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3 (A classic, ugly, cold-weather defensive masterclass)
Divisional Round: The Real Reason You’re Searching for Scores
Since there isn't a game to show you "today," the real action starts tomorrow, Saturday, January 17. This is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for football fans. Four games. Two days. The top seeds finally join the party.
The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have been sitting at home resting, watching the chaos of the Wild Card round from their couches. Now, they have to defend their home turf against teams that already have playoff momentum.
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Saturday’s Schedule (January 17, 2026)
Tomorrow is a doubleheader that starts in the thin air of Colorado. At 4:30 p.m. ET, the (6) Buffalo Bills travel to Mile High to take on the (1) Denver Broncos. You can catch that one on CBS or stream it on Paramount+. Denver has been the most consistent team in the AFC all year, but stopping Buffalo's offense when it's clicking is a nightmare for any defensive coordinator.
Later that night, at 8:00 p.m. ET, we get an NFC West trilogy. The (6) San Francisco 49ers head north to face the (1) Seattle Seahawks. It’s on FOX. These teams know each other's laundry. There are no secrets here. Expect a lot of chirping and probably a few questionable penalties.
Sunday’s Schedule (January 18, 2026)
If you survive Saturday, Sunday brings the heat. At 3:00 p.m. ET, the (5) Houston Texans are at the (2) New England Patriots (ABC/ESPN). Houston is the "it" team right now, but playing in Foxborough in mid-January is a different beast entirely.
Finally, the weekend wraps up with a frozen showdown at Soldier Field. The (5) Los Angeles Rams face the (2) Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The forecast is calling for single-digit temperatures. For a Rams team used to the California sun, that’s going to be a massive physical and mental hurdle.
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Why There’s No Friday Night Football
A lot of people wonder why the NFL doesn't just slide a game into the Friday slot during the playoffs. Honestly, it mostly comes down to broadcasting rights and tradition. Friday nights in the fall and winter are traditionally reserved for high school sports (the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 actually protects this), and even though that law mostly applies to the regular season, the NFL keeps its playoff structure to the Saturday/Sunday/Monday window to maximize those massive weekend television audiences.
Plus, these players need the recovery time. Moving a game to Friday would force a team that played on Sunday or Monday to turn around on incredibly short rest for the highest-stakes game of their lives. Nobody wants to see a Divisional Playoff game decided by who has the fewest soft-tissue injuries.
Actionable Steps for the Weekend
Since you can't watch a game today, you might as well get ready for the 48-hour marathon starting tomorrow.
First, check your streaming logins. If you're planning to watch the Bills/Broncos game, make sure your Paramount+ account is active. If you’re eyeing the Rams/Bears game, you’ll need Peacock or a standard NBC hookup. There is nothing worse than realizing your password expired two minutes before kickoff.
Second, track the weather in Chicago. If those temperatures keep dropping, it’s going to change how you should think about that Rams/Bears matchup. High-flying offenses usually struggle when the ball feels like a literal brick of ice.
Finally, keep an eye on the injury reports coming out later this afternoon. Since no games are being played today, this is when teams have to release their final "Active/Inactive" designations for the Saturday games. Whether a key offensive lineman is "Questionable" or "Probable" will tell you everything you need to know about how those Vegas lines are going to move before tomorrow morning.