If you’re scrambling to find what channel do packers play today, there’s a simple, albeit slightly frustrating reason for the confusion: the Green Bay Packers are not playing today, January 17, 2026.
The NFL Divisional Round is officially underway this Saturday, but the Packers' 2025-26 season came to a heartbreaking end exactly one week ago. On January 10, Green Bay traveled to Soldier Field for a high-stakes Wild Card matchup against the Chicago Bears. Despite a gritty performance, the Packers fell to the Bears with a final score of 31-27.
Since they were the No. 7 seed entering the postseason, that loss was an immediate "one and done" scenario. While the rest of the league moves forward toward the Super Bowl, Green Bay has shifted its focus to the 2026 NFL Draft and offseason recovery.
Today's NFL Playoff Schedule (January 17, 2026)
Even though Jordan Love and the crew aren't on the field, the Divisional Round has some massive matchups today. If you turned on the TV expecting Green Bay but still want to see some elite playoff football, here is who is actually playing:
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- Game 1: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch this one on CBS.
- Game 2: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET. This NFC West rivalry game is airing on FOX.
It’s a weird feeling for fans in Wisconsin. Usually, January means the Frozen Tundra is hosting a game or the team is prepping for a deep run. This year, the divisional round spots in the NFC are occupied by the Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, and Bears.
Where to Watch Other "Green Bay" Sports Today
Interestingly, if you saw "Green Bay" on a sports ticker for today, January 17, you might be looking at college hoops. The Green Bay Phoenix women’s basketball team is actually in action. They are taking on the Milwaukee Panthers at 2 p.m. ET.
That game isn't on a major network like FOX or CBS, though. If you want to watch the Phoenix, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription. It’s a bit of a local rivalry, so it’s worth the watch if you’re a fan of the university.
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Looking Ahead: The Packers 2026 Season
Since the answer to what channel do packers play today is "none," most fans are already looking at next year. The NFL has already determined the home and road opponents for the 2026 regular season based on the final 2025 standings.
Because the Packers finished second in the NFC North, they’ve got a tough slate coming up. They are scheduled to host the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. On the road, they’ll have to travel to face the Los Angeles Rams, along with their usual divisional trips to Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota.
Basically, the "rebuild" is over, and the expectations for 2026 will be Super Bowl or bust. The 2025 season showed flashes of brilliance, especially with the young receiving corps, but the defensive consistency just wasn't there when it mattered most against Chicago in the Wild Card round.
Key Dates for Packers Fans
- NFL Draft: Late April 2026.
- Training Camp: Late July 2026.
- Preseason Kickoff: August 2026.
How to Stay Ready for the 2026 Kickoff
Honestly, the best way to make sure you never miss a game next season is to keep a few specific apps handy. The NFL's broadcasting rights are getting more complicated every year. This past season, we saw games on Peacock, Amazon Prime, and even Netflix.
When the 2026 season starts, most games will return to FOX and CBS for Sunday afternoon slots. For those living outside of Wisconsin, YouTube TV with the NFL Sunday Ticket remains the only way to guarantee you see every single snap. Local fans should keep their digital antennas ready for WGBA-TV (NBC 26) in Green Bay or WITI (FOX 6) in Milwaukee, as these stations typically handle the local broadcasts.
To recap: the Packers aren't on today because their playoff run ended in the Wild Card round against the Bears. You can watch the Bills/Broncos on CBS or the 49ers/Seahawks on FOX if you need your football fix.
To prepare for the 2026 season, you should audit your current streaming services to see which ones carry local affiliates and sports networks like ESPN and NFL Network. This will save you from a last-minute subscription scramble when the Packers return to the field this fall.