If you’re waking up on this Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, and the first thing you did was check the spread or wonder who's still alive in the bracket, you’re in the right place. We just saw a wild Saturday. The Denver Broncos managed to survive a nail-biter against the Buffalo Bills, though it came at a massive cost with Bo Nix going down. Then, the Seattle Seahawks basically turned the lights out on the 49ers in a dominant 41-6 blowout.
But that's yesterday's news.
The real question on everyone's mind is what is the next nfl game and how does it shake up the road to Super Bowl LX? We have two massive Divisional Round matchups today that will decide the final four. No more "maybe next year" talk for these squads. It's win or go home.
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The Immediate Schedule: Sunday’s Divisional Doubleheader
Honestly, the NFL scheduled these perfectly. You've got the AFC battle in the afternoon and the NFC slugfest under the lights. Here is exactly what the "next" looks like for your Sunday viewing:
Game 1: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots
- Time: 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT)
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
- Network: ESPN, ABC, and streaming on ESPN+
Game 2: Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
- Time: 6:30 PM ET (3:30 PM PT)
- Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
- Network: NBC and streaming on Peacock
Basically, if you’re looking for the absolute next nfl game, you’re waiting for that 3:00 PM ET kickoff in Foxborough. The Patriots are the No. 2 seed and they’ve looked like a machine lately, but C.J. Stroud and this Texans offense have a weird way of making elite defenses look human.
Why Today’s Texans-Patriots Game is a Must-Watch
The Patriots haven't exactly been the "Evil Empire" of the Brady era lately, but 2025-26 has felt like a massive resurgence. They finished 14-3. They're at home. They have that "nobody wants to play us in January" vibe.
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Houston, on the other hand, is the quintessential "dangerous" No. 5 seed. They absolutely dismantled the Steelers in the Wild Card round (30-6, if you forgot). They’re playing with house money. Usually, when a young quarterback like Stroud gets this deep into the postseason, people wait for the "rookie mistake" or the "moment is too big" narrative. But he’s past that. This game is going to come down to whether the Texans' offensive line can hold up in the cold against a New England front that lives for these conditions.
The Nightcap: Rams at Bears
If the afternoon game is about precision, the night game at Soldier Field is going to be about pure, unadulterated grit. The Bears are the No. 2 seed, and Soldier Field in mid-January is basically a frozen tundra.
The Rams (No. 5 seed) are coming off a tight 34-31 win over Carolina. They’re a dome-ish team going into the wind and the cold. Matthew Stafford has seen it all, but Caleb Williams is the one the world is watching. Can the kid handle the pressure of a Divisional Round game under the lights in Chicago?
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The winner of this game gets a one-way ticket to Seattle to face those terrifying Seahawks next Sunday.
What Most People Get Wrong About the NFL Playoff Bracket
A lot of folks get confused about "re-seeding." In the NFL, the bracket isn't fixed like it is in March Madness. The highest remaining seed always plays the lowest remaining seed.
Because the No. 1 seeds (Broncos and Seahawks) both won on Saturday, the winners of today’s games know exactly where they are going. There’s no mystery left.
- If the Patriots win today, they host the AFC Championship. Wait, actually, that’s wrong—since Denver (the No. 1 seed) won, the winner of Texans-Patriots has to travel to Mile High next week.
- Same goes for the NFC. Since Seattle won, the winner of Rams-Bears has to fly to the Pacific Northwest for the NFC Championship.
Looking Ahead: The Conference Championships
Once the clock hits zero tonight, we’ll know the "Final Four." The Conference Championship games are already set for Sunday, January 25, 2026.
- AFC Championship: 3:00 PM ET on CBS.
- NFC Championship: 6:30 PM ET on FOX.
It’s crazy to think we’re only a few weeks away from Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The stakes literally couldn't be higher today. If you're planning your day, make sure you've got the snacks ready by 3:00 PM ET.
To get ready for the kickoff, make sure your streaming apps (Peacock and ESPN+) are updated and logged in, as playoff traffic sometimes crashes the login servers right at game time. If you're heading to a sports bar, aim to arrive at least 45 minutes before the Texans-Patriots kickoff to secure a seat with a good line of sight to the primary screens.