If you’re refreshing your phone looking for an NFL game score today, you’re going to be staring at a big, fat blank screen. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tease. We are sitting right in the eye of the playoff storm. The Wild Card madness is behind us, and the Divisional Round is less than twenty-four hours away, but today, Friday, January 16, 2026?
The stadiums are empty. The concessions are closed.
It’s that weird, quiet Friday gap where the only thing moving is the injury report. After a weekend that saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Steelers 30-6 and the LA Rams escape a literal heart-attack game against Carolina 34-31, the league is catching its breath. You won't find a live whistle today, but the stakes for tomorrow’s scores are already through the roof.
The "Zero" on Today's Scoreboard Explained
Basically, the NFL doesn't do Friday games during the playoffs. They want the maximum eyeballs on the Saturday and Sunday windows. We just came off a Super Wild Card Weekend that lived up to the name.
If you missed the final scores from the last few days, here is the wreckage:
- Texans 30, Steelers 6: Houston looked like a buzzsaw. C.J. Stroud didn't just win; he sent a message.
- Rams 34, Panthers 31: A total rollercoaster. Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for the go-ahead score with 38 seconds left.
- Bears 31, Packers 27: Chicago finally exorcised some Green Bay demons at Soldier Field.
- 49ers 23, Eagles 19: Brock Purdy threw two picks and still found a way to knock out Philly.
- Bills 27, Jaguars 24: Josh Allen used a "tush push" for a 10-yard gain at one point. Just absurd.
- Patriots 16, Chargers 3: Old school, ugly, and effective.
So, while there is no NFL game score today, these results set the stage for a Divisional Round that feels like a collision course between destiny and disaster.
Why Tomorrow's Scores Will Look Different
Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, the silence ends. We have two massive matchups that are going to dominate the conversation.
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First up, the Buffalo Bills visit the Denver Broncos at 4:30 PM ET. This is a rematch of last year's Wild Card game where Buffalo cruised 31-7. But these aren't those Broncos. Sean Payton’s squad won 14 games this year. Bo Nix has been a literal machine, leading the league with seven game-winning drives.
The Bills are coming in battered. They lost Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers to ACL tears during the Jacksonville game. That’s a massive blow to their run blocking. If Josh Allen is forced to throw 50 times against a Denver defense that leads the league in sacks, the score tomorrow might be a lot lower than Bills fans want.
Then at 8:00 PM ET, it’s the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. This is the third time these rivals have met this season. Seattle actually beat them 13-3 in Week 18, but the Niners were resting some folks. Now, Trent Williams is back at left tackle. Sam Darnold—who has been surprisingly steady for Seattle—is dealing with an oblique injury. He says he’s playing. We’ll see how that holds up when Nick Bosa is breathing down his neck.
What to Watch While the Scoreboard is Empty
Since you can't watch a live game, the news cycle is filling the void. It’s "Coaching Carousel" season. The Detroit Lions are currently the center of the universe, requesting interviews with everyone from Arthur Smith to Zac Robinson for their OC opening.
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Even the Baltimore Ravens are in the headlines, with rumors swirling that John Harbaugh might be looking at the Giants job and taking Isaiah Likely with him. It’s chaos.
Also, keep an eye on the weather reports for tomorrow's games in Denver and Seattle. We’re looking at some potential wind issues in the Mile High City that could turn the Bills-Broncos game into a ground-and-pound affair. When the wind picks up, the over/under usually tanks.
Predicting the Next Set of Scores
If you’re looking for a preview of what the NFL game score today would be if they actually played, look at the matchups for Sunday too.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (Sun, 3:00 PM ET): Can the Texans' high-flying offense crack the Belichick-style code in Foxborough? The Pats only gave up 3 points last week.
- LA Rams at Chicago Bears (Sun, 6:30 PM ET): Dennis Allen, the Bears' DC, basically said it’s going to take "an exceptional effort" to stop Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Adams is finally back from a hamstring injury and looked okay last week, but Nacua is the one playing like a Madden create-a-player right now.
The reality is, the "score" today is 0-0 for everyone. But by Sunday night, we will have our Final Four.
Actionable Steps for NFL Fans Today
Since there's no live action, here is how you should spend your Friday to get ready for the weekend:
- Check the Final Injury Reports: Most teams release their definitive "In/Out" status on Friday afternoons. See if Sam Darnold is actually throwing or just "limited."
- Monitor the Lines: The Bills are currently -1.5 against the Broncos. That’s a tiny margin for a road team in Denver. If it moves to a pick'em, the sharps are betting on Bo Nix.
- Set Your DFS Lineups: With only four games this weekend, value picks are hard to find. Look at someone like Demarcus Robinson for the Niners; he’s been a favorite target for Purdy lately.
- Prepare for Saturday: The first kickoff is at 4:30 PM ET tomorrow on CBS. Make sure your Paramount+ sub hasn't expired if you're streaming.
Enjoy the rare Friday off. The scoreboard stays dark for now, but tomorrow it's going to be lit up like a Christmas tree.