If you’re staring at your TV wondering where the football went this past Tuesday or Wednesday, don't worry—you didn't miss the Super Bowl. We just finished a Wild Card weekend that was, frankly, a bit of a rollercoaster. I mean, watching the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 was one thing, but the realization that we might have seen the last of Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin in the same night? That's heavy stuff. But the NFL doesn't pause for nostalgia. We are moving straight into the Divisional Round, which is arguably the best weekend of the entire year for football fans.
The bracket is set. The heavy hitters are coming off their bye weeks.
Basically, the "real" season starts right now. If you are looking for what are the nfl games this weekend, you’ve got a four-game slate spread across Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, 2026. These aren't just games; they are the final hurdles before the Conference Championships.
Saturday’s Heavyweights: The AFC No. 1 and an NFC West Grudge Match
Saturday is basically "The West" day. We start in the thin air of Denver and end in the noise of Seattle.
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS / Paramount+
This is the big one for the AFC. The Denver Broncos are the No. 1 seed for a reason. Sean Payton has turned that squad into a machine, and they’ve been sitting at home resting while the Buffalo Bills had to scrap for their lives. Josh Allen is coming off a win against Jacksonville where he looked, as some analysts put it, "battered and brilliant."
Honestly, the Bills have a mountain to climb here. Literally. Denver’s defense led the league with 68 sacks this year. That is a terrifying number for an offensive line that’s already a bit dinged up. If Allen doesn't have time to breathe, this could get ugly. Plus, the Bills are missing Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers—both out with ACL tears. It’s a lot of pressure on the remaining guys to find space in that Denver secondary.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
If you like rivalries, this is your fix. This is the third time these two have met this season. Seattle took the last one in Week 18 to clinch the top seed, but the 49ers are riding a massive wave of momentum after upsetting the Eagles.
The big storyline here is Sam Darnold. He’s been incredible in the regular season (28-6 as a starter over the last two years), but he’s 0-1 in the playoffs. He’s also nursing an oblique injury. He says he's playing, but at 80%? Against a Niners pass rush? That’s a gamble. On the flip side, San Francisco is playing without George Kittle. Missing a future Hall of Fame tight end in the red zone is a massive blow to Brock Purdy’s options. Expect a loud, rainy, and very physical game at Lumen Field.
Sunday’s Tactical Battles: Can the Road Dogs Bark?
Sunday shifts the focus to the East and the Midwest. We’ve got a legendary franchise trying to hold off a young phenom and a "Cinderella" story happening in Chicago.
Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC / ESPN / ESPN+
The Texans look terrifying right now. After what they did to Pittsburgh, nobody wants to play them. They are the definition of a "road dog." However, Foxborough in January is a different beast entirely. The Patriots have historically owned this matchup at home—holding a 7-1 all-time record against Houston at Gillette Stadium.
It’s going to be a chess match between New England’s secondary and Houston’s explosive receivers. The Texans like to go deep, but the Patriots' coaching staff is famous for taking away a team's best weapon. Can C.J. Stroud stay patient? That’s the $100 question.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC / Peacock
The weekend wraps up at Soldier Field. The Bears are on a bit of a dream run, and the city is buzzing. They are the No. 2 seed, holding home-field advantage against a Los Angeles Rams team that many experts believe is actually the best team in the league right now.
It’s weird to say about a 5-seed, but the Rams are favorites in a lot of people's eyes because they are ranked top-five in DVOA for both offense and defense. Matthew Stafford has the playoff experience that the Bears' roster mostly lacks. But Soldier Field in the cold? That changes things. It’s not about finesse anymore; it’s about who can hold onto the ball and pick up four yards on 3rd-and-3 in the freezing wind.
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Why This Weekend Matters More Than Most
When people ask what are the nfl games this weekend, they are usually looking for a schedule, but the context is what makes it "must-watch." This is the round where the pretenders get exposed.
In the Wild Card round, you often see teams that just "made it in." In the Divisional Round, every single team left has a legitimate path to the Super Bowl. We have the No. 1 seeds (Denver and Seattle) entering the bracket for the first time. Statistically, the home team wins about 70% of the time in this round, but this year feels different. The Rams and Texans are playing some of the best football in the country regardless of where the game is located.
Watching the Games: A Quick Checklist
Don't be the person scrambling for a login ten minutes after kickoff.
- Saturday: You'll need CBS for the afternoon game and FOX for the nightcap. If you've cut the cord, Paramount+ and the FOX Sports app are your best friends.
- Sunday: The afternoon game is on ABC and ESPN. The finale is on NBC (and streaming on Peacock).
- International/Mobile: NFL+ carries all the playoff games if you are on the move.
The weather is looking particularly "football-like" in Denver and Chicago. We’re talking temps near freezing, which usually favors the teams that can establish a run game. Keep an eye on Kenneth Walker III for Seattle and the Rams' backfield—they might be the ones deciding who moves on to the Championship Sunday on January 25.
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If you’re planning your weekend, make sure your Saturday afternoon is clear by 4:30 p.m. ET. Once the Bills and Broncos kick off, it’s a non-stop sprint until the final whistle in Chicago on Sunday night. Grab your snacks, check your fantasy bets one last time, and get ready.
To get the most out of the weekend, check the final injury reports released about 90 minutes before each kickoff. Pay close attention to Sam Darnold’s mobility in warmups and whether the Bills find a way to activate their practice squad receivers to fill the void left by Davis and Shavers.