It is that specific time of year where the couch becomes a permanent fixture and the wings basically disappear by the dozen. If you’re wondering who plays Saturday NFL football, you are looking at the Divisional Round—arguably the best weekend in the entire sports calendar.
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. This isn't just a regular slate of games. We are down to the final eight teams, and today features two heavyweight battles that could easily be conference championships in any other year.
The Early Kickoff: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
First up, we have the Buffalo Bills traveling to the thin air of Colorado to take on the top-seeded Denver Broncos. This game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Honestly, the Broncos have been a defensive juggernaut this season. They clinched the AFC’s number one seed with a 14-3 record, primarily because they only allow about 18 points a game. That is hard to do in the modern NFL. But they are facing Josh Allen. You know how he gets in January.
The Bills are the number six seed, but don't let that fool you. They just dismantled the Jaguars in the Wild Card round. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed, and Buffalo is actually favored by about 1.5 points depending on where you look, despite being on the road. It’s a classic "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenario.
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- When: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
- TV/Stream: CBS, Paramount+
The Primetime Showdown: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Once the sun goes down in Denver, the focus shifts to the Pacific Northwest. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the San Francisco 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks on FOX.
This is a blood feud. There is no other way to put it. These two teams have already played twice this season, splitting the series 1-1. Seattle took the most recent one in Week 18 to grab the NFC’s top seed and that precious first-round bye.
The 49ers had to take the long way. They just beat the Eagles 23-19 in a muddy, gritty Wild Card game last Sunday. Brock Purdy is back in a playoff groove, and Christian McCaffrey is... well, he's Christian McCaffrey. He has been averaging nearly five receptions a game lately, though the Seahawks' defense has been the best in the league at limiting scoring, giving up only 17.2 points per contest.
Lumen Field is going to be deafening. Seattle is favored by about 6.5 or 7 points. They have won 11 straight games when they are the favorite, which is a terrifying stat if you're a Niners fan.
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- When: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Lumen Field, Seattle
- TV/Stream: FOX, FOX One
Why This Saturday Matters More Than Usual
Usually, the Wild Card round is where the "pretenders" get weeded out. By the time we get to who plays Saturday NFL football in the Divisional Round, every team left has a legitimate path to the Super Bowl.
Take the Sam Darnold story in Seattle. It sounds like a fever dream, but the guy has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns this year. He's dealing with a slight oblique injury right now, but Coach Mike Macdonald says he's good to go. On the other side, the Niners are monitoring Ricky Pearsall’s knee. These small injury details in the Divisional Round are what decide games. One missed block or one slightly slower route can end a season.
The stakes are massive. The winners of these two games move on to the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25.
Watching the Games Without a Cable Box
If you've cut the cord, you aren't out of luck. For the Bills-Broncos game, Paramount+ is your best friend since it's a CBS broadcast. For the primetime NFC West clash, the FOX Sports app or FOX One will have the stream.
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Most people sort of forget that the NFL spreads these games out specifically for maximum TV ratings. You won't have to choose between games; they are staggered so you can watch every single snap from mid-afternoon until nearly midnight.
What to Watch for Tomorrow
If you survive the Saturday triple-dip of emotions, Sunday has the rest of the bracket.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
But for now, the focus is entirely on Denver and Seattle. It's about whether a sixth seed can actually walk into a stadium at altitude or a rainy Northwest environment and pull off the upset.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your local listings to ensure CBS and FOX are active on your service before the 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
- If you're betting the spread, keep an eye on the Denver weather; cold winds at Mile High often favor the ground game over Josh Allen’s deep shots.
- Sync your fantasy playoff lineups or daily fantasy entries at least 30 minutes before the Bills and Broncos kick off to avoid late-breaking injury scratches.