Football fans are basically living for this weekend. It is the Divisional Round, the part of the playoffs where things get truly serious and the "pretenders" are officially weeded out. If you’ve been scrolling through schedules trying to figure out who plays in the nfl football game tonight, you’re looking at a massive doubleheader that determines who moves one step closer to Super Bowl LX.
The short answer? We have two high-stakes matchups on the slate for Sunday, January 18, 2026. First, the Houston Texans head to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. Then, for the nightcap, the Los Angeles Rams travel into the frozen tundra of Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears.
The AFC Early Window: Texans vs. Patriots
At 3:00 p.m. ET, the action kicks off at Gillette Stadium. Honestly, seeing New England back in this position feels like a throwback for some, but this isn't your older brother's Patriots. They’ve locked in a 14-3 record and the No. 2 seed by being incredibly disciplined.
The Houston Texans, however, are the ultimate "don't count us out" story. They entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed and just dismantled the Steelers in the Wild Card round with a 30-6 blowout. They are playing with house money right now, and that makes them dangerous.
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- Kickoff Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+
- The Vibe: High-flying Houston offense vs. a gritty, tactical New England defense.
The NFC Primetime Battle: Rams vs. Bears
This is the one everyone is talking about for the 6:30 p.m. ET slot. When people ask who plays in the nfl football game tonight, this is the "main event" in most circles. The No. 2 seed Chicago Bears (11-6) are hosting the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams (12-5).
Soldier Field is going to be brutal. We’re talking about forecast temperatures around 19° F with snow showers. For a Rams team that plays in a climate-controlled dome in SoFi Stadium, this is the ultimate litmus test. Matthew Stafford is a veteran who knows cold weather from his Detroit days, but his supporting cast has to deal with a Chicago defense that has been a turnover machine this year.
The Bears lead the league in turnover margin at +22. That is an insane stat. If they can force Stafford into a couple of early mistakes in the snow, the Windy City is going to be rocking.
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How to Watch the Rams and Bears
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
- Alternate Broadcasts: Telemundo and Universo (Spanish language)
- Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local Chicago time)
Why the Ground Game Will Decide Everything
You can't just air it out when it's twenty degrees and snowing. Chicago knows this. They rank third in the NFL for rushing yards, averaging about 144.5 yards per game. It's old-school "three yards and a cloud of dust" football, but it works when you're trying to kill the clock and keep a high-powered offense like the Rams' off the field.
The Rams aren't exactly slouches on the ground either, ranking 7th in the league. But their real strength is that total offense, which leads the NFL with nearly 395 yards per game. Something has to give. Can the Rams' speed survive the Chicago slush? Or will the Bears' defense, which has been slightly vulnerable to the run (ranking 27th), give up too much ground?
Tactical Insights for Tonight’s Matchups
If you're watching the Texans/Patriots game, keep an eye on the turnover battle. The Patriots have thrived on being "clean," while Houston’s CJ Stroud (or whoever is under center in your specific 2026 reality) has been aggressive. Aggression is great until you throw a pick-six in Foxborough.
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For the night game, it's all about the trenches.
- The Rams' offensive line is missing a few pieces due to injury-reserve listings like Rob Havenstein.
- Chicago's defensive front needs to exploit those gaps.
- If the Rams can't protect the pocket, it’s going to be a long, cold night for Stafford.
The winner of the AFC game tonight will move on to face either the Denver Broncos or whoever survived the Saturday slate in the AFC Championship on January 25. On the NFC side, the winner of Rams/Bears will be looking at a date with either the Seahawks or 49ers.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you’re planning on watching, make sure your streaming apps are updated now. Peacock can be finicky right at kickoff when millions of people log in at once. If you’re betting, the Rams opened as slight favorites despite being the road team, but that line has been moving toward the Bears as the weather report gets worse. Check the final injury reports about 90 minutes before kickoff to see if any key defensive starters for Chicago are late scratches, as they've had some LB depth issues lately.
The path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara goes through the snow tonight. Grab some wings, clear the schedule, and enjoy the show. Drawing the curtains on the Divisional Round is always the best weekend of the year for pure football quality.