You’ve got the wings ready. The couch is reclaimed from the kids. You open your streaming app or check the local listings to see who plays this thursday night football game, only to find... a blank screen. Or maybe a random NBA game between the Grizzlies and the Magic.
It's a total bummer, honestly.
We get so used to that Thursday night rhythm during the grueling four-month stretch of the regular season. But as of right now—Thursday, January 15, 2026—the Thursday Night Football lights are officially dark. There is no NFL game tonight. If you're looking for the short answer: the regular season ended a couple of weeks ago, and the league doesn't schedule Thursday games during the postseason.
Instead, we are in that weird, quiet "eye of the storm" before the Divisional Round kicks off this weekend.
✨ Don't miss: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Why the NFL ghosted your Thursday night
The NFL is many things, but it’s rarely merciful to the players' bodies. Thursday Night Football has always been a point of contention for athletes because of the short turnaround. When the playoffs hit, the league pivots. They want the highest possible quality of play, which means giving teams a full week to recover and game plan.
Basically, if they forced two playoff teams to play on a Thursday, the product would probably suffer. Coaches like Andy Reid or whoever is left in the hunt need those extra hours to obsess over film. Plus, the TV networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN/ABC) have the rights to the playoff games, while Amazon Prime Video’s exclusive TNF package usually wraps up right before the postseason starts.
Looking ahead: The Divisional Round heavyweights
Since you can't get your fix tonight, you might as well look at what's coming in just 48 hours. The Divisional Round is widely considered the best weekend of football in the entire year. The "pretenders" were mostly weeded out during Wild Card weekend, and now the #1 seeds—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—are coming off their bye weeks, rested and probably a little bit rusty.
🔗 Read more: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Saturday, January 17, is when things actually get moving.
First up, we've got the Buffalo Bills heading into the thin air of Mile High to take on the Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. Josh Allen is coming off another monster performance where he basically put the team on his back to beat the Jaguars. Then, at 8:00 p.m. ET, it’s a classic NFC West bloodbath: the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. That rivalry never gets old, and Seattle’s "12th Man" is going to be deafening after a week of anticipation.
Sunday is just as stacked.
💡 You might also like: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET): Drake Maye versus C.J. Stroud is the young quarterback duel we all wanted.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET): Caleb Williams is hosting his first-ever home divisional playoff game, which is a massive deal for that city.
What to watch tonight instead
If you're still staring at the TV wondering who plays this thursday night football game, you have to pivot. You could check out the NBA slate—the Thunder are playing the Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET, which is usually high-scoring and fun. There’s also some Top 25 college hoops if that’s your vibe. Gonzaga is taking on Washington State late tonight.
Or, you know, you could do what most of us do: spend three hours scrolling through "best of" highlights from the Wild Card round while eating the snacks you bought for a game that isn't happening.
Actionable steps for the weekend
Since the Thursday schedule is a bust, here is how you should actually prep for the real games:
- Check your local listings for CBS and FOX; Saturday's games aren't on Amazon.
- If you're a cord-cutter, make sure your Paramount+ or Fubo subscriptions are active before the 4:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.
- Clear your Sunday afternoon by 3:00 p.m. ET for the Texans/Patriots kickoff, as that game is airing on ABC and ESPN.
- Download the NFL app to track live "Next Gen" stats if you want to see exactly how fast these guys are moving on the field.