If you’re frantically refreshing your feed asking what's the score of the NFL games right now, you aren't alone. It is Sunday, January 18, 2026, and we are smack in the middle of a Divisional Round that has been, quite frankly, a total fever dream. Between overtime heartbreaks and absolute blowouts, the bracket is narrowing down in ways nobody's bracket really predicted.
Right now, the AFC is center stage at Gillette Stadium. The Houston Texans are locked in a defensive struggle with the New England Patriots. If you just tuned in, don't worry—you haven't missed a scoring explosion. As of 3:30 PM ET, we are looking at a 0-0 stalemate early in the first half. It's been all punts and grit so far.
Today’s Live Slate: Sunday, Jan 18
The schedule for today is split between the AFC and the NFC, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Here is what is happening on the turf right now and what you need to clear your schedule for later this evening.
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: Currently in progress. It’s a battle of the No. 5 seed Texans, who are fresh off a dominant 30-6 win against the Steelers, against the No. 2 seed Patriots. Watch this one on ABC.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: This one kicks off at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. It’s the late-night cap at Soldier Field. The weather in Chicago is currently 18°F with snow showers—classic "Bear weather."
Honestly, the Texans-Patriots game feels like a chess match. Houston’s defense has been a "defensive engine" all year, and New England’s execution in tight windows is basically their trademark under this current roster. But everyone is really waiting to see if Caleb Williams can handle the Rams’ veteran pass rush in the freezing Chicago snow later tonight.
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What Happened Yesterday? Saturday’s Wild Results
If you missed yesterday's games, you missed some of the most controversial officiating and dominant performances in recent playoff history.
The Mile High Heartbreak: Broncos 33, Bills 30 (OT)
This game was absolute chaos. Josh Allen did everything he could, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns, but his four turnovers—two picks and two lost fumbles—eventually bit the Bills. The game went into overtime after a late field goal by Matt Prater, but it ended on a Wil Lutz 23-yard chip shot after a series of defensive pass interference calls against Buffalo that had fans screaming at their TVs.
The big news coming out of Denver isn't just the win, though. It’s the cost. Broncos QB Bo Nix left the game with an injury, and Coach Sean Payton has already confirmed he’s headed for surgery. That means Jarrett Stidham is likely the man for the AFC Championship.
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The Seattle Statement: Seahawks 41, 49ers 6
No one expected this. The 49ers entered with Super Bowl dreams, and they left Seattle with a nightmare. Rashid Shaheed opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the Seahawks never looked back.
Kenneth Walker III was the absolute star, racking up 145 total yards and three touchdowns. San Francisco’s offense completely stalled; Brock Purdy was even pulled in the fourth quarter once the game was out of reach. It was the kind of dominant win that makes Seattle look like the clear favorite to represent the NFC in February.
Key Takeaways for the Conference Championships
With the Broncos and Seahawks already punched through to the next round, the bracket is taking a very specific shape.
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- Denver Hosts the AFC Title Game: Regardless of whether the Texans or Patriots win today, they have to travel to Empower Field at Mile High next Sunday, Jan 25.
- Seattle Hosts the NFC Title Game: The winner of tonight’s Rams-Bears matchup will have to head to the "Loudest Stadium in the NFL" to face a Seahawks team that looks unbeatable.
- Quarterback Health is Everything: All eyes are on Denver’s backup situation. Can Stidham really lead a team to the Super Bowl?
How to Keep Tracking the Scores
If you're out and about, the best way to keep up with what's the score of the NFL games is usually the official NFL app or a quick search for the live "Gamecast." But if you want the "real" experience, keep an eye on the weather reports for Chicago tonight. That Rams-Bears game is going to be a slog in the snow, and those are often the games where the score stays low but the drama stays high.
Check back after the 6:30 PM kickoff for the final results of the Divisional Round. We’ll know by tonight which four teams are officially one win away from Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Tune into NBC at 6:30 PM ET to catch the Rams and Bears in the snow.
- Check the injury report tomorrow morning to see the official status of the Broncos' roster depth before the AFC Championship.
- Download a weather app with a radar for Chicago; if that snow gets heavy, it’ll change how you should look at the over/under for the night game.