If you're staring at your TV screen right now wondering who plays in the thursday night nfl game, you might notice something a little bit quiet on your Amazon Prime or cable guide. It’s actually January 18, 2026, and we’ve officially hit that point in the season where the traditional Thursday night slot takes a breather.
Basically, the regular season is over.
The NFL wraps up its Thursday Night Football (TNF) package at the end of the regular season to ensure teams playing in the high-stakes playoffs have enough recovery time. Nobody wants to see a Divisional Round matchup where one team is playing on three days' rest while the other had a full week. It's about player safety, sure, but it's also about the quality of the product on the field.
Where Did Thursday Night Football Go?
The last time we saw a game on a Thursday was back in late December. Once the calendar flipped to 2026 and we entered the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, the league shifted its focus entirely to the "super" weekends.
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Right now, we are in the heart of the Divisional Round.
Instead of a game tonight, we just saw a massive Saturday slate where the Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers with a 41-6 blowout. We also saw the Denver Broncos edge out the Buffalo Bills in a 33-30 overtime thriller. If you were looking for football today, Sunday, January 18, you’ve actually got two massive games on the docket instead of a Thursday night broadcast.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:05 PM ET on ABC/ESPN)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:40 PM ET on NBC/Peacock)
Why There’s No Thursday Game Tonight
The NFL’s contract with Amazon Prime Video typically covers weeks 2 through 17 of the regular season. Once the playoffs hit, the broadcasting rights shift back to the major networks—NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN/ABC.
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There's a common misconception that the playoffs include a Thursday game to "kick off" the weekend. They don't. The league experimented with a Monday night Wild Card game (which we saw just a few days ago with the Texans beating the Steelers), but Thursday remains sacredly empty during the postseason.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a relief for the players. Can you imagine Drake Maye or C.J. Stroud trying to prep a playoff game plan in 72 hours? It would be a mess.
What to Watch Instead This Week
Since you can't find a game on Thursday, you’ll want to clear your schedule for the Conference Championships. Those are happening next Sunday, January 25, 2026.
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The winners of today's games—Texans/Patriots and Rams/Bears—will move on to face the top seeds. The Seahawks are already waiting in the NFC, looking like an absolute juggernaut after what they did to the Niners. On the AFC side, the Broncos are resting up after their OT win, waiting to see who survives the Foxborough matchup.
Key Dates for Your Calendar:
- Conference Championships: Sunday, January 25, 2026.
- Pro Bowl Games: Sunday, February 1, 2026.
- Super Bowl LX: Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
The Future of Thursday Night NFL Games
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 season, expect the Thursday night schedule to return in early September. The NFL has doubled down on this slot because, despite some complaints about "sloppy" play on short weeks, the ratings are through the roof.
In 2025, we saw the league lean more into holiday games, including a Black Friday game and triple-headers. But for now, during the most critical part of the 2026 playoffs, the Thursday night lights are off.
If you’re a die-hard fan, your best bet is to catch the Sunday double-headers. The path to Super Bowl LX is narrowing fast, and while we miss the mid-week tradition, the intensity of these weekend playoff games usually makes up for the wait.
Check your local listings for the AFC and NFC Championship kickoff times next Sunday. You'll want to be in front of a screen by 3:00 PM ET when the AFC title is on the line.