If you're staring at your TV screen right now wondering who plays football on NFL tonight, I've got some news that might be a bit of a bummer.
There is no NFL game tonight, Friday, January 16, 2026.
It feels weird, right? We just came off a marathon Wild Card weekend where we had games stacked from Saturday all the way through Monday night. But the NFL likes to keep us on our toes. While Friday night lights are a religion for high school ball, the league almost never touches Fridays because of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
Basically, the league stays off Fridays and Saturdays during the autumn to protect high school and college attendance. Even though the college season is wrapping up (the Indiana vs. Miami title game is this coming Monday), the NFL generally sticks to its weekend rhythm for the Divisional Round.
The Calm Before the Divisional Storm
The playoffs are at a fever pitch. We just watched the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Steelers 30-6 on Monday night. It was a defensive clinic. But tonight is just a breather. It’s the last night of peace before four of the biggest games of the year kick off tomorrow.
Honestly, the "Friday Void" is probably a good thing for the teams involved. Think about the San Francisco 49ers. They just played a gritty game against the Eagles on Sunday. Now, they have to fly up to Seattle to face a rested Seahawks team that’s been sitting on a bye. Every extra hour of recovery counts when you're facing a #1 seed at Lumen Field.
Tomorrow’s Massive Doubleheader (Saturday, Jan 17)
Since you’re looking for who plays football on NFL tonight, you’re clearly ready for the action. You only have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. Saturday is going to be a bloodbath in the best way possible.
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
- Time: 4:30 PM ET
- Channel: CBS / Paramount+
- The Vibe: Denver is the #1 seed in the AFC. They’ve been resting, while Buffalo just barely scraped by the Jaguars in a 27-24 thriller. Seeing Josh Allen go into that thin air at Empower Field is going to be something else.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Channel: FOX
- The Vibe: This is the game everyone is talking about. It’s an NFC West rubber match. They split the regular season, but Seattle won the Week 18 matchup 13-3 to clinch the top seed. Sam Darnold has been surprisingly efficient, but the 49ers defense is finally healthy with Trent Williams back on the O-line to protect Brock Purdy.
Sunday’s Schedule (January 18)
If you survive Saturday's games, Sunday brings the other half of the bracket.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN). The Texans are the hottest team in football right now. Their defense is playing like a pack of wild dogs. But going into Foxborough in mid-January? That’s a different beast. Reports are already showing snow in the forecast for Sunday. New England’s defense is old-school and disciplined; they held the Chargers to just 3 points last week.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock).
This is Chicago’s first home Divisional game in fifteen years. The city is going to be vibrating. Caleb Williams had a monstrous fourth quarter against the Packers to get them here, throwing for 184 yards in the final frame alone. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford is still doing Stafford things, leading a 71-yard game-winning drive against the Panthers. This might be the highest-scoring game of the weekend.
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Why There’s No Friday Night Football
You might remember some Friday games earlier in the year (like the Black Friday game or that weird Friday opener in Brazil). Those are exceptions. Once the playoffs hit, the NFL leans into the traditional Saturday/Sunday "Divisional Weekend" format.
It builds the hype.
By the time 4:30 PM ET hits tomorrow, the anticipation for Bills vs. Broncos will be at an all-time high. It also ensures that the "Monday Night Football" winner—in this case, the Texans—gets at least a few days to get their bodies right before traveling again.
Injury Reports You Need to Check
Since there’s no game tonight, the real "action" is the final injury report.
- Nico Collins (WR, Texans): He’s officially out for Sunday with a concussion. Huge blow for Houston.
- George Kittle (TE, 49ers): Keep an eye on the San Francisco reports. Brock Purdy struggled without him in the Philly game.
- Rome Odunze (WR, Bears): Listed as questionable with a foot issue. If he can’t go, DJ Moore is going to see a lot of double teams from the Rams.
Your Game Plan for the Weekend
Since the answer to who plays football on NFL tonight is "nobody," here is what you should actually do to prepare for the Divisional Round.
- Check the Weather: If you're betting or playing DFS, the New England snow and Chicago wind are going to be massive factors. New England is looking like a 20-degree day with a 40% chance of flurries.
- Verify Your Stream: If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure your Paramount+ (for CBS games) and Peacock (for the Bears/Rams game) accounts are active.
- Rest Up: Saturday is an 8-hour football marathon.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. By Monday morning, only four teams will be left standing. Even though the lights are off tonight, the next 48 hours are going to be legendary.