If you just woke up on this Thursday, January 15, 2026, and you’re frantically scrolling through your guide looking for a primetime NFL kickoff, I have some news that might sting a little. Honestly, it’s that awkward mid-January lull. We just came off a wild six-game Super Wild Card Weekend—remember that Texans demolition of the Steelers on Monday night?—and now the league is catching its breath.
There are actually no NFL football games today on TV.
I know, it’s a bit of a letdown. We’ve been spoiled with "Thursday Night Football" for months, but since the regular season is wrapped and we're deep into the postseason, Amazon Prime’s Thursday slot has gone dark. The league spaces out the Divisional Round to maximize those massive weekend ratings, so today is strictly for podcasters to argue about whether Buffalo can actually win in the thin air of Denver this coming Saturday.
The NFL Divisional Round Waiting Game
So, if nothing is on today, when does the real action start? You basically have 48 hours to prep your wings and get the couch situated. The Divisional Round is a different beast. The No. 1 seeds—the New England Patriots in the AFC and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC—are finally coming off their bye weeks.
Here is the deal for the upcoming weekend. You’ve got a massive Saturday doubleheader coming up on January 17. The Buffalo Bills, fresh off a gritty win against Jacksonville, travel to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos. That one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. If you’re a streamer, Paramount+ is your home for that one.
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Then, the nightcap is a total bloodbath: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. It's at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. Seeing those two rivals meet in the postseason is basically a holiday in the Pacific Northwest.
On Sunday, January 18, the schedule stays just as heavy.
The Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).
What About College Football Today?
If you were hoping for some college action to fill the void, you’re also a few days off. The College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals are already in the rearview mirror. Carson Beck and the Miami Hurricanes just punched their ticket to the title game by taking down Ole Miss in a thriller at the Fiesta Bowl last week.
We are currently in the "dead week" before the CFP National Championship. That massive showdown between Miami and Indiana doesn't happen until Monday night, January 19, 2026. It’s being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which is basically a home game for the U. It’s kind of wild to think Indiana is the No. 1 seed in a national title game, but here we are.
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Basically, if you see "football" on your TV guide today, it’s likely a replay of a bowl game or a very long pre-game analysis show on the Big Ten Network or SEC Network.
International Soccer and Other Options
Since the American gridiron is quiet today, you might want to pivot to the "other" football. If you have international packages or specific streaming subs, there is some mid-week action across the pond.
- Italian Serie A: Hellas Verona faces Bologna at 5:30 p.m. local time, followed by a big one—Como vs. Milan at 7:45 p.m.
- German Bundesliga: FC Augsburg takes on Union Berlin at 7:30 p.m.
- Spanish Copa Del Rey: This is where the drama usually is. Barcelona is playing Racing de Santander today at 8:00 p.m.
- Women's FA Cup: West Bromwich Albion Women are hosting Everton Women at 7:30 p.m.
If you’re strictly a Premier League fan, you’re waiting until Saturday as well. Peacock and Sky Sports are gearing up for Matchweek 22, which starts with a bunch of 10:00 a.m. ET games on Saturday, including Spurs vs. West Ham.
Why the Gap in the Schedule?
It feels weird to have a blank Thursday in January, doesn't it? For years, the NFL tried to squeeze games everywhere, but the "rest" factor for the Divisional Round is a huge talking point for the 2026 season. Because the Wild Card round now includes a Monday night game (Texans vs. Steelers this past Monday), the league can’t really justify putting a team back on the field by Thursday. It would be a player safety nightmare.
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Plus, the TV networks—CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN—pay billions to own those Saturday and Sunday slots. They don't want to compete with themselves on a Thursday when they can build 72 hours of hype for the "final eight."
Your Game Plan for Today
Since the answer to "what time are the football games today on tv" is essentially "they aren't," you've got a few ways to spend your Thursday night while staying in the loop.
First, check the injury reports for the Bills and Broncos. Denver’s defense has been stellar at home, but Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed right now. Second, if you're a college fan, today is a great day to watch some film on Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Most people didn't have the Hoosiers on their radar in September, but the Heisman winner is the real deal.
Set your DVRs now for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. That is your next true appointment with the pigskin. If you absolutely need a fix tonight, the NFL+ app usually has "condensed" replays of the Wild Card games that run about 45 minutes each. It's a great way to catch up on what you missed while you were working on Monday.
The best move right now is to verify your streaming logins. Make sure your Paramount+ and Peacock subscriptions are active, as three of the four Divisional games this weekend rely heavily on those platforms for 4K streaming. You don't want to be resetting a password ten minutes before the Bills and Broncos kick off on Saturday.