If you woke up today with that specific itch for January football, you’re in luck. The Divisional Round is basically the best weekend of the entire year for NFL fans. Honestly, the Wild Card is fun but a bit chaotic, and the Conference Championships are stressful. Today? Today is pure, high-stakes football.
So, which nfl teams play today? We have two massive matchups on the schedule for Sunday, January 18, 2026. One is an AFC clash between a legendary franchise and a rising powerhouse, and the other is an NFC battle in the freezing cold of Chicago.
The Afternoon Slate: Houston Texans at New England Patriots
First up, at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Houston Texans travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. This game is being broadcast on ESPN and ABC. If you’re streaming, you’ll find it on the ESPN app or Fubo.
New England is back. It feels weird to say after the post-Brady slump, but the No. 2 seeded Patriots are legitimately dangerous again. Drake Maye has been a revelation. Most people thought he’d need a few years to cook, but he’s already playing with the poise of a ten-year veteran. He threw for 268 yards in the Wild Card win against the Chargers, and more importantly, he didn't blink when the pocket collapsed.
But the Texans are a problem.
Houston is coming off a absolute dismantling of the Steelers. Their defense, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, is basically a nightmare for young quarterbacks. They don't blitz much—they don't have to. They just win their one-on-one battles and wait for you to make a mistake.
Why this game is closer than you think
Most analysts are leaning New England because of the home-field advantage. Gillette Stadium in January is a different beast. However, Houston’s defense finished the regular season ranked first in total defensive EPA. They play a lot of man coverage, trusting their corners like Derek Stingley Jr. to just erase people. If Maye gets impatient and tries to force the "hero ball" throws he sometimes leaned on at North Carolina, Houston will turn those into points.
The Nightcap: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
Once the sun goes down, things get cold. At 6:30 p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. You can catch this one on NBC or Peacock.
This is the "unstoppable force meets immovable object" game. The Rams have the best offense in the league, averaging 30.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Chicago has turned Soldier Field into a fortress. The Bears went 11-6 this year and won their division, mostly because their defense figured out how to create turnovers at the exact right moments.
The Weather Factor
Let’s talk about the wind. It’s Chicago in mid-January. The Rams are a dome team. While Matthew Stafford is no stranger to the cold—thanks to those years in Detroit—the rest of that Rams roster might find the "Windy City" atmosphere a bit jarring.
The Bears are coming off a tight 31-27 win over the Packers. They aren't perfect. Their defense is actually ranked 23rd in points allowed, which seems like a massive red flag when you're facing a Rams team that scores at will. But they win. They find ways to stay in games and let Caleb Williams make a play late.
Key Storylines for Today's Games
- Drake Maye’s Ball Security: In the Wild Card round, Maye fumbled twice while getting sacked. Houston’s pass rush is going to be in his face all afternoon. If he doesn't protect the rock, the Patriots' season ends today.
- The Rams' Road Woes: Los Angeles is 6-4 on the road this year. That’s good, but not elite. Playing in a hostile, freezing Soldier Field is a different level of difficulty than a Week 4 trip to Arizona.
- Caleb Williams vs. The Pressure: The Rams’ defense is underrated. They rank 10th in scoring defense. If they can confuse Williams early and jump out to a two-score lead, Chicago might not have the offensive firepower to climb back in.
How to Watch and Stream
If you’re trying to plan your Sunday around which nfl teams play today, here is the quick breakdown of where to find the games:
| Game | Time (ET) | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texans at Patriots | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN / ABC | ESPN+ / Fubo |
| Rams at Bears | 6:30 p.m. | NBC | Peacock |
What Happens Next?
The winners of today's games don't get much time to celebrate. The bracket is already partially set thanks to yesterday's results.
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The Denver Broncos took down the Buffalo Bills in an overtime thriller (33-30), and the Seattle Seahawks absolutely crushed the 49ers (41-6). That means the winner of the Texans/Patriots game will head to Denver next week for the AFC Championship. The winner of the Rams/Bears game will have the "pleasure" of visiting the Seahawks in Seattle.
If you’re betting today, keep an eye on the totals. The "Under" has been hitting frequently in Chicago home games, and with the stakes this high, teams tend to play a bit more conservatively in the first half.
Grab your wings, settle into the couch, and enjoy. This is as good as it gets.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your local weather forecast if you're attending the Bears game; wind chills are expected to stay in the single digits throughout the second half. Ensure your Peacock subscription is active at least an hour before kickoff to avoid login delays during the high-traffic NFC window. If you are tracking player props, focus on Rhamondre Stevenson’s receiving yards, as he has become a primary safety valve for Maye under pressure.