Playoff football in January is basically a recipe for heart palpitations. Honestly, if you spent your Sunday afternoon watching the AFC and NFC Divisional rounds, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We had snow in Foxborough. We had a turnover-fest that nearly broke NFL records. And we had some of the gutsiest quarterback play from a pair of rookies that this league has seen in a long, long time.
The question everyone is asking right now is: what was today's nfl scores and how on earth did that Texans-Patriots game turn into a fumble-induced fever dream?
Let’s get into the weeds of it.
The AFC Madness: Patriots Outlast Texans in Foxborough
The marquee matchup of the day saw the New England Patriots take down the Houston Texans with a 28-16 final score. But man, that score does not even begin to tell the story of what happened at Gillette Stadium. It was weird. It was messy. At one point, I thought the ball was coated in grease.
C.J. Stroud, who has been nothing short of a wizard for Houston, had a day he’d probably like to delete from his memory bank. He threw four interceptions in the first half alone. Four! To put that in perspective, he only threw five in his entire rookie season. Two of those went to Carlton Davis, who seemingly has Stroud’s number programmed into his helmet at this point.
Despite the air-raid disaster, the Texans' defense played out of their minds. They kept it a 21-10 game at the half, which is honestly a miracle given the field position they were handed.
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The Turnover Tidal Wave
If you like "clean" football, this wasn't it. The third quarter was basically a comedy of errors. Will Anderson Jr. forced a fumble on Drake Maye, giving Houston life. Then, just as the Texans were about to capitalize, Woody Marks coughed it back up to Christian Gonzalez.
The stat of the night? We had eight turnovers by the middle of the third quarter. The NFL playoff record is 14, and for a minute there, it felt like these two teams were determined to shatter it.
The dagger finally came in the fourth quarter. Drake Maye, showing why he’s the new king of Foxborough, unleashed a 32-yard beauty to Kayshon Boutte. Boutte snagged it with one hand while basically horizontal in the air. That touchdown made it 28-16, and the Patriots' defense slammed the door shut after that. New England is now heading to Denver for the AFC Championship Game, which is wild considering nobody had them here back in September.
Soldier Field Chill: Rams vs. Bears Update
While New England was a frozen slush-fest, the late game at Soldier Field between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears brought a different kind of intensity. Chicago fans are loud, but they are even louder when they’re the "home underdog."
The atmosphere was electric. We’re talking about a stadium where the wind chill makes your face hurt, yet people are still shirtless and painted blue.
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- Defense Defined the Early Going: Both teams struggled to find a rhythm in the frigid air.
- Rams' Ground Attack: Los Angeles leaned heavily on their zone-blocking scheme to keep the clock moving and keep the Bears' pass rush at bay.
- The Soldier Field Factor: Chicago has covered the spread in eight of their last ten home meetings with the Rams, and that trend held true to form today.
The Bears entered as the No. 2 seed after that miracle win over Green Bay last week, and they played like a team that actually believes in "Destiny." It’s sort of refreshing to see Chicago back in the mix of meaningful January football.
Looking Back at Saturday’s Blowouts
To fully answer what was today's nfl scores, we have to mention the absolute beatdowns that happened just 24 hours ago. If today was about grit and turnovers, Saturday was about pure, unadulterated dominance.
The Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6. It wasn't even a game. It was a funeral for the Niners' season. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, and San Francisco never recovered. Kenneth Walker III was a man possessed, racking up three rushing touchdowns and 116 yards. He looked at the Niners' defense and basically said, "No thanks," as he waltzed into the end zone repeatedly.
Meanwhile, in Denver, the Broncos pulled off a 33-30 overtime thriller against the Buffalo Bills. It was a bittersweet victory, though. Bo Nix is officially out for the season with a broken ankle, meaning the Broncos will have to face the Patriots next week with Jarrett Stidham under center.
What the 2026 Playoff Picture Looks Like Now
The smoke is clearing, and the path to the Super Bowl is narrowing down to the elite few. Here is how the Conference Championships are shaping up:
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- AFC Championship: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos. This is going to be a defensive slugfest. With Nix out, the Patriots are opening as early favorites, but playing at Mile High in late January is a nightmare for any visiting team.
- NFC Championship: The Seattle Seahawks will host the winner of the Rams/Bears game. Seattle looks like the best team in football right now. Mike Macdonald has that defense playing "Dark Side" football—fast, physical, and demoralizing.
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead
If you’re a betting person or just a die-hard fan trying to stay ahead of the curve, here’s what you need to keep an eye on before next Sunday.
Watch the Injury Reports: The Seahawks lost Zach Charbonnet to a knee injury and LT Charles Cross to a foot issue. If Cross can't go, Sam Darnold’s protection takes a massive hit. On the flip side, keep an eye on Rome Odunze’s foot in Chicago; his availability changes that entire offense.
The Quarterback Gap: We are looking at a potential Super Bowl run led by Jarrett Stidham or Sam Darnold. Let that sink in. The "clear path" for the Patriots and Seahawks is wide open because the usual giants (Mahomes, Allen, Burrow) are all watching from home.
Home Field Matters: Seattle’s Lumen Field is officially the loudest place on earth again. Whoever has to go there next week is facing an uphill battle from the first whistle.
If you're tracking the results, the theme of 2026 is clearly "Defense and Chaos." Today's scores proved that no lead is safe and no quarterback is immune to a bad day. Get your snacks ready for next weekend; it’s only going to get crazier from here.
Go ahead and clear your calendar for next Sunday afternoon—you won't want to miss the conference titles. Check the local listings for kickoff times, as the NFL likes to flex these slots at the last minute for maximum TV ratings. Stay warm out there.