Honestly, if you were looking for a high-stakes NFL playoff game this past Thursday night, January 15, 2026, you might have been staring at a blank screen or a very different kind of scoreboard.
Here is the thing. The NFL usually owns Thursday nights during the regular season. We're all used to that Thursday Night Football routine. But once the calendar flips deep into January and the playoffs heat up, the schedule shifts. The league moves away from those short-week Thursday slots to make sure teams are rested for the Divisional Round.
So, if you’re asking who won the football game Thursday night, the answer depends entirely on which league you were watching. Because in the NFL? Nobody played. They were all at practice.
The NFL Thursday "Vacuum" and the Road to the Divisional Round
While there was no NFL game on January 15, the league was buzzing for a different reason. This was the "calm before the storm" day. The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers were actually on the practice field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, prepping for their massive Saturday showdown.
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It's kinda wild when you think about the contrast. Just a few weeks ago, in Week 16, the Seahawks and Rams played an absolute thriller on a Thursday night—a game Seattle won in overtime after a gutsy two-point conversion. But this past Thursday? Silence on the gridiron.
Instead, the football world was dissecting the Wild Card leftovers. We just came off a weekend where:
- The Chicago Bears pulled off a miracle, coming back from 21-3 at halftime to stun the Packers 31-27.
- The New England Patriots finally looked like the old Patriots, suffocating the Chargers 16-3.
- The Houston Texans flexed their defensive muscles, beating the Steelers 30-6.
If You Saw a Score, It Was Likely the NHL
Since the NFL took the night off, the "Thursday Night" spotlight actually belonged to hockey. If you tuned into a sports bar and saw a 3-2 final, you were likely watching the San Jose Sharks beat the Washington Capitals.
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Collin Graf and Pavol Regenda basically took over that game in the second period. It wasn't football, but it was the only major professional game happening while the NFL playoff teams were tucked away in film rooms.
Why the Thursday Night Football Schedule Changes in January
The NFL is protective of its "product," and a playoff game on a short week (Thursday) is generally seen as a bad move for player safety and game quality. You've probably noticed that the Divisional Round—which is what everyone is actually waiting for right now—is strictly a Saturday and Sunday affair.
- Rest Equity: Teams like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks earned first-round byes. Playing them on a Thursday would negate some of that advantage by forcing their opponents into a ridiculous turnaround.
- TV Ratings: Saturday and Sunday windows in the playoffs are the gold standard.
- Preparation: In the postseason, coaching staffs need those extra 48 hours to install specific packages. You can't just "wing it" against a Kyle Shanahan offense on three days of rest.
What is Coming Up Next?
Since Thursday was a wash for football fans, all eyes are now on the massive Divisional Round slate. Here is what the actual bracket looks like for the next 48 hours:
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Saturday, January 17
The Buffalo Bills travel to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. Following that, we get the rubber match: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET. Expect Lumen Field to be loud enough to register on a seismograph for that one.
Sunday, January 18
The Houston Texans take on the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. To close out the weekend, the Los Angeles Rams head to the frozen tundra (or at least the chilly grass) of Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Basically, if you were looking for a winner this past Thursday, you were a few days early. The real winners will be decided this weekend.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you're betting or setting fantasy lineups for the remaining playoff DFS slates, keep an eye on the Seahawks' injury report. Kenneth Walker III has been a beast, but Seattle’s offensive line depth took a hit in practice this week. Also, watch the weather in Chicago; Sunday night is looking like a "ground and pound" game which heavily favors the Bears' recent defensive surge. Make sure your streaming apps (Peacock, Paramount+, and Amazon) are updated now so you aren't scrambling five minutes before kickoff on Saturday.