If you woke up this morning, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and started looking for who's playing on nfl football today, you might want to sit down. I've got some news. There aren't any games. Seriously.
It’s that weird, quiet Tuesday after the chaos of Super Wild Card Weekend. We just watched three straight days of hits, missed tackles, and C.J. Stroud basically dismantling the Steelers defense in Pittsburgh last night. But today? The field is empty. The pads are off. The groundskeepers are probably the only ones moving at Gillette Stadium or Soldier Field right now.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a letdown after the heater we’ve been on. We just saw the Houston Texans end the Wild Card round with a 30-6 statement win over Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. It was brutal. It was efficient. And it was the last bit of live NFL action we're getting until the Divisional Round kicks off this coming Saturday.
The Wild Card Dust Has Settled
Since there’s nobody playing who's playing on nfl football today, we have to look at what just happened to understand why we’re in this lull. The opening round was a rollercoaster. We saw the Los Angeles Rams survive a 34-31 nail-biter against the Panthers on Saturday, while the Bears held off the Packers in a classic NFC North slugfest.
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Sunday was even more intense. The Bills went into Jacksonville and squeezed out a three-point win. The 49ers broke Philadelphia's hearts at the Linc. Then, the Patriots reminded everyone why they earned the No. 2 seed by shutting down the Chargers late on Sunday night.
Yesterday’s finale—that Texans-Steelers game—was the final piece of the puzzle. With Houston winning, the bracket is officially locked.
When Does the Action Start Again?
You're probably looking for the next kickoff. I get it. The itch is real. Since you won't find anyone asking who's playing on nfl football today and getting a "real" answer for a Tuesday, you should circle Saturday, January 17, on your calendar.
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That’s when the big dogs come out to play. The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks have been sitting at home, resting, watching the film, and probably laughing at the teams that had to beat each other up this past weekend.
The Divisional Round Slate
- Saturday, Jan 17 (4:30 PM ET): Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos. This is going to be freezing. Denver has the bye-week advantage, but Buffalo's offense looked clinical against the Jags.
- Saturday, Jan 17 (8:00 PM ET): San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. A divisional rivalry in the playoffs? Yes, please. Lumen Field will be vibrating for this one.
- Sunday, Jan 18 (3:00 PM ET): Houston Texans at New England Patriots. C.J. Stroud vs. the Foxboro crowd. The Texans are on a 10-game win streak, but New England is a different beast in January.
- Sunday, Jan 18 (6:30 PM ET): Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears. The Rams' high-flying offense meets the Chicago winter. This feels like a game decided in the trenches.
Why the Tuesday Gap Matters
NFL teams love their routines. But the playoffs throw a massive wrench into that. For teams like the Texans, who just played a physical game on Monday night, this "empty" Tuesday is actually a frantic day of recovery and film study. They have a short week to travel to New England.
Meanwhile, for fans, today is basically "Take a Breath Day." It’s the time when the talking heads on sports radio debate whether the Steelers should move on from the Aaron Rodgers era or if the 49ers can actually upset the Seahawks on the road.
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If you’re looking for football-adjacent content to fill the void today, keep an eye on the injury reports. That’s the real "game" happening right now. We’re waiting to see the status of players who got dinged up over the weekend, especially in that physical Niners-Eagles clash.
What You Should Do Today Instead
Since you can't watch a game, use this time to get your setup ready for the weekend. Check your streaming subscriptions. If you're planning on watching the Rams at Bears game on Sunday, make sure your Peacock login actually works. If you're heading to a watch party for Bills-Broncos, maybe check the wings situation.
Also, if you're into the betting side of things, the opening lines for the Divisional Round are already out. Seeing the Broncos as early favorites over the Bills isn't surprising given the rest advantage, but that line might move as the week goes on.
There is no game today. There is no game tomorrow. But come Saturday, we’re back in the thick of it. Stay patient. The best football of the year is usually found in the Divisional Round anyway.
Your Post-Wild Card Checklist:
- Verify your access to CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN/ABC for the weekend.
- Monitor the weather forecasts for Denver and Chicago; those "snow bowl" games are looking likely.
- Check the official NFL injury reports that usually drop late Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon to see who’s actually going to be active for the Saturday double-header.