January 18, 2026, just shifted the entire landscape of football. Honestly, if you told me a year ago that we’d be sitting here talking about the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams battling in a snowy divisional playoff while Indiana prepares for a national title, I’d have asked for whatever you were drinking. But here we are. The playoffs are ruthless. They don't care about your "regular season momentum" or how many Pro Bowlers you have on the roster.
Who Won Football Games Today: The NFL Divisional Round Madness
The biggest question on everyone's mind—who won football games today—starts with the AFC clash in Foxborough. The New England Patriots, led by Drake Maye, hosted the Houston Texans in a game that felt more like a chess match than a shootout. Maye has been a revelation this year, finishing the regular season with over 4,300 passing yards, but C.J. Stroud and the Texans arrived with a nine-game winning streak that looked almost unbreakable.
The Patriots’ defense, however, is a different beast in January. They came in with a .923 winning percentage after a victory, and they played like it. It wasn't flashy. It was gritty. The kind of game where every three-yard run feels like a mountain climbed.
Switching gears to the NFC, the energy at Soldier Field was electric. We're talking 19 degrees Fahrenheit with snow showers. Classic "Bear weather." The Los Angeles Rams brought their high-flying offense into the freezing Midwest to face a Chicago team that has become surprisingly stout at home. Matthew Stafford against Caleb Williams. The veteran versus the kid. This wasn't just a game; it was a changing of the guard or a firm "not yet" from the old guard.
Saturday's Residual Shockwaves: The Seattle Dominance
You can't talk about today's winners without mentioning what happened just hours ago in Seattle. The Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6. It was a bloodbath. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house in just 13 seconds. That’s the longest postseason kick return in Seahawks history.
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Kenneth Walker III was basically untouchable, rushing for three touchdowns and tying Shaun Alexander’s franchise playoff record. He finished with 116 yards. Sam Darnold, playing in his first season for Seattle, looked like a man possessed, finally getting that elusive first career playoff win. The 49ers, meanwhile, looked lost. Brock Purdy was harassed all night by the "Dark Side" defense, and losing Christian McCaffrey to a stinger in the second quarter was the final nail.
European Giants Stumble on a Wild Sunday
While America was focused on the gridiron, the Premier League was busy setting itself on fire. If you’re looking for who won football games today across the pond, the answer is "not the favorites."
Aston Villa had a golden opportunity. They were playing at Villa Park—a fortress where they hadn't lost since August. A win would have leapfrogged them over Manchester City into second place. Instead, a massive defensive blunder by Pau Torres and a fumble from Emi Martinez allowed Everton's Thierno Barry to slot home the only goal in the 59th minute. Villa lost 1-0. It was a catastrophic missed opportunity, especially after Arsenal and Manchester City both dropped points earlier in the weekend.
Over at Molineux, bottom-of-the-table Wolves managed to hold Newcastle to a 0-0 draw. It’s their 17th scoreless draw of the season, which is a staggering statistic. Wolves are still 14 points from safety, but they’ve stayed unbeaten so far in 2026. Newcastle, on the other hand, missed their chance to climb into the top five.
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Bundesliga and Beyond
In Germany, VfB Stuttgart and Union Berlin fought to a 1-1 draw. Stuttgart looked the better side early on, with Josha Vagnoman causing all sorts of problems, but they couldn't find the clinical edge needed to take all three points. It was a timid affair that left both managers looking frustrated on the touchline.
The College Football National Championship: The Misfits vs. The Canes
The real story that has everyone buzzing today isn't a game that was played, but the one being prepped for tomorrow night. Miami and Indiana. Read that again. The Indiana Hoosiers—a program that historically has more losses than almost anyone else—are playing for the National Championship.
Coach Curt Cignetti has done the impossible. He literally told fans to "Google me" when he arrived, and people did. Now, he’s leading a group of players they call the "misfits" against Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes. This is the NIL era in full effect. Miami’s roster is bolstered by big-money transfers like Carson Beck, while Indiana has rebuilt using Cignetti’s "I win" blueprint.
The ticket prices for this game in Miami Gardens are astronomical. Mark Cuban has been pumping millions into the Hoosiers’ program, and it’s paying off. Whether you love or hate the new era of college football, you have to admit: seeing Indiana in a title game is wild.
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Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're following the action this week, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Christian McCaffrey's stinger and Zach Charbonnet's knee injury will have massive implications for the Conference Championships.
- Betting Trends: The "Over" has been hitting consistently for the Rams on the road, but the "Under" has been the play for the Bears at home. This conflict usually favors the defensive side in cold weather.
- NIL Impact: Keep an eye on how Indiana's success changes the recruiting strategy for other "non-traditional" powers. The blueprint is now public.
The playoffs aren't over. Not even close. The winners today have earned a week of rest and a chance to play for a trip to the Super Bowl. For the losers, it's a long flight home and a lot of "what ifs."
Review the final box scores and player stats to see how your fantasy keepers or betting slips held up. Pay close attention to the injury updates coming out of Seattle and Chicago tonight, as those will dictate the opening lines for next Sunday's title games.