Wait. Did you see that Josh Allen throw? The one where he basically tried to hero-ball a pass into triple coverage during overtime in Denver? If you missed it, you’re likely scrambling for the nfl playoff tv schedule to make sure you don't miss the next heart-stopping moment. Honestly, the 2026 postseason has been a fever dream. We’ve seen the Bills fall in a literal Rocky Mountain heartbreaker, and the Seahawks just absolutely dismantled the 49ers in a way that felt kind of personal.
Postseason football is weird. You think you know the bracket, then a Monday night game in Pittsburgh changes the entire travel schedule for the Texans. Keeping track of which channel has which game is becoming a full-time job because the NFL loves spreading these games across five different apps and three major networks. If you’re tired of clicking through your TV guide only to realize the game is "exclusively" on a streaming service you forgot you subscribed to, let’s get into the weeds of where and when to watch.
The Divisional Round Grid: Sunday's Survival
The Wild Card round is officially in the rearview mirror. It was messy. It was loud. And for the Panthers and Eagles, it was the end of the road. Now, we’re staring down the barrel of the Divisional matchups that actually determine who gets to fly a plane to the Championship games.
Sunday, January 18, 2026 is the big one. First off, you’ve got the Houston Texans traveling to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. This one kicks off at 3:00 PM ET. You can catch that on ABC and ESPN. If you’re a cord-cutter, ESPN+ is your best bet here.
Later that night, the spotlight shifts to the Windy City. The Los Angeles Rams—who narrowly escaped Carolina—are heading into the cold to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That game starts at 6:30 PM ET. It’s an NBC broadcast, which means it’s also streaming live on Peacock. If you’re watching the Spanish broadcast, head over to Telemundo or Universo.
What happened on Saturday?
Just in case you were under a rock or your internet went out, Saturday (Jan 17) was a bloodbath.
- Denver Broncos 33, Buffalo Bills 30 (OT): A classic. Denver moves on to the AFC Championship.
- Seattle Seahawks 41, San Francisco 49ers 6: Not even close. Seattle looked like a buzzsaw on FOX.
Championship Sunday: The Final Gatekeepers
If you’re planning your life around the nfl playoff tv schedule, circle Sunday, January 25, 2026. This is the day the pretenders get sent home. We have two games, back-to-back, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
The AFC Championship Game is the early slot at 3:00 PM ET. This game will be on CBS. Since the Broncos won on Saturday, they are officially hosting this game at Empower Field at Mile High. They’ll face the winner of the Texans/Patriots game. If you want to stream it, Paramount+ is the exclusive home for the CBS feed.
Then, the NFC Championship Game takes the primetime slot at 6:30 PM ET. This one is on FOX. The Seattle Seahawks are already waiting in the wings to host this game at Lumen Field. They’ll play whoever survives that Rams vs. Bears slugfest in Chicago. For streamers, the FOX Sports app or FOX One will be the place to be.
Super Bowl LX: The Levi’s Stadium Spectacular
Everything leads to Santa Clara. Super Bowl LX is happening on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
This year is unique because the game is actually sharing the calendar with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Because of that, NBC is pulling double duty. They are branding it as a "Legendary February," and honestly, it’s a lot of TV.
- Kickoff Time: 6:30 PM ET.
- The Network: NBC.
- Streaming: Peacock is the primary streaming home.
- Spanish Language: Telemundo.
A lot of people get confused about the "NFL+" app. You’ve gotta be careful there. While NFL+ is great for watching on your phone or tablet, you usually can't cast it to your big-screen TV for the Super Bowl. If you want the game on your 65-inch OLED, stick with Peacock or a traditional cable/satellite feed. Also, the halftime show features Bad Bunny, so expect the production value to be through the roof.
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Streaming vs. Linear: Don't Get Blacked Out
Look, the way we watch the NFL is changing, and 2026 is the peak of that transition. We saw a Wild Card game (Packers vs. Bears) that was essentially locked behind a Prime Video wall. That’s a trend that isn't going away.
For the remaining games, here is the "cheat sheet" for staying connected:
- Paramount+: Must-have for anything on CBS (AFC Championship).
- Peacock: Essential for NBC games (Rams/Bears and Super Bowl LX).
- ESPN+: Helpful for the ABC/ESPN simulcasts.
- YouTube TV / Fubo / Hulu Live: These are the "all-in-one" fixes. They carry the local affiliates for FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC. If you have one of these, you're basically set for the rest of the month.
The biggest mistake people make? Waiting until 10 minutes before kickoff to realize their app needs an update or their password expired. Check your logins now.
Why This Bracket Is Flipping the Script
Most experts thought the 49ers were a lock for a deep run. Then Seattle happened. The Seahawks' defense under Mike Macdonald has turned into a nightmare for Kyle Shanahan's offense. It's a reminder that the regular season record is just a suggestion once the playoffs start.
In the AFC, the Broncos are playing with house money. Bo Nix has looked surprisingly composed for a young quarterback in high-pressure situations. But they have to face a New England or Houston team that has been battle-tested in a way Denver hasn't seen yet. The weather in Denver for the AFC Championship is already looking like it could be a factor—typical January football.
Navigating the Noise
There's a lot of "analysis" out there that's basically just people shouting at each other. Sorta exhausting, right? The reality of the nfl playoff tv schedule is that it’s designed for maximum ad revenue, which means these games are spaced out to keep you on your couch for 12 hours a weekend.
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If you're hosting a watch party, keep in mind that the "kickoff time" is usually the time the broadcast starts, but the actual ball-on-tee moment is often 10 to 15 minutes later. Don't burn the wings by timing them to the exact minute on the screen.
Critical Dates Summary
- Jan 18: Divisional Round (AFC at 3 PM on ABC, NFC at 6:30 PM on NBC).
- Jan 25: Championship Sunday (AFC at 3 PM on CBS, NFC at 6:30 PM on FOX).
- Feb 8: Super Bowl LX (6:30 PM on NBC/Peacock).
The path to the Lombardi Trophy is narrow. We’ve already seen some of the league's biggest stars go home early. Whether it's the redemption of the Patriots or the sudden dominance of the Seahawks, the next three weeks are going to be loud. Grab your remote, update your apps, and maybe double-check that you actually have CBS in your channel lineup before Sunday afternoon hits.
Check your local listings for any last-minute "flex" adjustments, though the NFL rarely moves playoff times once they are set in stone. Ensure your streaming subscriptions are active at least 24 hours before the Conference Championships to avoid any payment processing delays during peak traffic. Log into your Peacock account early on Super Bowl Sunday to bypass the inevitable server congestion that happens right at kickoff.