You’re probably looking for the game right now. It's a habit, right? Monday night usually means one thing: huddling around the TV for the NFL’s weekly primetime anchor. But if you’re checking the clock for monday night football time today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, things are actually looking a bit different than they did back in October.
The NFL schedule has basically shifted into its high-stakes postseason gear. We’re deep into the Divisional Round right now.
What happened to Monday Night Football?
Technically, "Monday Night Football" as a regular-season brand ended a few weeks back. However, the NFL did keep that Monday slot alive for the Wild Card round last week. If you caught the Houston Texans dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 this past Monday, January 12, that was the grand finale for Monday night pro ball this season.
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Tonight is Sunday. We have two massive Divisional Round games happening today, but none tomorrow night. Why? Because the league wants the winners to have a full week of rest before the Conference Championships on January 25.
Today’s Playoff Schedule (Sunday, Jan 18)
Since there isn't a game tomorrow, all the energy is focused on today's doubleheader. Honestly, these are probably the two best matchups of the year so far.
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Kickoff is set for 3:00 PM ET. You can find this one on ABC and ESPN. It’s funny—even though it’s Sunday afternoon, ESPN is using their full "Monday Night" style production for this, which is probably why everyone is searching for the MNF time. Drake Maye has been playing like an absolute madman for the Pats, but that Texans defense is legit scary.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: This is the nightcap at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. Soldier Field is going to be freezing, and watching Matthew Stafford try to navigate that wind against a resurging Bears defense is going to be peak January football.
The "Other" Monday Night Game
If you are absolutely craving football on Monday night specifically, you’re actually in luck, just not for the NFL.
Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, is the College Football Playoff National Championship. That game kicks off at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN. It’s No. 10 Miami against No. 1 Indiana. Yeah, you read 그 right. Indiana in the title game. 2026 has been a wild year for college ball. It’s being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, so it’s basically a home game for the Hurricanes.
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Why the confusion happens
The NFL has started "flexing" and spreading games so much that nobody knows what day it is anymore. Between Saturday triple-headers and Monday Wild Card games, the old "Sunday at 1:00" rule is basically dead.
For the monday night football time today searchers: just remember that the NFL is done with Mondays for the year. From here on out, it’s all about those Sunday championship windows and the lead-up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8.
Your Post-Season Checklist
- Sync your clocks: If you’re on the West Coast, that Patriots/Texans game starts at noon. Don't wake up at 1:00 PM and wonder why you missed the first half.
- Streaming Check: If you aren't near a TV, the games today are on NFL+, Peacock (for the Rams/Bears), and the ESPN app.
- Prepare for Monday: Since there’s no NFL tomorrow, clear your schedule for that Miami/Indiana championship. It’s the last meaningful football game on a Monday until next September.
The road to the Super Bowl is narrowing down. If you missed the Saturday games (the Broncos survived a thriller against the Bills), you definitely don't want to miss the action today. Get the snacks ready now.