If you're looking for who's playing sunday night nfl football, get ready for a throwback. We’re deep into the 2026 NFL Divisional Round, and the prime-time slot on Sunday, January 18, is officially locked in.
It's the Los Angeles Rams traveling to the Windy City to face the Chicago Bears.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local time) at Soldier Field. This isn't just another game. It’s a collision of the league's top-ranked offense against a Chicago team that has turned its home turf into a fortress.
The Matchup: Rams vs. Bears Under the Lights
Honestly, this game is a fascinating contrast in styles. You’ve got Matthew Stafford, who is having a career resurgence with over 4,700 passing yards this season, trying to navigate a Chicago defense that thrives on chaos.
The Rams (12-5) come in as the No. 5 seed, but don't let that ranking fool you. They just survived a wild-card shootout against the Panthers and are currently the most dangerous "underdog" in the bracket. On the other side, the No. 2 seed Bears (11-6) are resting on a week of prep after watching the wild-card madness from their couches.
👉 See also: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Caleb Williams has officially arrived. He threw 30 touchdowns this season and has the city of Chicago believing in a Super Bowl run for the first time in nearly two decades. But to get to the NFC Championship, he has to out-duel a veteran who already has a ring.
Key Details You Need
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
- TV Channel: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock, NFL+, and the NBC Sports app.
- Radio: Westwood One (National), ESPN LA 710 AM (Rams), and WBBM 780 AM (Bears).
Why This Sunday Night Game is Different
Most people think the Rams' high-flying offense will just steamroll a Chicago secondary that can be leaky. That’s a mistake.
The weather forecast is currently calling for single-digit temperatures with the kind of lakefront wind that makes a football feel like a block of ice. Matthew Stafford is a tough guy, but he’s playing in a dome half the time. The Bears? They live for this.
There's a reason the Bears went 11-6 this year. D'Andre Swift has been a workhorse, racking up over 1,000 yards on the ground. In a game where it's too cold to grip the laces, the team that can run the ball through the slush usually wins.
✨ Don't miss: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
The Stafford vs. Williams Dynamic
Stafford has Puka Nacua, who is basically a human highlight reel. If the Rams can get the ball to Nacua in space, Chicago is in trouble. But the Bears have Montez Sweat, who has 10 sacks this year and a nasty habit of ruining a quarterback's rhythm.
If Sweat can get to Stafford early, those 46 regular-season touchdowns won't mean a thing.
Earlier on Sunday: The AFC Appetizer
While the Bears and Rams are the main event, the Sunday triple-header actually starts in Foxborough.
At 3:00 p.m. ET, the Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots on ESPN and ABC. This is a battle of the young guns. Drake Maye has the Patriots back in the divisional round, and C.J. Stroud is looking to prove that the Texans' rebuild is officially complete.
🔗 Read more: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
It's a great setup for the night game. You get the AFC's future in the afternoon and a heavy-hitting NFC rivalry at night.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you’re planning to watch or maybe looking at the lines, keep these nuances in mind:
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the Rams' offensive line. They’ve been solid, but a late-week ankle tweak could be the difference between Stafford having time to throw or being under constant duress from the Bears' front four.
- The "Peacock" Factor: Remember that this game is streaming on Peacock. If you don't have cable, make sure your subscription is active before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff to avoid the "last-minute login" headache.
- Betting Trends: Chicago has been great at home, but the Rams have covered the spread in four of their last five road games. The over/under is sitting around 48.5, which feels high if the wind picks up at Soldier Field.
Don't miss the kickoff. This is the last game of the weekend, and the winner moves on to the NFC Championship against either the Seahawks or the 49ers. It's high-stakes football at its absolute best.