So, you’re looking for the nfl schedule today and channels. I get it. We just came off a wild three-day weekend of football that probably left your couch cushions permanently indented. But here is the cold, hard truth: there are no NFL games today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
The league just wrapped up Super Wild Card Weekend with a Monday night beatdown where the Houston Texans absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. If you were hoping for a Tuesday night surprise, you're out of luck. The NFL doesn't do Tuesday games unless a blizzard or a global catastrophe forces their hand. Instead, today is the day of "the pivot." Teams are nursing bruises, coaches are staring at film until their eyes bleed, and fans are trying to figure out how to navigate the upcoming Divisional Round.
Honestly, the silence today is actually pretty important for the teams left standing. We’ve moved from 14 teams down to the elite eight.
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The NFL Schedule Today and Channels: What Just Happened?
To understand where we’re going, you have to look at the wreckage of the last 72 hours. Wild Card weekend was a mix of predictable dominance and "holy crap" moments. The Texans-Steelers game on Monday night was the final piece of the puzzle. Houston's defense looked terrifying, holding Pittsburgh to just 175 total yards. Aaron Rodgers, at 42, looked every bit his age, getting sacked four times in what might be the quietest exit for a Hall of Famer ever.
That Monday night slot on ABC and ESPN is officially the end of the first round. Now, the league resets.
If you're checking your TV guide today, you’ll find plenty of talking heads on NFL Network and ESPN debating whether Caleb Williams can handle the pressure in Chicago or if the Buffalo Bills can finally win a big one in the thin air of Denver. But live hits? Non-existent. The players are in recovery mode.
Looking Ahead to the Divisional Round
Since there’s nothing on the tube today, your eyes should be fixed on Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18. This is where the heavyweights enter the ring. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks—the top seeds who earned a week of rest—are finally coming out of hibernation.
Here is how the next round is shaking out:
Saturday, January 17
The action starts with the Buffalo Bills visiting the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. This is a massive test for Josh Allen. Denver has been a fortress this year, finishing 14-3. You can catch this one on CBS or stream it on Paramount+. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. These two teams know each other too well. Expect a physical, borderline-ugly game.
Sunday, January 18
Sunday kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Chicago Bears. Caleb Williams vs. Matthew Stafford is a "passing of the torch" narrative waiting to happen. That game is slated for FOX. The weekend wraps up at 6:30 p.m. ET when the Houston Texans go to New England to play the Patriots on NBC (and Peacock).
The Texans are the "hot" team right now, but playing in Foxborough in January is a different beast entirely.
Why There's No Tuesday Football
People often ask why the NFL doesn't just spread the games out more. Why not a Tuesday night special? Well, it’s about the "short week" problem. If a team played today, Tuesday, and had to turn around and play a Divisional game on Saturday, they’d be walking into a buzzsaw.
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is notoriously protective of the recovery window. Football is a car crash every Sunday. Tuesday is typically the "players' day off" across the league. It’s the day they get treatment, sit in cold tubs, and try to remember what it feels like not to be in pain.
How to Watch the Rest of the Way
If you’re worried about which apps you need to keep active, the landscape is mostly traditional for the rest of the playoffs. Unlike the regular season where games are scattered across a dozen platforms, the postseason stays on the big networks.
- CBS/Paramount+: Holds the rights to the AFC Championship this year.
- FOX: Handling the NFC side of the bracket.
- NBC/Peacock: They have the biggest prize this year—Super Bowl LX.
Super Bowl LX is happening on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Mark your calendars now because the broadcast on NBC usually starts around 1:00 p.m. ET with about five hours of pre-game hype before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is what you should actually do to stay prepared for the weekend:
- Check your local listings for "The NFL Today" or "NFL Live": Since there are no games, these shows are where the actual injury news drops. Keep an eye on the status of Buffalo's secondary; they got banged up in the Jacksonville win.
- Verify your streaming logins: If you're planning to watch the Bills/Broncos on Paramount+ or the Texans/Patriots on Peacock, make sure your subscription hasn't lapsed. There's nothing worse than a spinning "loading" icon during a kickoff.
- Update your bracket: If you're in a playoff pool, the Texans' win over the Steelers likely shuffled your predictions. Houston looks much more dangerous than a typical No. 5 seed.
- Watch the weather in Denver: Saturday's forecast in Colorado is already looking "brisk." If there's snow, the Bills' ground game becomes way more important than Josh Allen's arm.
The wait until Saturday feels long, but in the NFL, the silence of a Tuesday is just the deep breath before the scream.