If you were refreshing your phone last night looking for a score, you probably felt like you were losing your mind. We’ve been conditioned. Every Thursday for months, we park it on the couch for some Amazon Prime chaos. But last night was different.
Honestly, the answer to who won the football game last night Thursday night football is actually: nobody.
The lights stayed off. The stadiums were empty. Why? Because we have officially entered the "dead zone" of the NFL postseason. Once the Wild Card round wraps up—which it did this past Monday when the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6—the league takes a breather.
The Mystery of the Missing Thursday Night Game
The NFL schedule is a beast, but it’s a predictable one. Thursday Night Football (TNF) is a regular-season staple designed to keep us engaged mid-week. However, once the playoffs hit, the league pivots. They want those massive weekend ratings.
You’ve probably noticed the shift already. During the Wild Card round, we had games on Saturday, Sunday, and that Monday night finale. But Thursday? Thursday is for film study and injury reports.
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Take Sam Darnold, for example. The Seahawks' quarterback actually made more news last night than any scoreboard could have. He popped up on the injury report with an oblique issue during practice. That's the kind of drama we get on a playoff Thursday—not touchdowns, but "precautionary rehab."
Why there wasn't a game on January 15, 2026
- Rest Equity: Teams playing in the Divisional Round need more than four days to recover from the physical toll of a playoff game.
- Broadcast Contracts: Amazon's deal for TNF typically covers the regular season, while the playoff broadcast rights are locked up by the "Big Four" and ESPN.
- The Monday Night Factor: Since the Texans and Steelers played on Monday, January 12, it would be physically impossible (and a player safety nightmare) to ask Houston to travel and play again by Thursday.
What happened instead?
While the NFL was dark, sports fans weren't totally left out in the cold. If you were channel surfing, you likely ran into some high-stakes college hoops.
The real winner of "Thursday night" was No. 9 Louisville. They took down No. 23 Notre Dame with a 79-66 victory. It wasn't a gridiron battle, but Reyna Scott coming off the bench to drop 20 points provided the fireworks that the NFL skipped.
In the men's circuit, Drexel went on a tear against Monmouth, winning 73-51. It’s not a 50-yard bomb from Josh Allen, but it’s what we had.
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Looking ahead: When does the real football return?
If you’re itching for a bet or just a reason to eat wings, you only have to wait until tomorrow. The Divisional Round is where the "real" season begins for the heavy hitters who earned a bye week.
Saturday, January 17 Schedule
The Buffalo Bills are heading into the thin air of Denver to face the No. 1 seed Broncos. This kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Most experts are split here. Some think Josh Allen’s road warrior mentality carries them, while others think the Broncos’ rest will be the deciding factor.
Later that night, it's an NFC West slugfest. The San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. All eyes are on Darnold’s oblique. If he can't go, the Seahawks are in a world of trouble against a Niners team that seems to be peaking at the right time.
Sunday, January 18 Schedule
The Houston Texans, fresh off their blowout win, visit the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. Then, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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It's a packed weekend. Basically, the NFL traded one Thursday night game for a four-game buffet over the next 48 hours.
Your Playbook for the Divisional Round
Since you didn't get your football fix last night, here is how you handle the upcoming slate. First, check the final injury reports for the Seahawks—Darnold claims he’s "close to zero" percent likely to miss the game, but obliques are tricky for quarterbacks.
Second, keep an eye on the weather in Denver. January at Mile High can turn a high-flying passing attack into a ground-and-pound slog in minutes.
Finally, stop looking for games on Thursday nights until next September. The playoff schedule is strictly a weekend affair from here on out, leading straight to Super Bowl LX on February 8.
Next Steps:
- Verify your local listings for CBS and FOX before Saturday afternoon.
- Check the latest spread for the Bills-Broncos game; Denver is currently a slim 1.5-point favorite.
- Clear your Sunday evening for the Rams-Bears matchup, as Soldier Field is expected to be a factor.