If you're frantically scrolling through your phone trying to figure out where is football game tonight, take a breath. You're in luck. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are right in the thick of the NFL Divisional Round. This is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for a football junkie. The stakes are massive, the weather is usually miserable (which makes for great TV), and the pretenders have finally been weeded out.
Honestly, there is nothing quite like playoff football under the lights. Whether you're looking for the NFL's heavy hitters or wondering if there's any college action left before the big finale, I’ve got you covered.
The NFL Divisional Round: Saturday Night Lights
Tonight is all about the pros. We have a double-header that essentially splits the country between a high-altitude slugfest and a rainy Pacific Northwest rivalry.
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
Earlier today, the action kicked off at Empower Field at Mile High. If you missed the start, the Buffalo Bills traveled to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos. This game started at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Denver earned that first-round bye for a reason, but Josh Allen and the Bills aren't exactly a "warm-up" opponent. Playing in Denver in mid-January is a nightmare for most teams, though Buffalo is one of the few squads that actually feels at home in the freezing cold. You can stream this one on Paramount+ if you're away from your couch.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
This is the big one for the nightcap. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. This is a classic NFC West grudge match.
The 49ers are coming in as the lower seed, but in this rivalry, the records usually go out the window. Seattle's "12th Man" crowd will be deafening. If you want to watch this one, tune into FOX. For the cord-cutters, it’s available on the FOX Sports app and NFL+.
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
- Channel: FOX / FOX Deportes
- Streaming: FOX One / NFL+
What About College Football Tonight?
I’ve seen a few people asking about the college schedule, and here’s the deal: you’re going to have to wait just a little bit longer.
There are no college football games tonight.
The semifinals are done. The bowl season has mostly wrapped up. We are currently in the "calm before the storm" phase. The College Football Playoff National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes is set for Monday, January 19, 2026.
It’s going to be a wild one. Indiana is the #1 seed and has been a juggernaut all year, while Miami has taken the "cardiac canes" route to the final. That game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN this coming Monday. Tonight, though? It's strictly an NFL party.
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International Football: Premier League Results
If you're a fan of "the other football," today was actually a massive day over in England. The Premier League had a full slate of matches that finished up earlier this morning and afternoon.
The biggest story? Manchester United stunned Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford. This was Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of United, and honestly, nobody expected that result. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the deal.
If you're looking for more soccer tonight, you might find some Liga MX action. Querétaro vs. Guadalajara is scheduled for later tonight on Telemundo (around 11:00 p.m. ET), which is a solid option if you suffer from late-night sports insomnia.
How to Find Your Game
If you're still sitting there wondering where is football game tonight because your local listings look weird, remember that playoff broadcast rights are split.
- Check CBS/Paramount+ for the AFC matchups.
- Check FOX for the NFC matchups.
- Check NBC/Peacock for tomorrow’s Sunday night game.
- Check ESPN/ABC for the Sunday afternoon window.
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, we get the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN) and the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET on NBC). It’s a literal gauntlet of high-stakes games.
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Basically, if you have a basic cable package or a decent streaming sub, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the 49ers and Seahawks tonight. Just make sure your snacks are ready before that 8:00 p.m. kickoff because once the playoffs start, the commercial breaks feel shorter and the tension feels a lot higher.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download the NFL+ app if you are on the move; it’s the most reliable way to catch local and prime-time playoff games on mobile.
- Set your DVR for Monday night if you plan on watching the Indiana vs. Miami championship, as it's an early weeknight kickoff.
- Check the weather in Seattle if you're a bettor; rain is often the "hidden" player in Lumen Field matchups and can drastically shift the over/under.
- Verify your Paramount+ login now if you want to catch the tail end of the Bills-Broncos game, as their authentication can be finicky during high-traffic playoff windows.