So, you’re looking for the game. You've got the snacks ready, the couch is calling your name, and you want to know who is playing on Monday Night Football today.
I have some bad news. Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer if you were planning on a big night of football, but there is actually no Monday Night Football game today, January 15, 2026.
I know, I know. We just came off a wild weekend of action. But the way the NFL playoff schedule shakes out, the Monday night slot is a bit of a "one-off" for the Wild Card round. Since that round just finished up a few days ago, the league takes a breather on Monday to get ready for the Divisional Round.
What happened to the Monday Night Football schedule?
If you feel like you just watched a Monday night game, you aren't crazy. This past Monday, January 12, 2026, we saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30–6. That was the official "Monday Night Football" finale for the Wild Card round.
The NFL loves that Monday night playoff slot because it draws massive ratings, but they don't use it for the Divisional Round. Why? Well, it mostly comes down to rest.
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If a team played tonight, they’d only have five or six days to prep for a massive playoff game next weekend. The league generally tries to avoid that kind of lopsided scheduling once the bracket starts tightening up. Basically, the "Monday Night Football" brand takes a nap until next September.
The Divisional Round: When the real games start
Since you're clearly looking for football, let's look at what's actually coming up. We are down to the final eight teams. The Divisional Round is arguably the best weekend of the entire year because the "pretenders" have been filtered out.
Here is how the upcoming weekend looks. No Monday games here, just a massive Saturday and Sunday slate.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
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- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: This kicks off at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. The Broncos have been a powerhouse this year, finishing 14–3, while Buffalo just barely scraped past Jacksonville.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Primetime at 8:00 PM ET on FOX. This is a massive NFC West rivalry. Seattle is the #1 seed and they're wearing those all-college navy uniforms. History says they usually win in those.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN. After crushing the Steelers on Monday, C.J. Stroud has to take his squad into Foxborough to face Drake Maye and a 14–3 Patriots team.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: 6:30 PM ET on NBC. The Bears are the #2 seed and haven't looked this good in a long time, but Matthew Stafford and the Rams are postseason veterans.
Why people get confused about the Monday night game
It’s easy to get mixed up. During the regular season, Monday night is a staple. It's a ritual. You've got Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in your living room every single week.
Then the playoffs hit and the schedule gets weird.
The NFL added the Monday Wild Card game back in 2021. It’s now the "bridge" between the first round and the divisional round. But once that game ends—like the Texans-Steelers game did three days ago—the Monday night tradition effectively ends for the season.
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There is no Monday night game for the Divisional Round. There is no Monday night game for the Conference Championships. And obviously, the Super Bowl is always on a Sunday.
What to watch instead tonight
If you're staring at an empty TV screen and still need a sports fix, you aren't totally out of luck. While the NFL is dark, there’s usually a heavy slate of college basketball or NBA games during this mid-January stretch.
In fact, tonight features some pretty decent college matchups. You've got teams like South Carolina, Michigan, and Nebraska all in action on the hardwood. It isn't a 100-yard field with pads and helmets, but it'll keep the lights on in the man cave for a few hours.
Actionable steps for your playoff weekend
Since there’s no game tonight, use this time to get your setup ready for the Divisional Round. The games on Saturday and Sunday are going to be significantly higher stakes than the blowouts we saw in the Wild Card.
- Check your streaming logins: Saturday's Bills-Broncos game is on Paramount+ (CBS), while the Rams-Bears game is on NBC/Peacock. Make sure you aren't scrambling for a password five minutes before kickoff.
- Monitor the injury reports: Keep an eye on the Texans. Playing a physical game on Monday and then travelling to New England for a Sunday game is a short turnaround. If their defensive line is banged up, that Patriots matchup becomes a lot harder.
- Adjust your expectations: Don't expect a Monday night game next week either. The schedule is strictly Saturday/Sunday from here on out until Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara.
The lights might be off at the stadium tonight, but the road to the Super Bowl is only getting narrower. Clear your calendar for Saturday afternoon; that's when the real fireworks start again.