The air in Green Bay is different this time of year. Usually, the city smells like charcoal grills and anticipation as the frozen tundra readies itself for January football. But if you’re looking for a kickoff time this morning, you might want to sit down.
Green Bay fans are used to checking the schedule for Divisional Round matchups right about now. It's almost a tradition. However, if you are asking what time do the packers play on sunday, the honest, stingy answer is: they don't.
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Why the Packers Aren't on the Sunday Slate
It’s been a weird year for the Green and Gold. After a season that felt like a rollercoaster with the safety bar barely latched, the Packers’ 2025-2026 campaign hit a wall earlier this month.
They made the dance, sure. Jordan Love and company managed to scrape into the postseason as the 7th seed, which, let's be real, is becoming a bit of a habit. They headed down to Soldier Field on Saturday, January 10, for a Wild Card showdown against the Chicago Bears. For those who didn't see it (or blocked it out), it was a heartbreaker.
The Packers actually held a commanding 21-3 lead at halftime. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief across Wisconsin. Then the wheels didn't just come off; they disintegrated. Chicago roared back to win 31-27, sending Green Bay home and keeping them off the schedule for the rest of the month.
Today’s Divisional Round Schedule (Sunday, Jan 18, 2026)
Even though the Pack is out, the NFL world keeps spinning. Today is actually a massive day for the Divisional Round, featuring the teams that managed to survive the opening weekend. If you’re a football fan looking to fill that Lambeau-sized hole in your heart, here is who is actually hitting the turf today:
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
- Time: 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT)
- Channel: ABC / ESPN
- Why watch: The Texans look like a problem for the rest of the AFC, and watching them try to navigate Foxborough in January is always high drama.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
- Time: 6:30 PM ET (5:30 PM CT)
- Channel: NBC / Peacock
- The Salt in the Wound: This is the game Packers fans would have been playing in had they held onto that lead against Chicago. The Bears are hosting a second-round playoff game, which is a sentence most of us aren't used to hearing.
Breaking Down the "What If"
A lot of people are still searching for the Packers' game time because the NFL schedule can be confusing. Between the Saturday games (like yesterday's Seahawks win over the 49ers) and the shifting windows, it’s easy to lose track.
If you’re seeing old schedules or "predicted" brackets from mid-December, they might have shown Green Bay playing today. But those 9-7-1 regular-season records don't buy you much security. Without Micah Parsons, who went down with a torn ACL late in the year, the defense just didn't have the teeth to close out games.
Honestly, the collapse started before the playoffs. Those losses to Denver and Minnesota at the tail end of the regular season were the writing on the wall.
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What’s Next for Green Bay?
Since you won't be watching the Packers today, your Sunday is officially "Draft Prep Sunday." The front office is already looking at 2026.
We already know the 2026 opponents. Green Bay is slated to face the NFC South and the AFC East. That means games against the Saints, Buccaneers, and a road trip to see the Los Angeles Rams is on the horizon.
For now, the actionable thing to do is find a jersey that isn't Green Bay for the afternoon. If you’re a "root for the North" person, the Bears are on at 5:30 PM CT. If you’re a "I hope our rivals lose" person, you’ll probably be pulling for Matthew Stafford and the Rams to silence Soldier Field.
Take the day to enjoy some stress-free football. No botched snaps or missed tackles to yell at today—just the cold reality of a January off-season.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the updated 2026 NFL Draft order to see where Green Bay lands after their Wild Card exit. Most analysts currently have them picking in the 18-22 range, which is prime territory for reloading that defensive line.