If you're frantically checking your watch or scrolling through your streaming apps to see what time nfl game start tonight, I have some news that might be a little disappointing. There is no NFL game tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling. We just came off a massive Wild Card weekend where the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday night. After three straight days of playoff intensity, the league goes dark for a few days. It's the eye of the storm.
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We are currently stuck in that midweek "dead zone" between the Wild Card round and the Divisional playoffs. While your Wednesday night might feel empty without a kickoff, the league is actually deep in the weeds with logistics. Today is actually the deadline for college underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. So, while there's no hitting on the field, the front offices are working overtime.
When does the next NFL game actually start?
You don't have to wait until next week, but you do have to wait until the weekend. The NFL Divisional Round officially kicks off this Saturday. If you were hoping for a Thursday night game, you’re out of luck there too—Thursday Night Football is a regular-season staple that doesn't carry over into the postseason.
Here is exactly when you need to be on the couch this coming Saturday, January 17:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This one starts at 4:30 p.m. ET. It's airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: The nightcap starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
It’s a brutal wait. I get it. But the Divisional Round is widely considered the best weekend of football in the entire year. You have the top seeds—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—coming off their bye weeks, rested and ready to defend their home turf against the battle-tested teams that survived last weekend.
Why is there no NFL game tonight?
The NFL is very protective of its schedule. Wednesday games are incredibly rare. In fact, you usually only see them if a massive holiday like Christmas falls on a Wednesday, or if a global pandemic forces a massive scheduling shift like we saw a few years back.
Basically, the players need the recovery time. Moving from a Monday night game (like the Texans just played) to a Wednesday game would be physically impossible for a professional athlete's body to handle. The league prioritizes that six-to-seven-day window to ensure the product on the field isn't a mess of injuries and tired legs.
If you're looking for sports to fill the void tonight, the college ranks are picking up the slack. For example, UCLA is taking on Penn State in a big Big Ten matchup at 8:30 p.m. ET. It isn't the NFL, but it’s high-stakes competition to keep you occupied until the Bills and Broncos take the field on Saturday.
The Divisional Round Schedule (Save These Times)
Since you're already planning your weekend around what time nfl game start tonight, you might as well mark the Sunday slate too. Sunday, January 18, 2026, is just as loaded as Saturday.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. After the Texans' blowout win on Monday, people are starting to wonder if they can actually upset the Pats in Foxborough.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. This is the final game of the weekend, and playing at Soldier Field in mid-January is always a wildcard for weather.
A quick look at the road to Super Bowl LX
While we wait for Saturday, it’s worth noting where this is all headed. The winners of this weekend's games will move on to Championship Sunday on January 25.
The AFC Championship is set for 3:00 p.m. ET, and the NFC Championship follows at 6:30 p.m. ET. All of this leads to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on February 8, 2026.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since there's no game tonight, use this time to make sure your viewing setup is ready for the weekend.
- Check your subscriptions: Saturday’s games are split between CBS (Paramount+) and FOX. Sunday is ABC/ESPN and NBC (Peacock). If you’ve let any of those lag, now is the time to renew so you aren't stuck dealing with login errors five minutes before kickoff.
- Monitor the injury reports: Because the Broncos and Seahawks had the week off, they are healthy. Keep an eye on the Bills and Texans, who are playing on shorter rest.
- Set your fantasy or betting lines: Most platforms lock their Divisional Round props by Friday evening.
The wait for the weekend is long, but given the matchups we have lined up, it’s going to be worth the silence tonight.