If you’re hunting for the Green Bay Packers game today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, here is the short answer: The Packers are not playing today. Honestly, it’s a tough pill for the cheesehead faithful to swallow. Just a week ago, Green Bay’s season hit a brick wall at Soldier Field. In what felt like a classic, heart-wrenching NFC North showdown, the Packers fell to the Chicago Bears 31-27 in the Wild Card round.
Because of that loss, the Packers are officially out of the playoffs. While the Divisional Round is kicking off today, Green Bay is watching from home like the rest of us.
What Channel Does The Packers Play On Today (And Who Is Actually Playing)?
Since Green Bay was eliminated by the Bears, the NFL schedule has moved on without them. If you’re a football junkie and just want to see who’s taking the field during this Divisional Weekend, the TV lineup for Saturday, January 17, is actually pretty stacked.
- Patriots vs. Texans: This AFC battle starts at 3 p.m. ET. You can catch this one on ESPN and ABC. If you’re a cord-cutter, it’s also streaming on the ESPN app or through Fubo.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks: This is the night cap for today, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. This massive NFC West rivalry is airing on FOX.
So, while the search for what channel does the packers play on today might lead to a bit of a "dead end" for Green Bay fans, there’s still plenty of postseason drama to soak up.
Wait, What Happened to the Packers?
Last Saturday, January 10, was the day that basically broke Wisconsin. The Packers entered the Wild Card round as the No. 7 seed, traveling to Chicago to face a No. 2 seeded Bears team that had been on an absolute tear.
Jordan Love and the offense kept it close. Real close. But a fourth-quarter comeback by the Bears—apparently the third-largest in NFL playoff history—sealed Green Bay's fate. That 31-27 final score meant the "Packers today" search queries would be much quieter for the rest of the winter.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since the 2025-2026 playoff run is over, the focus has already shifted to what happens next. The NFL has already determined the opponents for the 2026 regular season, even if we don't have the exact dates and times yet.
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Who will the Packers play in 2026?
Basically, the rotation has them matched up against the NFC South and the AFC East. Because Green Bay finished second in the NFC North this year, they also have "placed-based" games against the second-place teams in the NFC East, NFC West, and AFC South.
Here’s a rough look at the 2026 schedule:
- Home Games at Lambeau: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Carolina, Buffalo, Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
- Away Games: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, New England, NY Jets, and the LA Rams.
It's a tough draw. Traveling to New Orleans and dealing with a road game against the Rams is never easy. Plus, hosting Dallas and Buffalo at Lambeau in what will likely be sub-zero temperatures is going to be peak football.
How to Watch Packers Games in the Future
If you're already planning your 2026 Sundays, you've gotta keep the typical broadcast rules in mind. Most Packers games will continue to live on FOX because they are an NFC team. However, with the way the NFL distributes rights now, it’s a bit of a scavenger hunt.
The usual suspects for Packers broadcasts:
- FOX: Most Sunday afternoon games.
- CBS: Usually 3-4 games a year, especially when playing AFC teams like Buffalo or Miami.
- NBC/Peacock: Sunday Night Football.
- Amazon Prime Video: Thursday Night Football.
- ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football.
If you live in the Green Bay or Milwaukee markets, you usually get these over-the-air for free with a decent antenna. For the Green Bay-Appleton area, that’s usually WGBA-TV (NBC 26) or WITI (FOX 6) in Milwaukee.
Actionable Next Steps for Packers Fans
Since there's no game today, here’s how you can actually spend your Saturday if you’re still in "football mode":
- Watch the Divisional Round: Tune into ESPN/ABC at 3 p.m. ET or FOX at 8 p.m. ET to see the teams that actually survived the Wild Card round.
- Check the Draft Order: Since the Packers are out, they’ll likely be picking in the late teens or early 20s. Now is the time to start looking at mock drafts for 2026.
- Review the Roster: Keep an eye on the injury report for guys like Zach Tom, who might be looking at surgery this offseason, and Tucker Kraft, who is expected to be a cornerstone of the offense next year.
The hunt for "what channel does the packers play on today" ends in a bit of a bummer this week, but at least the 2026 opponents are locked in and the future with Jordan Love still looks pretty bright.