If you’re staring at your calendar and wondering who's playing Sunday NFL football, you’re likely looking for more than just a list of names. It’s the Divisional Round. This is the weekend that usually separates the legitimate Super Bowl contenders from the teams that just got lucky in the Wild Card.
We’ve reached January 18, 2026. The field has narrowed significantly. Only eight teams remain across the league, and four of them are taking the field this Sunday to decide who moves on to the Conference Championships.
Sunday's Heavy Hitters: Who's Playing Sunday NFL Football
The schedule for Sunday is split between the AFC and the NFC, featuring two legacy-defining matchups. You’ve got the youth movement in Houston facing a rejuvenated New England squad, followed by a heavyweight NFC clash in the Windy City.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Network: ABC / ESPN / ESPN+
- Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
This is the early window game. The Texans are coming off a dominant 30-6 thumping of the Steelers in the Wild Card round. C.J. Stroud is no longer a "promising young talent"—he’s a certified problem for defensive coordinators. But Foxborough in January is a different beast entirely. Drake Maye and the Patriots secured a first-round bye with a 14-3 record, and they’ve had two weeks to prepare for DeMeco Ryans’ defensive schemes.
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Kinda feels like a "changing of the guard" moment, doesn't it? Or maybe the Patriots just remind everyone why they earned that No. 2 seed.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Network: NBC / Peacock
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
The nightcap is a total throwback. You have Matthew Stafford leading a Rams offense that survived a 34-31 shootout against the Panthers last weekend. Now they have to fly into the freezing cold of Soldier Field. The Bears are the No. 2 seed in the NFC for a reason. Their defense has been suffocating, and Caleb Williams has shown a level of poise that Bears fans haven't seen in decades. Honestly, the weather might be as big a factor as the players.
Breaking Down the AFC: Texans vs. Patriots
Let’s look at the nuances here. Most people think the Patriots have this in the bag because of the home-field advantage and the extra rest. But the Texans are playing with house money.
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Houston's WR Nico Collins has been a mismatch nightmare, though he’s been battling through the concussion protocol earlier this week. If he’s 100%, the New England secondary is going to have their hands full. The Patriots' defense, led by Christian Gonzalez, has been elite at taking away a team's primary option. It’s going to be a chess match between DeMeco Ryans and Jerod Mayo.
New England’s offense is built on efficiency. They aren't going to blow you out with 50-yard bombs every play, but they will paper-cut you to death with a methodical run game and short, intermediate crossing routes. It’s boring. It’s effective. It’s how they won 14 games.
The NFC Battle: Rams vs. Bears
The Rams are an interesting case. They’ve been the most complete team in the league at times this season. When Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are both healthy, Stafford is basically playing a video game on "Easy" mode.
But Chicago is different.
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Soldier Field in the playoffs is loud. It's gritty. The Bears' win over the Packers (31-27) in the Wild Card showed they can handle pressure. Jaylon Johnson and that secondary are playing "lights out" football. If they can disrupt the timing of the Rams' passing game, Stafford might find himself holding the ball a split-second too long—and that’s when the Chicago pass rush becomes a nightmare.
Watching the Games in 2026
If you’re trying to catch the action, the streaming landscape has changed a bit.
- ABC/ESPN: For the afternoon game, you can use the ESPN app or ESPN+.
- NBC/Peacock: The evening game is exclusive to NBC on linear TV, but Peacock is the go-to for streamers.
- NFL+: Still the "catch-all" if you're watching on a mobile device or tablet.
Basically, if you have a basic cable package or a few standard streaming subs, you’re covered. You don't need any weird third-party apps to see who's playing Sunday NFL football today.
What to Watch For: Tactical Keys
Keep an eye on the "middle of the field" in the Patriots game. If Stroud can find his tight ends early, it forces the New England linebackers to drop deeper, opening up the run game for Joe Mixon.
In the Bears game, watch the Rams' offensive line. They’ve had some injuries lately. If they can't protect Stafford’s blind side, the game could get ugly fast. Chicago loves to blitz from the nickel position, and if the Rams don't pick that up, it’s a long flight back to LA.
Actionable Game Day Plan
- Check the Weather: If you're betting or playing fantasy, check the wind speeds at Soldier Field. High winds kill the deep passing game.
- Set Your DVR: If you’re busy in the afternoon, the 3:00 PM ET kickoff means you’ll miss the start of the Texans/Patriots game if you don't prep.
- Update Your Apps: Peacock and ESPN+ often require updates right when you want to watch. Do it now.
The winners of these two games will move on to the Conference Championship games on January 25. By Sunday night, we'll know exactly who's one step away from Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.