If you’ve been glued to the couch all weekend, you already know the stakes are getting ridiculously high. The Divisional Round is basically the best weekend of the entire football calendar, and today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we’ve got the heavy hitters finishing off the bracket. If you are looking for who plays nfl tonight game, it’s a double-header of young guns vs. established vets.
Honestly, the energy is different today. We aren't just looking at regular season stats anymore. This is win-or-go-home territory.
The Afternoon Showdown: Texans at Patriots
First up at 3:00 PM ET, we’ve got C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans traveling into the frozen tundra of Foxborough to face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
It’s sorta wild to see the Patriots back in this position so quickly, right? Everyone thought the post-Brady era would be a decade of misery, but here they are as the No. 2 seed. Drake Maye has been playing with a level of poise that makes you forget he’s still technically "the new guy."
On the other side, the Texans are coming off a dominant 30-6 thumping of the Steelers in the Wild Card round. C.J. Stroud isn't a fluke. He’s the real deal. The matchup between his downfield aggression and the Patriots' disciplined secondary is basically the chess match of the day.
- Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET
- Channel: ABC / ESPN / ESPN Deportes
- Streaming: ESPN+
Keep an eye on the weather at Gillette Stadium. It's January in Massachusetts. It’s gonna be cold, it’s probably gonna be windy, and that usually favors the team that can actually hold onto the ball and run the rock.
💡 You might also like: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
The Nightcap: Rams at Bears
The "main event" tonight is at 6:30 PM ET. We’ve got the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams taking on the No. 2 seed Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. This is the one everyone is talking about for who plays nfl tonight game because of the Caleb Williams factor.
Caleb Williams has the city of Chicago believing in magic again. After that 31-27 comeback win against the Packers last week, the hype is at an all-time high. But don't sleep on Matthew Stafford. The guy is a surgeon. He’s got Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp still doing ridiculous things, and even though they’re the road team, many analysts actually have the Rams as a slight favorite.
It’s going to be freezing. We’re talking 18 degrees with potential snow showers.
Why the Weather Matters
Soldier Field in the snow is a nightmare for California teams. Usually. But McVay is a wizard at adjusting. He basically told reporters earlier this week that they "always adjust," though playing in a dome in SoCal is a far cry from a lakefront blizzard.
- Matthew Stafford's Experience: He spent years in the NFC North with Detroit. He knows this cold.
- The Bears Defense: They’ve been elite at home. If they can rattle Stafford early, it’s over.
- The Run Game: Keep an eye on the injury report. The Bears have a lot of guys on IR, including T.J. Edwards and several offensive linemen.
Where to Watch and Stream
If you’re trying to catch the Rams and Bears, you’re looking at NBC. If you’ve cut the cord, Peacock is your best bet for the live stream. They’ll start the pre-game coverage with Football Night in America around 6:00 PM ET, so you can get all the last-minute injury updates and prop bet talk before the actual kickoff.
📖 Related: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
The Texans/Patriots game is on the Disney networks (ABC and ESPN). Most people forget that the ESPN+ app also carries the ABC feed for these big playoff games, so you have options if your cable is acting up.
What’s at Stake?
The winners today move on to the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25.
The winner of the Texans/Patriots game heads to Denver to face the No. 1 seed Broncos. Meanwhile, the winner of the Rams/Bears game has to travel to Seattle to take on the No. 1 seed Seahawks.
It’s a brutal path to Super Bowl LX, but that’s the playoffs.
Actionable Tips for Game Day
If you’re hosting or betting, here is the move.
👉 See also: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
First, check the final inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff. The Bears have a massive injury list right now—especially on the offensive line. If another starter is ruled out, Caleb Williams might be running for his life all night.
Second, if you're streaming on Peacock, restart your router about 20 minutes before kickoff. There is nothing worse than the app buffering right as a touchdown happens because of a "network error."
Finally, keep an eye on the "Over/Under" for the Chicago game. It’s currently sitting around 48.5, which feels high for a game played in 18-degree weather with snow. The under might be the smart play if the wind off Lake Michigan starts howling.
Get your snacks ready. This is the last time we get two games in one day until next season. Enjoy the chaos.