It is Divisional Round weekend. This is arguably the best football weekend of the entire year, and if you’re asking what NFL team is playing right now, you’ve likely caught the league at its most intense.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026. Right now, the AFC and NFC are being narrowed down to the final four. We just watched a wild Saturday where the Denver Broncos outlasted the Buffalo Bills in an overtime thriller ($33-30$), and the Seattle Seahawks took care of business at home against the 49ers. But that was yesterday. Today is about the Houston Texans, the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Chicago Bears.
The AFC Clash: Texans at Patriots
First up on the Sunday slate is a battle in Foxborough. The Houston Texans are taking on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. This game kicked off at 3:00 p.m. ET. If you are tuning in at this moment, you’re watching Drake Maye try to navigate a Texans defense that has been surprisingly stout all season.
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Houston is coming off a massive road win against Pittsburgh. They aren't just "happy to be here" anymore. C.J. Stroud has transitioned from a young phenom to a stone-cold veteran in the eyes of most analysts. Honestly, seeing the Texans in a divisional game feels right. They play a fast, aggressive style of ball that usually travels well, even in the chilly Massachusetts air.
The Patriots, on the other hand, are back in familiar territory, though it feels a bit different in the post-Belichick era. They’ve got the home-field advantage. The crowd in Foxborough is loud. It’s a classic matchup of a high-flying offense versus a disciplined, tactical home team.
The NFC Nightcap: Rams at Bears
If the sun is starting to set or you’re settling in for the evening, the focus shifts to the "Monsters of the Midway." The Los Angeles Rams are facing the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. This one is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC.
It is cold in Chicago. The forecast called for snow showers and temperatures hovering around 19°F. That is "Bears weather" through and through.
Basically, this game is a collision of two very different identities:
- The Rams: A veteran squad that knows how to win in January. They’ve got the experience, the rings, and a scheme that can slice through most defenses if the quarterback has time to throw.
- The Bears: Led by Caleb Williams, this team is the "new kid on the block." They took down the Packers in the Wild Card round, and the city of Chicago is currently vibrating with playoff fever. It’s their first home divisional game in 15 years.
Watching the Rams try to execute their precision passing game in a lakeside wind chill is going to be the highlight of the night. If you’re checking what NFL team is playing right now later in the evening, this is the game that will determine who travels to Seattle next week for the NFC Championship.
Why This Sunday Matters So Much
The Divisional Round is the "sifting" phase of the playoffs. The pretenders were sent home during Wild Card weekend. Now, it’s just the heavyweights.
People often forget that the jump from the regular season to the Divisional Round is huge. The speed of the game increases. One missed tackle or a single "boneheaded" penalty can end a season that took six months to build.
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We saw that yesterday with Buffalo. One missed field goal in the closing minutes, and suddenly Josh Allen is heading to the off-season while Bo Nix and the Broncos are moving on. The stakes today are exactly the same.
How to Watch the Rest of the Action
If you’re looking to catch the end of the Texans-Patriots game or the start of Rams-Bears, you’ve got a few options:
- TV: The afternoon game is on ESPN and ABC. The night game is on NBC.
- Streaming: Peacock is the home for the NBC broadcast, and ESPN+ is carrying the AFC game.
- Radio: Westwood One has the national call for those stuck in their cars.
The winners of today's games move on to the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25. The Broncos are already waiting for the winner of the Patriots-Texans game, and the Seahawks are ready to host whoever survives the cold at Soldier Field.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the live score on the NFL app to see if the Texans-Patriots game has entered the fourth quarter.
- If you’re watching the Bears game, keep an eye on the kicker’s warmup; that Chicago wind is notorious for pushing balls wide right.
- Clear your schedule for next Sunday afternoon, as the AFC Championship kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET.