If you woke up today wondering exactly who played in the NFL yesterday, you missed a Saturday that basically flipped the AFC and NFC scripts on their heads. We are officially in the thick of the Divisional Round. The "win or go home" energy was real. Two games. Two massive outcomes.
Yesterday, January 17, 2026, the Buffalo Bills traveled to Mile High to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos, and later that night, the San Francisco 49ers headed into the noise of Seattle to take on the Seahawks. It wasn’t just football; it was a physical reminder of why the playoffs are a completely different beast than the regular season.
The AFC Heartbreaker: Bills at Broncos
The afternoon started with a slugfest in Denver. Honestly, most people expected the Broncos to lean on that thin mountain air and their number-one seed to cruise, but Josh Allen and the Bills had other plans. For three quarters, it looked like Buffalo might actually pull off the upset of the year.
Then came the fourth quarter.
✨ Don't miss: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
Denver clawed back, forcing the game into overtime. It was a 33-30 final score in favor of the Denver Broncos. The Bills are headed home after a 27-24 Wild Card win against Jacksonville last week, but this one is going to sting for a long time. Denver’s defense looked shaky early, but they clamped down when it mattered most, securing their spot in the AFC Championship.
The NFC Northward Beatdown: 49ers at Seahawks
If the Denver game was a suspense thriller, the nightcap in Seattle was a horror movie for Niners fans. The Seattle Seahawks didn't just win; they dismantled the San Francisco 49ers with a final score of 41-6.
Yeah, you read that right. 41 to 6.
🔗 Read more: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
It started ugly and stayed that way. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds into the game. It was a "hit the lights" moment for San Francisco. Sam Darnold, playing against his former team, looked like a man possessed, earning his first career playoff win. Meanwhile, the Seahawks' rushing attack, led by Kenneth Walker III’s three touchdowns, was described by analysts as "demoralizing."
Why the 49ers Collapsed
You sort of have to look at the injuries to get the full picture. The Niners were playing without George Kittle, who was lost to an Achilles injury during their Wild Card win over the Eagles. Without that safety net, Brock Purdy struggled against a Seattle defense that looked like a modern reincarnation of the "Legion of Boom." In fact, Seahawks legends like Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor were on the sidelines pumping up the crowd, and the current roster clearly fed off that energy.
What This Means for Next Week
With those two results in the books, the bracket is crystallizing. The Seahawks are hosting the NFC Championship game next Sunday. They’ll play the winner of today's Rams vs. Bears game. Over in the AFC, Denver is waiting to see if they’ll be facing the Texans or the Patriots.
💡 You might also like: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
If you're keeping track of the schedule for the rest of the weekend:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Sunday, 3:00 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET
The winners of these games will determine the final matchups for the Conference Championships on January 25, leading up to Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Injury Reports: Specifically, keep an eye on Sam Darnold’s oblique injury. While he played through it yesterday, the Seahawks need him at 100% for the NFC Championship.
- Update Your Bracket: If you had the Bills or 49ers going to the Super Bowl, your bracket is officially toasted.
- Set Your Sunday Schedule: The Texans vs. Patriots game kicks off shortly on ABC/ESPN, followed by the Rams vs. Bears on NBC.
- Scout the Venue: Remember, the Super Bowl this year is at Levi's Stadium. The irony of the 49ers getting knocked out yesterday means they won't be playing a "home" Super Bowl in their own building.
The road to Santa Clara just got a lot shorter for Denver and Seattle.