You're sitting there, phone in hand, probably refreshing a tracker that’s lagging behind, wondering what's the score of tonight's football game while the rest of the world is screaming at their TVs. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and if you follow the NFL, you know this isn't just any weekend. It's the Divisional Round. The "big boys" are back. The top seeds who spent last week lounging on their couches are finally suiting up, and the intensity at Empower Field and Lumen Field is basically vibrating through the screen.
The energy today has been weirdly electric. Maybe it’s the cold. Maybe it’s the fact that we’ve got a mix of legendary veterans and new-blood QBs trying to make a name for themselves. Honestly, keeping track of every snap is a full-time job at this point.
The Big Matchups: Who's Playing and Where things Stand
If you’re looking for the AFC score, you’re looking at the Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos. This game kicked off at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. Denver came into this as the No. 1 seed, 14-3 on the season, rested and looking like a juggernaut. But Josh Allen doesn’t really care about rest. He’s been a human highlight reel, coming off a wild 27-24 win against Jacksonville last week.
Then there’s the late-night dessert. The San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 PM ET. This is the rubber match. The Seahawks took the last one in Week 18, 13-3, which honestly felt like a heavyweight boxing match where nobody landed a punch until the 12th round. Now, they're back at it in Seattle, and that "12th Man" crowd is making it nearly impossible for Brock Purdy to hear his own thoughts, let alone the play calls.
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What happened in the Bills vs. Broncos game?
Look, Denver is tough. They allowed the fewest points in the league this year—just 17.2 per game. But Josh Allen has this habit of turning into a superhero when the temperature drops. He already has 14 rushing touchdowns this year. Think about that for a second. A quarterback is basically your best goal-line back.
The Broncos, led by Bo Nix, have been efficient. Not flashy, just efficient. J.K. Dobbins has been the engine there, grinding out yards. If you’re checking the score of tonight's football game for this one, you’re seeing a classic battle of Buffalo’s high-octane "let it rip" offense against Denver’s "we will suffocate you" defense.
The NFC West War: 49ers at Seahawks
This one is personal. Sam Darnold has had a career resurgence in Seattle that nobody saw coming. 28-6 as a starter over the last two years? Come on. But he's 0-1 in the playoffs, and the 49ers defense—even with their injuries—is a different beast. Brock Purdy is 5-2 in the playoffs and just came off a gritty win in Philly.
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Christian McCaffrey is the X-factor here. Seattle has the best rushing defense in the NFC, so it’s strength against strength. If McCaffrey can’t get going, Purdy has to rely on guys like Deebo Samuel to make plays in space.
Beyond the NFL: A Quick Look at the Pitch
While most of the US is glued to the gridiron, the Premier League had a massive morning. If you missed it, the Michael Carrick era at Manchester United is off to a flyer. They beat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford. Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scored the goals that essentially "painted Manchester red" for the day.
It’s a huge blow for City’s title hopes, especially with Arsenal playing Nottingham Forest later. It's funny how the "score of tonight's football game" means something totally different depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on, but the heartbreak of a loss is pretty universal.
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Real-Time Updates and Where to Watch
If you're trying to catch the live action instead of just reading about it:
- Bills at Broncos: You’re looking at CBS or streaming on Paramount+.
- 49ers at Seahawks: This is the FOX "Game of the Week" (well, game of the night), also on the FOX Sports app.
Why These Scores Matter for Next Week
The winners today don't get much time to celebrate. They’re heading straight for the Conference Championships on January 25. If Buffalo pulls the upset in Denver, they might find themselves hosting a game or heading to New England, depending on what the Texans do tomorrow.
The NFL is a weird, chaotic machine. One bad snap, one missed tackle, and a 14-3 season goes down the drain. That's why we're all obsessed with checking the score every five minutes.
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
- Check your local listings or the NFL app for any late-game flex or weather delays, especially in the Denver area where the wind can turn a field goal into a nightmare.
- Monitor the injury reports for Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle; their availability in the fourth quarter often dictates the final spread.
- Follow live play-by-play via a dedicated sports app like ESPN or the NFL's official site to catch the drive-by-drive momentum shifts that the final score doesn't show.
The night is still young, and in the playoffs, the scoreboard usually doesn't tell the whole story until the final whistle blows and the Gatorade starts flying.