If you’re staring at your TV remote wondering why the house is so quiet or where the best action is hiding, you’ve come to the right place. Honestly, today—Saturday, January 17, 2026—is one of those massive "overlap" days where the schedules are just relentless. We are talking about a collision of high-stakes NFL Divisional Playoffs and a full-throttle Saturday in the European soccer leagues.
It’s a lot. You've got the Buffalo Bills trying to survive in the thin air of Denver, while across the Atlantic, the Manchester Derby just wrapped up or is still being argued about in every pub in England.
Let's break down exactly who is playing football right now so you don't miss the kickoff.
The NFL Divisional Round: Saturday’s Survival Games
The NFL playoffs are in that sweet spot right now. The Wild Card "fluff" is gone. Only the heavyweights are left. Today, we have two games that are basically grudge matches.
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
This one is huge. Denver secured the #1 seed in the AFC, and Empower Field at Mile High is going to be rocking. The Bills, coming in as the #6 seed, are the ultimate "nobody wants to play them" team. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM ET on CBS. If you’re looking for Josh Allen to do something heroic against a brutal Denver defense, this is the window.
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San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Later tonight, it's an NFC West war. These two teams know each other's laundry. Seattle took the #1 seed, but the 49ers are coming off a gritty win against Philly. It starts at 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Expect noise. Expect rain. Expect a lot of Christian McCaffrey trying to find gaps in that Seattle front.
Premier League Saturday: A Busy Slate
Over in the UK, it’s a standard, chaotic Saturday. If you’re reading this in the morning or early afternoon, the games are likely in full swing or just ending.
The headliner was the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Manchester United vs. Manchester City is never just a game; it’s a season-defining moment. Beyond that, the 3:00 PM GMT (10:00 AM ET) block was packed with action.
- Liverpool vs. Burnley: Anfield is always a fortress, but Burnley has been scrappy lately.
- Chelsea vs. Brentford: A West London battle that usually gets weirdly heated.
- Tottenham vs. West Ham: Another London derby. Spurs are fighting for Top 4, and the Hammers love nothing more than ruining a neighbor's weekend.
- Sunderland vs. Crystal Palace: Great to see Sunderland back in the big time and holding their own at the Stadium of Light.
Later today, Nottingham Forest hosts Arsenal (5:30 PM GMT / 12:30 PM ET). Arsenal is chasing the title, so every point feels like life or death at this stage of January.
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European Giants: Real Madrid, Bayern, and Inter
It isn't just the English league hogging the spotlight. The rest of Europe is playing for keeps today too.
In La Liga, the big news is Real Madrid hosting Levante. Madrid is trying to keep pace at the top, and Levante is usually a "trap" game for them. We also have Real Betis taking on Villarreal later tonight—that’s usually the "football purist" game of the day because both teams actually try to play attractive stuff.
Bundesliga is giving us a massive one: RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich. This is basically the "Who can stop Bayern?" match of the year. Leipzig is aiming for revenge after a rough start to the season, and with Ole Werner leading them, they’ve become a tactical nightmare for the champions.
Over in Serie A, Inter Milan is away at Udinese. Inter has been the team to beat in Italy for a while now, but Udinese at home is always a physical grind. Later, Juventus travels to Cagliari. Juve has been "kinda" inconsistent lately, so that one is a toss-up.
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What about College Football?
If you're looking for the College Football Playoff, you're actually a couple of days early. The National Championship isn't until Monday night, January 19. That’s the big No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami matchup in Miami. Today is mostly about the NFL pros and the final prep for that Monday night spectacle.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to catch the games live, here is how you should prioritize your viewing:
- Now (Morning/Early Afternoon): Check the scores for the Premier League and Bundesliga. If the RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich game is still on, find a stream. It's the highest-quality soccer on the planet today.
- 4:30 PM ET: Switch to CBS for Bills vs. Broncos. This is the "game of the day" for most American fans.
- 8:00 PM ET: Flip to FOX for the Seahawks and 49ers.
- Streaming Tip: Use Paramount+ for the CBS game and Peacock if you’re looking for any of the lingering Premier League replays.
The schedule is tight, and there's almost no gap between the end of the European soccer day and the start of the NFL playoffs. Grab your snacks now, because once that Bills game starts, you aren't leaving the couch.