Checking for "what time is nfl today" can feel like a moving target during the postseason. Honestly, there is nothing more frustrating than grabbing your wings, cracking a cold one, and realizing you’re exactly twenty-four hours early—or worse, three hours late.
If you are looking for live football on Friday, January 16, 2026, here is the quick reality: there are no NFL games today.
The league typically keeps its playoff matchups to the weekend windows. Today is a bridge day. It’s for injury reports, coach press conferences, and endless debate on sports radio. But don’t go anywhere, because the Divisional Round is about to blow the doors off starting tomorrow afternoon.
The Weekend Slate: When the Action Actually Starts
Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, is when the real fireworks begin. We have two massive matchups that will decide who moves one step closer to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
👉 See also: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
First up, the Buffalo Bills travel to face the Denver Broncos. This one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch it on CBS or stream it via Paramount+. It's a classic cold-weather matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, and let’s be real, watching Josh Allen play in the thin air of Denver is going to be a spectacle.
Then we move to the nightcap. The San Francisco 49ers head north to take on the Seattle Seahawks. That starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. This is an NFC West bloodbath. Lumen Field will be vibrating.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday keeps the momentum going with another double-header.
✨ Don't miss: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
At 3:00 p.m. ET, the Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots. This game is being broadcast across ESPN and ABC. Seeing C.J. Stroud go up against that New England defense in Foxborough is the kind of tactical chess match football nerds live for.
Finally, the weekend wraps up with the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Soldier Field in mid-January is basically a gladiator pit.
Why Aren't There Games Today?
It's a fair question. Why skip Friday? The NFL is a creature of habit and television contracts. While they've toyed with "Black Friday" games during the regular season, the playoffs are a different beast.
Players need the recovery time. Moving a game to Friday would mean a "short week" for teams that played on Sunday or Monday in the Wild Card round. The league prioritizes the quality of the product—and the massive television ratings that come with Saturday and Sunday time slots.
🔗 Read more: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Key Storylines for the Divisional Round
Since you've got today to prep, you might as well know what you're looking at.
- The Brock Purdy Factor: The 49ers QB is coming off a gritty win where he threw two picks but still managed to pull it out. Facing the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom 2.0" in Seattle is a legacy-defining moment.
- Denver's Thin Air: The Broncos have been a fortress at home. The Bills' offense is high-octane, but can they sustain it for four quarters at that altitude?
- The Rookie Tight End Record: Keep an eye on the news today regarding the Pro Bowl. Colts rookie Tyler Warren was just named as an injury replacement for Brock Bowers. While the Colts aren't in the hunt this weekend, it shows just how much young talent is currently flooding the league.
Viewing Tips for the Weekend
Don't get caught without a plan. If you're a cord-cutter, make sure your logins for Paramount+ (for the CBS game) and Peacock (for the NBC game) are active.
Most people forget that the Sunday afternoon game is a dual-cast. If you don't have cable, the ESPN+ app will have the Texans vs. Patriots game live.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Set Your Alarms: Don't just rely on "remembering." Set a notification for 4:00 p.m. ET tomorrow so you're settled in before the Bills and Broncos kick off.
- Check the Weather: If you're a bettor or a fantasy player, keep an eye on the Chicago forecast for Sunday night. Soldier Field wind can turn a passing clinic into a ground-and-pound slog in minutes.
- Sync Your Streaming: Log into your apps (Peacock, Paramount+, FOX One) tonight to ensure you aren't stuck in "password recovery hell" five minutes before kickoff.
The wait is almost over. Friday is for the hype; Saturday is for the hits.