So, you’re looking for the rundown on what teams played football today? Honestly, today—Sunday, January 18, 2026—has been one of those massive sports days where you basically need four different screens just to keep up. We had everything from high-stakes NFL playoff games to a massive showdown in La Liga and some really interesting results across the English Premier League and Serie A.
It’s the middle of January. It's cold in half the world, but the sports calendar is absolutely red hot right now.
The NFL Divisional Round: Heavyweight Clashes
If you’re an American football fan, today was all about the Divisional Round. We are officially down to the nitty-getter of the postseason.
First up, the Houston Texans headed into the frozen tundra of Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. This was a 3:00 PM ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots, playing as the No. 2 seed, had a lot of pressure to defend home turf against a Texans team that has been looking dangerous all year. It was a classic "experience vs. momentum" type of game.
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Then, as the sun went down, the focus shifted to the Windy City. The Los Angeles Rams traveled to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. This 6:30 PM ET game was played in true Chicago weather—around 18°F with snow showers. Watching the Rams try to navigate a snowy Soldier Field is always a spectacle. Since Chicago secured that No. 2 seed in the NFC North this year, their home-field advantage has been legitimate.
European Soccer: What Teams Played Football Today Across the Pond?
The European schedule was just as packed. If you were up early, you probably caught the Premier League action.
In England, Wolverhampton Wanderers hosted Newcastle United at Molineux. It ended in a gritty 0-0 draw, which sort of tells you everything you need to know about how tight the mid-table is right now. Later on, Aston Villa faced Everton at Villa Park.
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Over in Spain, La Liga had a massive slate. The standout, hands down, was Real Sociedad vs. FC Barcelona. Playing at the Anoeta is never easy for Barça, and today was no different. Earlier in the day, Atlético de Madrid took care of business against Deportivo Alavés, and we saw Getafe face Valencia in a match that was more about survival than style.
Italy's Serie A also gave us a full Sunday:
- Parma vs. Genoa kicked things off.
- Bologna vs. Fiorentina was a tactical chess match.
- Torino vs. AS Roma saw a lot of intensity in Turin.
- AC Milan capped off the night at the San Siro against Lecce.
Why Today Felt Different
There’s a specific vibe to these mid-January Sundays. In the NFL, it’s the "win or go home" reality. One bad snap or a missed field goal and your season is over. In Europe, we're hitting that grueling stretch where squad depth starts to matter more than raw talent.
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You’ve got teams like Lyon playing Brest in Ligue 1, or Stuttgart facing Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. These aren't just "regular" games; they are the matches that define whether a team qualifies for Europe or gets sucked into a relegation scrap.
Actionable Takeaways for the Week Ahead
If you’re following the teams that played today, here is what you need to watch for next:
- Check the Injury Reports: Both the Rams and Bears had significant players on the "Questionable" list heading into today. Keep an eye on those for next week's Conference Championships.
- Transfer Window Gossip: Since it’s January 18, the transfer window is wide open. Teams like Newcastle and Milan, who struggled for goals today, are likely going to be active in the market over the next 48 hours.
- Tournament Standings: Today's La Liga results have shifted the top four significantly. If you’re tracking the title race, look at how Real Sociedad’s performance impacts Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid.
The dust is still settling on a few of these late-night matches, but one thing is clear: the road to the Super Bowl and the race for European glory just got a whole lot more complicated.