Checking your phone every five minutes for updates is a vibe we all know too well. Honestly, if you’re asking what's the football score tonight, you’re likely caught between the high-stakes drama of the NFL Divisional Round and a massive slate of European soccer. Sunday, January 18, 2026, has been one of those days where the "refresh" button on your sports app is basically getting a workout.
The big story in the States is the NFL postseason moving toward the championship games, but across the pond, the Premier League and La Liga are providing their own brand of chaos. It's a lot to keep track of.
NFL Divisional Round: The Road to the Super Bowl
If you missed the early window, the AFC is currently on fire. The Houston Texans and the New England Patriots kicked things off at Gillette Stadium. This wasn't just another game; it was Drake Maye versus C.J. Stroud, two of the most electric young arms in the league. Heading into the fourth quarter, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. The Patriots entered as 3-point favorites, but Stroud’s ability to find Nico Collins in tight windows kept the Texans right in the mix until the final whistle.
Later tonight, the action shifts to the frozen tundra—or at least the chilly grass—of Soldier Field.
The Chicago Bears are hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a matchup that feels like a collision of eras. You've got Matthew Stafford, the veteran who refuses to age, trying to outmaneuver Caleb Williams. The spread had the Rams as 4-point favorites, mostly because of that Puka Nacua and Davante Adams connection, but playing in Chicago in mid-January is never easy for a West Coast team.
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Saturday Night Recap
Wait, we have to talk about what happened last night because it sets the stage for everything we're seeing now. The Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers with a 41-6 scoreline. It was a bloodbath. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house and the Niners never recovered. Sam Darnold got his first career playoff win, which, let’s be real, is a sentence many people didn't expect to read a few years ago.
Premier League and European Soccer Scores
While the pads are clashing in the U.S., the "other" football has been busy all day. The Premier League Sunday schedule featured some tactical grinds and a few surprises.
- Wolves vs. Newcastle: This was a gritty affair at Molineux. Both sides looked tired, leading to a cagey 0-0 draw that didn't do much for either team's European ambitions.
- Aston Villa vs. Everton: Unai Emery’s side continued their push for the top four at Villa Park.
- Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City: Yeah, you read that right. The Saturday derby result is still the talk of the town today. United’s defense actually held firm against the Haaland machine.
In Spain, La Liga is providing the late-night entertainment. Real Sociedad vs. FC Barcelona is the headliner tonight. Barcelona has been sitting at the top of the table with 49 points, but a trip to San Sebastián is notoriously difficult. If they drop points here, Real Madrid (who beat Levante 2-0 yesterday) will be breathing right down their necks.
Serie A: The Italian Title Race
Over in Italy, the Scudetto race is tightening up. Inter Milan grabbed a massive 1-0 win away at Udinese earlier today. It wasn't pretty. It was a classic "championship winning" performance where they did just enough to get the three points and get out.
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Tonight, AC Milan faces Lecce at the San Siro. Milan needs a win to keep pace with their crosstown rivals. The atmosphere in Milan is reportedly electric, especially with the news that their defensive unit is finally back to full strength.
Why These Scores Matter for the Rest of the Season
Scores aren't just numbers; they’re momentum. In the NFL, tonight’s winners move one step closer to the Super Bowl, while the losers head into an offseason of "what ifs." For the Texans and Bears, these games are a litmus test for whether their young franchise QBs are ready for the brightest lights.
In Europe, we're hitting the "winter grind." This is where squads get thin, injuries pile up, and the gap between the elite and the mid-table begins to widen.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the action tonight, keep an eye on the injury reports for next week. In the Seahawks game, Sam Darnold was playing through an oblique injury. Even in a blowout win, those small details matter when you're looking ahead to the NFC Championship.
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For the soccer fans, watch the yellow card accumulations. Several key players for Barcelona and AC Milan are one booking away from a suspension, which could flip the title race on its head by next weekend.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're looking at the "expected goals" (xG) and "time of possession" rather than just the final score. A 1-0 win where a team got outshot 20-2 usually suggests a regression is coming. Conversely, a team like the Bears might lose a close one tonight but show enough defensive grit to be a massive threat in 2027.
Check the live betting lines during the fourth quarter of the Rams-Bears game. The "Total" was set at 48.5, but with the Chicago wind picking up, the under is looking like the smart play for the final stretch.