If you’ve been clicking around your remote or scrolling through Amazon Prime looking for the score of thursday night football tonight, I have some news that might be a bit of a letdown. Honestly, there isn't a game. We’ve hit that specific bridge in the NFL season where the "Thursday Night" tradition takes a backseat to the high-stakes drama of the postseason.
Since it's Tuesday, January 13, 2026, we are officially in the "calm before the storm" between the Wild Card round and the Divisional playoffs. The NFL wrapped up its Thursday night slate weeks ago. Usually, the league kills off the Thursday games once the playoffs start because teams need the full week to prep for win-or-go-home scenarios. Nobody wants to see a playoff game decided because a team had only three days to rest their star linebacker's bruised ribs.
What Actually Happened Recently?
Even though there’s no game tonight, the action from this past weekend was pretty wild. If you were looking for the most recent prime-time result, that would be the Monday Night Football clash between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It wasn't even close.
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Houston absolutely stifled Aaron Rodgers. The final score was Texans 30, Steelers 6. Sheldon Rankins basically sealed the deal with a 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first road playoff win in Texans' franchise history. If you're a Steelers fan, it was a rough night at Acrisure Stadium; they haven't won a playoff game since 2016, and Mike Tomlin just tied the record for the longest postseason losing streak.
The Wild Card Scores You Missed
Since the search for a Thursday score usually means you're looking for the latest NFL updates, here is a quick rundown of how the bracket shook out over the last 72 hours.
- Bears 31, Packers 27: Caleb Williams had a massive playoff debut. He led an 18-point comeback.
- Rams 34, Panthers 31: Matthew Stafford threw for over 300 yards and pulled off another game-winning drive.
- Bills 27, Jaguars 24: A tight one that came down to the wire in Jacksonville.
- 49ers 23, Eagles 19: San Francisco's defense held firm when it mattered most.
- Patriots 16, Chargers 3: New England's defense looks like a problem for the rest of the AFC.
Why Thursday Night Football Disappears in January
It’s kinda weird when the routine breaks, right? You get used to that Thursday night rhythm for four months, and then suddenly it’s gone. The league stops the Thursday broadcasts (on Amazon Prime or otherwise) to ensure competitive balance.
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Imagine if the Houston Texans had to play the New England Patriots this Thursday after just playing on Monday night. They'd be exhausted. By moving all the games to Saturday and Sunday for the Divisional round, the NFL keeps the quality of play higher.
Basically, the score of thursday night football tonight is 0-0 because the field is empty. But that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to track for your betting slips or fantasy pools.
What’s Next: The Divisional Round
Since you won't be watching football tonight, you should probably prep for the upcoming weekend. The Divisional round is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for football fans. We are down to the final eight teams.
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The schedule for the upcoming weekend (January 17-18, 2026) is where the real heat is. We have the Houston Texans heading to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. That's a massive matchup. The Texans' defense is playing like a brick wall right now, but playing at Gillette Stadium in January is a different beast entirely. On the NFC side, the Los Angeles Rams are heading to Chicago to face Caleb Williams and the Bears.
Actionable Steps for the "Off" Days
- Check the Injury Reports: Watch the status of Texans' receivers Nico Collins and Justin Watson. Both left the Monday game with concussions. Their availability for Sunday is a huge "if."
- Update Your Betting Apps: Since there is no game tonight, odds for the Divisional round are just starting to stabilize. You might find some value on the Rams +3.5 before the public starts betting the "home dog" narrative for Chicago.
- Set Your Saturday Calendar: The first game kicks off Saturday, January 17, at 4:30 PM ET.
The hunt for the score of thursday night football tonight might have come up empty because of the playoff schedule, but the season is far from over. We are about to see the most intense three weeks of the year. Grab some snacks, rest your eyes tonight, and get ready for the Saturday double-header.