If you were scrolling through your streaming apps or flipping channels this past Thursday, January 15, looking for the familiar glow of a stadium under the lights, you probably felt a little lost. You might have even checked your Wi-Fi.
Honestly, the answer to who won the last Thursday night football game isn't a team that played yesterday.
It was actually the Seattle Seahawks, but they didn't do it last night. They did it way back on December 18, 2025.
Wait. December? Yeah, really.
The NFL schedule is a weird beast. Once the regular season wraps up and the playoffs kick into gear, Thursday night football basically goes into hibernation. We're currently deep in the 2026 NFL Divisional Round, and that means the league shifts all the high-stakes action to the weekend. There was no game on January 15, 2026. The stadiums were empty, the players were practicing, and Amazon Prime Video was probably just showing reruns of Reacher.
Why the Seahawks Own the Final Thursday Night Win
The last time a team walked off the field with a "W" on a Thursday was Week 16 of the regular season. That was a wild one. The Seattle Seahawks hosted the Los Angeles Rams in a game that felt more like a track meet than a football game.
Seattle took that one 38-37.
One point. Imagine being a Rams fan and losing because of a missed extra point or a late-game field goal. Actually, it was a Geno Smith masterclass—or at least a very gritty performance—that sealed the deal. Since then, the NFL has moved into "Saturday and Sunday only" mode to maximize those playoff TV ratings.
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You’ve probably noticed the pattern if you’ve been following the sport for a while, but it still trips people up every January. The league wants the most eyeballs possible on the postseason, and Thursday nights just don't pull the same weight as a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
The Playoff Gap: Where Did the Thursday Games Go?
It’s kinda funny how we get conditioned. From September to December, Thursday is football night. You order wings, you complain about your fantasy team, and you watch whatever matchup the schedule-makers threw together.
But once January hits? Total radio silence.
The NFL Divisional Round, which is happening right now, is strictly a weekend affair. Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, we have the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks (there they are again!) settle their rivalry at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Then Sunday brings even more heat:
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
Basically, the NFL clears the mid-week schedule to make sure these games feel like "events." If you played a playoff game on a Thursday, the team would only have three days to recover from their Wild Card matchup. Players' bodies would literally be falling apart. No one wants to see a divisional playoff game decided because half the starters are too sore to run.
What Most People Get Wrong About Late-Season Thursdays
There's a common misconception that Thursday Night Football runs until the Super Bowl. It doesn't.
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Usually, the NFL stops the Thursday broadcasts after Week 17 to ensure every team has a full week of rest heading into the final regular-season games and the playoffs. This year, the final "official" Thursday night broadcast on Amazon Prime was that Seahawks vs. Rams thriller.
If you're looking for the absolute most recent game played on a Thursday that wasn't a standard TNF broadcast, you'd have to look at Christmas Day. On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the NFL went all-in with a tripleheader.
- The Broncos beat the Chiefs 20-13.
- The Cowboys took down the Commanders 30-23.
- The Vikings handled the Lions 23-10.
But even those weren't technically under the "Thursday Night Football" banner in the way we usually think of it. They were holiday specials. The real TNF—the one with the blue logo and the specific broadcasting crew—ended with Seattle standing tall.
What Really Happened with the Seahawks’ Big Win
Let’s look at that Seahawks/Rams game for a second because it actually defined how the NFC playoffs look right now. Seattle finished the season 14-3, clinching the No. 1 seed. They wouldn't have had that top spot—and the first-round bye they just finished—if they hadn't scraped by the Rams in that last Thursday game.
Geno Smith threw for over 300 yards. DK Metcalf was basically a human highlight reel. On the other side, Matthew Stafford and the Rams put up 581 yards of total offense. Think about that. You gain nearly 600 yards and you still lose? That’s the kind of heartbreak that only happens on a short-week Thursday game where defenses are gassed and nobody can tackle anything.
Seattle’s win that night didn’t just give them a trophy for the week; it gave them the home-field advantage they’re using right now as they prepare to host the 49ers this Saturday.
NFL Schedule: Where to Watch the Next Games
Since there’s no game tonight, you should probably prep for the weekend. The divisional round is where the real legends are made.
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If you're trying to track down the winners for your office pool or just to stay informed, here is the immediate roadmap for the next 48 hours.
Saturday, January 17 (Divisional Round)
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This is the Josh Allen show. Buffalo is coming off a nail-biter against the Jaguars (27-24), while Denver has been resting and waiting. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: The rematch. Seattle beat them 13-3 in Week 18 to take the division, but the Niners just came off a massive comeback win against the Eagles. This one is at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Sunday, January 18 (Divisional Round)
Houston Texans at New England Patriots: C.J. Stroud vs. the New England defense. Houston has won 10 in a row. Can they keep it going in the cold? Check ABC/ESPN at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: The Rams are trying to prove that their high-flying offense can survive a freezing Soldier Field. NBC has this one at 6:30 p.m. ET.
How to Prepare for the NFL Playoffs
Stop looking for games on Thursdays! From here on out, it’s all about the weekends.
- Update your calendar: The Conference Championships are set for Sunday, January 25.
- Watch the weather: Games in Denver and Chicago this weekend are expecting snow and single-digit temperatures. This changes everything for kickers and deep-threat receivers.
- Keep an eye on the Seahawks: Since they won the "last" Thursday night game, they’ve had the momentum. If they beat the Niners this Saturday, they are the odds-on favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. While the Thursday night lights have gone dark for the season, the fire is just starting to pick up for the eight teams left standing.
If you want to be ready for the Saturday kickoff, double-check your local listings and make sure your jersey is clean. The next time we see a Thursday game, it'll be the season opener in September 2026. Until then, enjoy your Thursdays off—your couch will still be there on Saturday.