If you woke up this morning and immediately started scrolling for the NFL score for the nfl game last night, you might be feeling a bit of deja vu or perhaps a little confusion. Here is the reality: there was no NFL game last night, Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Usually, our internal clocks are primed for Thursday Night Football. We expect the bright lights and the mid-week gridiron fix. But the NFL schedule shifts gears once the playoffs hit. We are currently sitting in that quiet, tension-filled gap between the chaotic Wild Card weekend and the upcoming Divisional Round.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird not having a game on a Thursday. But that doesn't mean nothing happened. While the scoreboard stayed dark, the league was on fire with coaching hires, injury scares, and playoff bracket breakdowns.
Why There Wasn't an NFL Game Last Night
Basically, the NFL regular season is a machine that runs on Thursdays, but the postseason is a different beast. Once the playoffs start, the league prioritizes rest and maximum viewership. Since the final Wild Card game—where the Houston Texans dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6—only wrapped up on Monday night, a Thursday game would have been a logistical nightmare for player safety.
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Nobody wants to see a divisional playoff game where one team has only two days of real practice.
The league has shifted all the high-stakes action to the weekend. We're currently in the eye of the storm. The front offices are buzzing, and the "last night" news was dominated by the New York Giants reportedly working on a massive deal to bring in John Harbaugh as their next head coach. That’s the kind of move that changes a franchise's trajectory for a decade.
Looking Back: The Scores That Set the Stage
Since there wasn't a game last night, you're likely thinking about the madness that just occurred. Wild Card weekend was, frankly, absurd. We saw 12 fourth-quarter lead changes across the slate. If your heart rate hasn't come down yet, you aren't alone.
Here is a quick look at how we got here:
- Texans 30, Steelers 6: Houston’s defense is terrifying right now. They scored two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone.
- 49ers 23, Eagles 19: A gritty comeback for San Francisco. Their defense shut out Philly in the second half.
- Bills 27, Jaguars 24: A nail-biter that came down to the final drive.
- Bears 31, Packers 27: Chicago’s offense exploded for 25 points in the fourth quarter to stun Green Bay.
- Rams 34, Panthers 31: A high-scoring affair that proved the Rams' air attack is legit.
- Patriots 16, Chargers 3: Old school, defensive, and messy. Just how New England likes it.
The Divisional Round: What’s Next
Now that we've cleared up the "last night" confusion, let's talk about the games that actually matter. The Divisional Round schedule is set, and it starts tomorrow. If you’re looking for the next live NFL score, you’ll need to wait until Saturday afternoon.
Saturday, January 17
The double-header on Saturday is a heavy-hitter.
First, at 4:30 PM ET, the Buffalo Bills (13-5) head into the thin air of Denver to face the Denver Broncos (14-3). This is a massive clash. Denver has been a top-five defensive unit all year, but the Bills are currently averaging over 28 points per game. Something has to give. Most experts are split, but the early money seems to be leaning toward a tight Broncos victory, something like 24-23.
Then, at 8:00 PM ET, it’s an NFC West grudge match. The San Francisco 49ers travel to face the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle grabbed the No. 1 seed and a Week 18 win over the Niners (13-3), but San Francisco is riding the momentum of that comeback win against the Eagles. Keep an eye on the injury report here—Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is dealing with an oblique injury but says he’s "really confident" he'll play.
Sunday, January 18
Sunday brings the other half of the bracket.
At 3:00 PM ET, the Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots. This is the classic "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenario. Houston’s young, fast defense against New England’s disciplined, grind-it-out style.
Finally, at 6:30 PM ET, the Los Angeles Rams head into the freezing cold of Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears. The Rams have been practicing in the California sun, so the "Chicago Cold" factor is the biggest storyline here. Can the Rams' high-flying offense move the ball when the temperature is in the teens?
Making Sense of the Playoff Chaos
It’s easy to get lost in the stats. You've got teams like the Denver Broncos who haven't just won; they've dominated at home. They went on a tear in the middle of the season, winning seven straight games between October and November.
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On the other side, you have the Buffalo Bills, who have beaten Denver in three of their last four meetings. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but the psychological edge in the Buffalo locker room is real.
Key Injuries to Watch
Before you set your fantasy lineups or look at the lines for the weekend, you have to look at the walking wounded.
- Buffalo Bills: They’ve already ruled out safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Maxwell Hairston. That’s a huge blow to a secondary that has to face a disciplined Denver passing game.
- San Francisco 49ers: They are incredibly thin at linebacker. They've been playing without stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for a while, and they just lost safety Ji’Ayir Brown to a hamstring issue. They are relying on guys like Eric Kendricks, who wasn't even on the active roster two months ago.
- Seattle Seahawks: Beyond Darnold's oblique, the Seahawks are relatively healthy, which is a massive advantage this late in the year.
Actionable Insights for the Weekend
If you were searching for the NFL score because you’re trying to stay ahead of your playoff pool or just want to be the smartest person at the sports bar, here is what you need to do next.
First, ignore the regular season scores from early September. The team the Broncos were in Week 1 (a 20-12 win over the Titans) isn't the team they are now. Focus on the last four games. Look at "Points Per Drive" rather than just total scores.
Second, check the weather reports for Chicago. Soldier Field in January is a graveyard for warm-weather teams. If the wind picks up off the lake, the Rams' deep passing game effectively disappears.
Third, monitor the line movement for the Bills-Broncos game. It opened with the Broncos as 1.5-point favorites, but with the Poyer injury news, that could shift. If you see the line move to 2.5 or 3, the "sharps" are betting heavy on Denver’s ability to exploit that depleted Buffalo secondary.
There was no game last night, but the silence is about to be replaced by a whole lot of noise. Get your snacks ready for Saturday; the real season starts now.
To prepare for the games, you should verify the final injury reports that drop later today, as these will dictate the defensive schemes for the Seahawks and Bills specifically.