The regular season felt like a lifetime ago, didn't it? Now we're down to the nitty-gritty. Only eight teams are left standing, and the intensity is about to crank up to a level that makes the Wild Card round look like a preseason scrimmage. If you’re trying to figure out who is playing NFL this weekend, you’ve come to the right place. We are looking at the Divisional Round, which most football purists—myself included—honestly believe is the best weekend of the entire year.
Better than the Super Bowl? Sometimes.
Why? Because you get four high-stakes games packed into 48 hours, and none of the halftime show fluff. This Saturday and Sunday, January 17th and 18th, 2026, the bracket narrows. We have heavyweights coming off byes and "road warriors" trying to keep the magic alive. It’s chaos, but the organized kind that keeps us glued to the couch.
Saturday’s Doubleheader: The Giants of the AFC and NFC
Saturday is traditionally the day for the top seeds to remind everyone why they earned that week off. We start in the thin air of Colorado and end in the loudest stadium in the Pacific Northwest.
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Time: 4:30 PM ET
Channel: CBS / Paramount+
This one is fascinating. The Denver Broncos (14-3) are the No. 1 seed in the AFC, resting their legs while the Buffalo Bills (13-5) had to sweat out a thriller against the Jaguars last week. Josh Allen is playing like a guy who finally decided he's tired of losing in January. Seriously, he’s been a bulldozer lately.
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But Denver at home? That’s a different beast. Sean Payton has this offense humming, and the altitude in January is no joke for a visiting team. Oddly enough, the Bills opened as slight road favorites in some spots despite being the lower seed. People are buying the Buffalo hype, but the Broncos haven't lost at Empower Field in months. It’s basically a collision of the league's most efficient offense against a rested, disciplined No. 1 seed.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: FOX
It’s the third time these two have seen each other this season. Familiarity breeds contempt, and these fanbases basically despise each other at this point. The Seahawks (14-3) are the NFC’s top seed, while the 49ers (13-5) are coming off a gritty win in Philadelphia.
The big story here? Rest. Or the lack of it. The 49ers are playing on just five days’ rest after a Monday night-style turnaround, while Seattle has been sitting at home eating salmon and watching film. Brock Purdy needs to be perfect because the Seahawks' secondary has been a "no-fly zone" lately. If San Francisco can't establish Christian McCaffrey early, it’s going to be a very long, very loud night at Lumen Field.
Sunday’s Slate: The Rebirth of Dynasties?
Sunday brings us two matchups that feel like "new era" football. We’ve got the next generation of QBs in the AFC and a classic NFC North slugfest—well, sort of, since the Rams are involved.
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Houston Texans at New England Patriots
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN / ABC / ESPN+
If you told me two years ago that Drake Maye and C.J. Stroud would be meeting in a Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium, I’d have asked what happened to the rest of the league. Yet, here we are. The New England Patriots (14-3) are the No. 2 seed and just dismantled the Chargers. They look... dare I say it... like the old Patriots? The defense is stifling.
On the other side, the Houston Texans (13-5) are the hottest team nobody wants to play. Their defense just put on a masterclass against Pittsburgh, scoring two touchdowns on their own. C.J. Stroud is playing with house money. New England is a 3-point favorite, but don't count out Houston’s ability to force turnovers. This is going to be a chess match between DeMeco Ryans and the New England staff.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
Time: 6:30 PM ET
Channel: NBC / Peacock
The "Cardiac Kids" of Chicago are hosting their first home divisional game in 15 years. Soldier Field is going to be absolutely electric. The Bears (12-6) survived a nail-biter against Green Bay, while the Rams (13-5) outlasted Carolina in a shootout.
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This game is a total contrast in styles. You have Matthew Stafford, the grizzled vet who still has an elite arm, going up against a Chicago defense that thrives on takeaways and crowd noise. The Rams are actually 3.5-point road favorites. Why? Because playoff experience matters. But Chicago in January is a vibe you can't replicate. If the wind picks up off the lake, those Stafford deep balls might get a bit adventurous.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning your weekend around who is playing NFL this weekend, make sure your streaming logins are sorted. Every game this weekend is available on a major network and its corresponding streaming service.
- Saturday 4:30 PM ET: Bills vs. Broncos (CBS/Paramount+)
- Saturday 8:00 PM ET: 49ers vs. Seahawks (FOX)
- Sunday 3:00 PM ET: Texans vs. Patriots (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
- Sunday 6:30 PM ET: Rams vs. Bears (NBC/Peacock)
Keep an eye on the injury reports, especially for San Francisco and New England. In the playoffs, a lingering hamstring for a star wideout or a dings on the offensive line can change a spread by three points in an hour.
Why This Weekend is Different
Most people assume the No. 1 seeds are locks. History says otherwise.
The "Bye Week Rust" is a real thing. Sometimes a team like the Bills or Texans, who just played a high-intensity game, has more momentum than a team that’s been sitting around for two weeks. Watch the first quarter of the Denver and Seattle games. If those top seeds look sluggish, we might see the "underdogs" take over early.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Local Weather: Especially for the Denver and Chicago games. Wind and snow will drastically favor the ground game and lower the over/under totals.
- Verify Your Apps: Ensure your Paramount+ and Peacock subscriptions are active before kickoff so you aren't scrambling during the opening drive.
- Monitor the Spread: If the Bills move to -3 or the Rams jump to -5, the "smart money" is leaning heavily on the favorites despite the home-field advantage of the underdogs.