Honestly, it feels like you need a master’s degree in media rights just to figure out where to find your team lately. If you’re staring at your remote right now asking what channel can i watch the football game on, you aren't alone. The days of just flipping to CBS or FOX and calling it a day are basically over.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you’re looking for the NFL, you’re in that weird "calm before the storm" pocket. We just finished a wild Wild Card weekend, and the Divisional Round doesn't kick off until Saturday. But that doesn't mean the gridiron is cold.
Where the NFL Playoffs Land This Weekend
Since there isn't a pro game tonight, you’ve got about 48 hours to make sure your logins work. The NFL Divisional Round schedule for 2026 is split across four different broadcasters. If you miss one, you're missing a quarter of the path to Super Bowl LX.
On Saturday, January 17, the Buffalo Bills face the Denver Broncos at 4:30 PM ET. That one is a CBS exclusive, which means you can also stream it on Paramount+. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers head to Seattle to play the Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET. You’ll find that on FOX.
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Sunday is just as messy for your channel surfing. The Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots at 3:00 PM ET on ABC and ESPN. Then, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears at 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
It’s a lot.
What Channel Can I Watch The Football Game On Tonight?
If you were hoping for a Thursday Night Football NFL fix today, I've got some news. Amazon Prime Video actually transitioned their Thursday slot over to the NBA now that the NFL regular season is wrapped up.
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Tonight, January 15, the big "football-shaped hole" in your heart might be filled by some high-stakes college hoops or even the NHL. For instance, the Boston Bruins are playing the Seattle Kraken on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET.
If you are strictly a pigskin fan, you're mostly looking at replay marathons on the NFL Network. They tend to run "NFL Replay" or "Top 10" segments on Thursdays during the postseason gap.
Streaming vs. Cable: The 2026 Reality
You’ve probably noticed that "channels" don't always mean "numbers on a box" anymore.
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- Peacock: They have exclusive rights to certain playoff windows.
- Amazon Prime: They’ve become the "Thursday home," but as mentioned, they pivot to basketball in mid-January.
- ESPN+: Don’t confuse this with the regular ESPN channel. Some college games (like the CSU Fullerton vs. UC Davis matchup tonight at 10 p.m. ET) are only on the app.
Why the "Channel" Keeps Changing
It's all about the money, obviously. The NFL's current media deal is a patchwork quilt. CBS and FOX still own the Sunday afternoon tradition, but NBC has locked down the "primetime" feel with Sunday Night Football and major playoff slots.
The biggest frustration for fans in 2026 is the "simulcast" confusion. Just because a game is on ABC doesn't always mean it's on ESPN+, though this weekend’s Texans-Patriots game actually is.
Always check your local listings for "blackout" rules too. Even in 2026, some regional sports networks (RSNs) like Bally Sports or the new versions of NBC Sports Regional can get territorial over college-level football or basketball games.
Practical Steps to Find Your Game
- Check the League App: The NFL and NCAA apps are surprisingly good at geo-locating you and telling you exactly which "tile" to click.
- Verify Your Subscriptions: If you’re planning to watch the Rams vs. Bears this Sunday, make sure your Peacock login hasn't expired.
- Use an Antenna: Seriously. For the FOX and CBS games, a $20 over-the-air antenna still delivers the highest bit-rate 4K signal without the 30-second streaming delay that ruins live betting or group chats.
The Divisional Round is where the real legends are made. Make sure you're settled in by 4:30 PM ET this Saturday so you don't miss the Bills and Broncos kickoff on CBS.
Get your Peacock and Paramount+ apps updated today to avoid that "forced update" screen five minutes before kickoff this weekend.