You've got the wings ordered. The couch is basically calling your name. But if you’re looking for a kickoff tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, I’ve got some news that might make you want to put that jersey back in the closet for a few days.
Honestly, there isn't an NFL playoff game tomorrow.
I know, it's a bummer. After the absolute chaos of Wild Card Weekend—which just wrapped up with that Texans victory over the Steelers on Monday night—the league takes a breather. The NFL is many things, but they rarely play postseason football on a Wednesday. It's just not how their TV deals or player recovery cycles work. If you're frantically googling what time is the playoff game tomorrow, you’re likely seeing results for the regular season in other sports or you're getting a jump start on the Divisional Round hype.
When Does The Next NFL Playoff Game Actually Start?
The postseason action resumes this coming Saturday. We are moving into the Divisional Round, which is arguably the best weekend of football in the entire year. The "Final Eight" are set, and the stakes are massive.
Here is the deal for the upcoming weekend:
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- Saturday, January 17, 2026: The Denver Broncos host the Buffalo Bills at 4:30 PM ET. This is the early window on CBS. Later that night, the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
- Sunday, January 18, 2026: The New England Patriots face the Houston Texans at 3:00 PM ET (ESPN/ABC). To wrap up the weekend, the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams at 6:30 PM ET on NBC.
Basically, Wednesday and Thursday are "dead zones" for live playoff football. You've got time to do laundry or actually talk to your family before the Divisional Round takes over your life again.
Is There Anything Else On Tomorrow?
If you absolutely need a sports fix on Wednesday, January 14, you aren't totally out of luck. It just won't be "playoff" football. The NBA and NHL are in the thick of their regular seasons, and honestly, some of these matchups are pretty spicy.
For the hoop heads, the Phoenix Suns visit the Miami Heat at 7:30 PM ET. There’s also a massive Western Conference showdown with the San Antonio Spurs traveling to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder. On the ice, the Philadelphia Flyers play the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 PM ET on TNT.
College hoops is also humming along. If you’re a fan of the ACC, #6 Duke is playing at California tomorrow night at 11:00 PM ET. It’s a late one for East Coast fans, but it's meaningful basketball.
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Why No Wednesday Football?
The NFL is very protective of its schedule. They tried the "Monday Night Wild Card" game (which we just saw), and it’s a huge ratings hit. But pushing into Tuesday or Wednesday? That creates a massive disadvantage for the winning team.
Think about it. If the Texans played tomorrow (Wednesday), they’d only have three days to recover before playing the Patriots on Sunday. That’s a recipe for injuries and bad football. The league prioritizes a five-to-six-day rest window whenever humanly possible during the playoffs.
The Playoff Picture Moving Forward
Once we get past this mid-week lull, the road to Super Bowl LX gets very narrow.
The winners of this weekend’s games move to the Conference Championships on January 25. If you're looking for the "Big One," Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
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So, while you might have been hoping for a game tomorrow, use the time to prep. Check your local listings, make sure your streaming apps (Paramount+, Peacock, and ESPN+) are actually logged in, and get ready for Saturday.
Next Steps for the Mid-Week Lull:
- Check your DVR: Make sure you aren't conflicting with any Saturday afternoon plans.
- Verify your streaming access: The games are split across four different networks this weekend.
- Track the injury reports: Keep an eye on the Texans' roster, as they have the shortest turnaround heading into Foxborough.