What Was the Football Score Last Night?
Honestly, if you missed the action on Saturday, January 17, 2026, you missed one of the weirdest nights in recent memory. We’re talking about NFL playoff blowouts that nobody saw coming and a Manchester Derby that turned the Premier League title race completely on its head.
The big one? The Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6. It wasn't even close.
Seattle hasn't felt this electric since the early 2010s. By the time 13 seconds had ticked off the clock, Rashid Shaheed had already taken the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. The 49ers looked like they were stuck in mud the rest of the way. Sam Darnold—yeah, that Sam Darnold—managed the game perfectly for Seattle, despite an oblique injury that had everyone holding their breath. He finished 12 of 17 for 124 yards and a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. On the flip side, the Niners suffered their second-most lopsided playoff loss ever. Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan are going to be answering questions about this one for a long time.
The Mile High Heartbreaker
While Seattle was a blowout, Denver was a certified classic. The Denver Broncos topped the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in an overtime thriller. This was AFC Divisional playoff football at its absolute peak. Josh Allen threw for nearly 300 yards and three scores, but it wasn't enough to overcome a relentless Broncos squad led by a Wil Lutz masterclass—four for four on field goals, including the big ones.
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The Bills looked like they had it won late in the fourth. Then Denver just... didn't quit. Marvin Mims Jr. was all over the place with 93 receiving yards and a score, helping the Broncos punch their ticket to the AFC Championship. Seeing the Bills lose another heartbreaker in the playoffs is starting to feel like a recurring nightmare for Western New York.
Premier League: A Red Saturday at Old Trafford
Switching gears to the other kind of football, the Premier League had a massive Saturday. The headliner was the Manchester Derby. Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-0 at a rocking Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s men looked disciplined. Clinical. City had 68% of the ball but did absolutely nothing with it. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 65th minute, and Patrick Dorgu sealed the deal about ten minutes later. This loss puts City in a tough spot while giving Arsenal a chance to pull nine points clear at the top. It's rare to see a Pep Guardiola side look that toothless in a big game, but United's backline—led by a rejuvenated Harry Maguire—was impenetrable.
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Around the Grounds in England
It wasn't just the derby that provided drama. Check out these other results from Saturday:
- West Ham 2 - 1 Tottenham: Callum Wilson broke Spurs' hearts with a 93rd-minute winner. The boos at the final whistle were loud. Really loud.
- Chelsea 2 - 0 Brentford: A dream debut for new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior. Cole Palmer found the net again because, well, that's just what he does.
- Liverpool 1 - 1 Burnley: A frustrating afternoon at Anfield. Burnley dug in and earned a point that could be massive for their survival hopes.
- Leeds United 1 - 0 Fulham: Lukas Nmecha scored in the 91st minute. Elland Road went completely mental.
La Liga: The Arbeloa Era Begins
In Spain, all eyes were on the Bernabéu. Real Madrid beat Levante 2-0 in what was Alvaro Arbeloa’s first league game in charge. It wasn't the prettiest performance, but it was effective.
Kylian Mbappé reached a massive milestone, scoring his 50th La Liga goal in just 53 games. That makes him the second-fastest player to hit that mark this century, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo. He tucked away a penalty in the 58th minute before Raul Asencio doubled the lead with a header. Interestingly, the Madrid crowd was actually jeering Vinícius Júnior at points, which is a storyline worth watching as the season progresses.
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Other Spanish Scores
- Mallorca 3 - 2 Athletic Bilbao: Vedat Muriqi was the hero with a hat-trick.
- Osasuna 3 - 2 Real Oviedo: A five-goal thriller decided by a 92nd-minute strike from Muñoz.
- Real Betis 2 - 0 Villarreal: A solid, professional win for the home side.
What This Means for Your Bracket and Your Bets
If you’re following the NFL playoffs, the path to the Super Bowl is looking a lot different than we expected two weeks ago. The Seahawks are the real deal. Their defense is fast, mean, and opportunistic. If you're betting on the NFC Championship, you have to look at how they neutralized Christian McCaffrey.
In the Premier League, if you've got money on City to win the title, you might want to start sweating. Arsenal has a golden opportunity to run away with it now.
For the La Liga fans, Madrid being only one point behind Barcelona makes the next El Clásico feel like the biggest game of the decade. Arbeloa has brought a youthful energy to the squad, but the tension with the fans and Vinícius is a weird wrinkle they need to iron out.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Injury Reports: Keep an eye on Sam Darnold's oblique and Christian McCaffrey's stinger. These will dictate the lines for next week's games.
- Monitor the Arsenal Result: See if the Gunners capitalize on City's slip-up to extend their lead to nine points.
- Watch the Arbeloa Presser: If you're a Madridista, listen to how the new boss handles the Vinícius situation. His man-management will be tested early.