If you just sat down on your couch, cracked a drink, and started frantically scrolling through your TV guide for who played in the nfl football today, I have some bad news. You’re gonna be staring at a lot of reruns or maybe a random college basketball game.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. And honestly? There is no NFL football today.
It feels weird, right? We spent months getting used to Thursday Night Football being a staple of our week. Amazon Prime practically owns our Thursday nights from September through December. But once the calendar flips to the playoffs, the NFL schedule-makers shift gears. The "Thursday night itch" is real, but the league prioritizes rest and recovery for the eight teams left standing.
The Empty Thursday: Why Nobody is Playing Today
Basically, the NFL wants their biggest stars at 100% for the Divisional Round. We just came off a chaotic Wild Card Weekend where teams like the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans had to scratch and claw their way through.
The Bills actually pulled off a nail-biter against the Jaguars (27-24) just a few days ago. If they had to play today, they'd be running on fumes. Instead, the league gives us this mid-week "dead zone" to build the hype.
The Teams Still Alive
Right now, the bracket is set. We’ve got eight teams left.
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- Denver Broncos (AFC #1 Seed)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFC #1 Seed)
- New England Patriots
- Chicago Bears
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Buffalo Bills
You’ve got the heavyweights like Denver and Seattle coming off their bye weeks. They're fresh. They're dangerous. Meanwhile, teams like the Rams are coming off a high-scoring 41-34 win over Detroit and need every second of physical therapy they can get before hitting the frozen tundra of Soldier Field this weekend.
What Happened Recently? (Wild Card Recap)
Since you’re looking for who played in the nfl football today, you might actually be catching up on the results from the games that just finished. The Wild Card round was, frankly, a bit of a mess for the favorites.
The Chicago Bears barely survived the Packers in a 31-27 thriller. Caleb Williams looked like a seasoned vet in that fourth quarter. Then you had the Houston Texans absolutely dismantling the Steelers 30-6. It wasn't even close. C.J. Stroud is playing like he's possessed.
Over in the NFC, the 49ers took care of the defending champ Eagles 23-19. Jauan Jennings—the guy is basically a Swiss Army knife—threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey on a double-reverse. That’s the kind of stuff you miss if you aren't glued to the screen.
When is the Next Game?
If you're looking for live action, you have to wait until Saturday, January 17.
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Saturday’s Slate:
The action kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The Buffalo Bills travel to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be thin air. And it’s going to be cold.
Later that night, at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX, we get a classic NFC West rivalry: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. Lumen Field is arguably the hardest place to play in the postseason, and the Seahawks are the current Super Bowl favorites at +280 odds.
Sunday’s Slate:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC).
That Rams-Bears game is the one everyone is talking about. It’s expected to be single-digit temperatures at Soldier Field. Matthew Stafford vs. Caleb Williams in the freezing cold? That’s pure football.
The Strategy of the Postseason Wait
The reason you're asking who played in the nfl football today is likely because the NFL has done such a good job of making football a seven-day-a-week conversation. But this break is tactical.
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Experts like Mike Golic and Kevin Harlan (who will be on the call this weekend for Westwood One) often point out that the Divisional Round is actually the best weekend of football in the entire year. Better than the Super Bowl. Why? Because the "fluff" is gone. The 9-7 teams that snuck in are out. You’re left with the elite.
By not playing today, the NFL ensures that the Saturday games aren't sloppy. Short weeks in the regular season often lead to "ugly" football—lots of penalties, dropped balls, and tired legs. In the playoffs, nobody wants to see that. We want the 49ers and Seahawks at full speed.
How to Prep for Saturday
Since there are no games today, use this time to get your setup ready.
Check your streaming apps. If you're watching the Bills-Broncos, you'll need Paramount+ or a local CBS feed. For the nightcap, make sure your FOX Sports app is logged in.
If you're a betting person, the lines are moving. Denver opened as a 1.5-point favorite over Buffalo. The Seahawks are heavy 7.5-point favorites over the Niners. Those lines are sharp, so don't expect them to move much before kickoff.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: Set alerts for 4:30 p.m. ET this Saturday so you don't miss the Bills and Broncos kickoff.
- Update your apps: Ensure Paramount+, Peacock (for Sunday), and the FOX Sports app are updated to avoid "buffering hell" during a crucial third-down play.
- Check the weather: Keep an eye on the Chicago forecast for Sunday; the "Frozen Tundra" effect could significantly impact the point total for the Rams-Bears game.