The regular season is a distant memory. Wild Card weekend already chewed up and spit out six teams, and now we’re left with the "Elite Eight." Honestly, this is usually the best weekend of the entire year for football fans. You’ve got the heavy hitters coming off their bye weeks, rested and ready to defend their home turf, while the underdogs are riding the high of a first-round win.
If you’re looking for the NFL on TV this weekend, you’ve basically got a four-game slate spread across Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, 2026. This isn't just about watching games; it's about the fact that we’re seeing some of the weirdest seeding matchups in recent history. The Bills are a 6-seed but they’re actually favored on the road against the top-seeded Broncos. That just doesn’t happen.
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Saturday's Doubleheader: The Road Warriors vs. The Fresh Legs
Saturday kicks off with a massive clash in the thin air of Denver. The (6) Buffalo Bills are heading to Empower Field at Mile High to face the (1) Denver Broncos.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
You’ll hear Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call, with Tracy Wolfson on the sidelines. It’s kinda wild that Josh Allen and the Bills are 1.5-point favorites here despite being the lower seed. Buffalo just survived a thriller in Jacksonville, and Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed. Meanwhile, Sean Payton has had two weeks to draw up a plan to stop them. If you’re streaming, you’ll need Paramount+ or the NFL+ app.
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Once that finishes, we head to the Pacific Northwest. The (6) San Francisco 49ers are traveling to face the (1) Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
This is a classic NFC West rivalry, and the energy at Lumen Field is going to be absurd. FOX is bringing their A-team for this one: Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth, with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the sidelines. Seattle is a 7.5-point favorite, which feels like a lot, but the 49ers are playing on just five days of rest after beating the Eagles. That’s a brutal turnaround for a playoff game.
Sunday's Slate: Youth vs. Experience
Sunday is just as heavy. We start in Foxborough at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
The (5) Houston Texans are taking on the (2) New England Patriots. C.J. Stroud looked like a total juggernaut in that blowout win over the Steelers last Monday. But now he has to face a Patriots defense that basically put the Chargers in a straightjacket last week, winning 16-3. Drake Maye vs. C.J. Stroud is the matchup every scout dreamed of two years ago, and now we get it with a trip to the AFC Championship on the line.
The weekend wraps up in the Windy City. The (5) Los Angeles Rams travel to Soldier Field to play the (2) Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
This is Chicago’s first home divisional-round game in 15 years. The "Cardiac Kids" of the North survived a 31-27 nail-biter against Green Bay, and now they have to deal with Matthew Stafford, who is having a massive MVP-caliber encore season. The Rams are actually 3.5-point road favorites in this one. It’s going to be cold, it’s going to be loud, and it’s basically the perfect way to end the weekend.
Quick Guide to Channels and Times
Saturday, Jan 17:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS / Paramount+)
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX / FOX One)
Sunday, Jan 18:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 p.m. ET (ESPN / ABC / ESPN+)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC / Peacock)
Why the Seeding Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
People look at the bracket and think the No. 1 seeds are safe. They’re not. The Denver Broncos are sitting there as home underdogs to a 6-seed. Think about how rare that is. The Bills have won five straight games, and their offense is currently the most efficient in the league. If Denver's defense can't handle the Buffalo run game, we could see an upset before the sun even goes down on Saturday.
Then you have the Texans. They’re 3.5-point underdogs, but after they dismantled Pittsburgh 30-6, a lot of experts are calling them the "value play" of the week. Their defense scored twice last week. If they can rattle Drake Maye early, New England might be in trouble.
Where to Watch and How to Stream
If you’ve cut the cord, you’re not out of luck, but you do need to be organized.
- Paramount+ is your home for the CBS game.
- Peacock has the Sunday night NBC game.
- ESPN+ will simulcast the Texans-Patriots game.
- FOX One or the FOX Sports app will have the Seahawks game, but you'll usually need a cable login for those.
If you're out of the country or prefer radio, SiriusXM has you covered. The Bills-Broncos game is on channels 225 and 380. For the national audio feed, Westwood One will have Ryan Radtke and Mike Golic on the Saturday afternoon opener, while Kevin Harlan—the GOAT of radio calls—will handle the Rams-Bears finale on Sunday.
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Actionable Tips for This Weekend
- Check your subscriptions early: Don't wait until 4:29 p.m. on Saturday to realize your Paramount+ password expired. Log in now.
- Monitor the weather in Chicago: Soldier Field is notorious for wind. If those gusts pick up, the Rams' passing attack might struggle, making the Under a very tempting bet.
- Watch the injury report for Seattle: Sam Darnold was limited earlier this week with an oblique injury. If he's not 100%, that 7.5-point spread for the Seahawks looks a lot shakier.
- Prepare for the Monday hangover: These games are late, high-stress, and emotional. If your team is playing the nightcap on Sunday, maybe clear your Monday morning calendar.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara goes through these four cities this weekend. Whether you're rooting for a dynasty reborn in New England or the "Cardiac Kids" in Chicago, the drama is guaranteed. Get your snacks ready, sync your apps, and settle in. It's going to be a long, glorious weekend of football.