If you’ve been scrolling through your feeds or checking the clock, wondering exactly what time does the nfl start today, you aren't alone. Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are officially in the thick of the Divisional Round. This is arguably the best weekend of the entire football season. No more Wild Card fluff. Just the heavy hitters.
Honestly, today’s schedule is a heater. We’ve got two games on the slate, and the first one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET. If you’re on the West Coast, that’s 1:30 p.m. PT—basically prime lunch-and-football territory.
The Buffalo Bills are heading into Mile High to take on the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Then, once that dust settles, we shift over to a classic NFC West rivalry at 8:00 p.m. ET as the San Francisco 49ers visit the Seattle Seahawks.
What Time Does the NFL Start Today? The Full Saturday Breakdown
You’ve got two distinct windows today. No triple-header, just two high-stakes matchups.
The early game features the Buffalo Bills at the Denver Broncos. This starts at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch this one on CBS. If you’re a cord-cutter, it’s streaming on Paramount+. It’s the No. 6 seed Bills trying to pull off a massive upset against the No. 1 seed Broncos. Denver’s defense has been scary all year, and that thin mountain air is no joke in January.
Then, for the nightcap, it’s the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. This game is airing on FOX. Since it’s a Fox game, you can stream it via the Fox Sports app or services like Fubo. It’s a No. 6 vs. No. 1 situation again. Seattle earned that first-round bye and home-field advantage, and Lumen Field is going to be absolutely deafening tonight.
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Why the Divisional Round Hits Different
Most fans agree that the Divisional Round is the peak of the postseason. Why? Because the top seeds finally come off their bye week. They’re rested, but sometimes they're a little rusty. Meanwhile, the teams that won last week, like the Bills and the 49ers, come in with all the momentum.
Take the 49ers, for example. They just ground out a win against the Eagles. They're bruised, but they're in a rhythm. Seattle, on the other hand, has been sitting at home watching. Will Sam Darnold—who’s had a revitalized season in Seattle—be ready for that Niners pass rush? That’s the kind of stuff that makes these start times so important to mark on your calendar.
The Full 2026 Divisional Weekend Schedule
If you're planning your whole weekend around the couch (and who isn't?), here is how the rest of the round looks after today’s games.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
The action doesn't stop today. Tomorrow gives us two more games to round out the Final Four for the Championship Sunday.
First up tomorrow is the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots. That one starts at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. Seeing the Texans in the Divisional Round shows just how much that franchise has flipped the script lately.
The final game of the weekend is the Los Angeles Rams at the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Watching the Rams travel to a likely freezing Soldier Field is going to be a classic "weather game" scenario.
Watching Without Cable
Look, nobody wants to be the person frantically googling "how to watch NFL" five minutes after kickoff.
If you don't have a cable box, here's the deal:
Today’s CBS game (Bills vs. Broncos) is easy if you have Paramount+. For the FOX game (49ers vs. Seahawks), you might need a digital antenna or a sub to something like YouTube TV or Fubo.
NFL+ is also an option for mobile viewing, but let's be real—you want this on the big screen.
Strategy for Today's Games
If you're looking for an edge or just want to sound smart at the watch party, keep an eye on the injuries. The Bills' wide receiver room is banged up. Broncos’ Elijah Moore even made some comments earlier this week about how the Bills "don't really throw to receivers anyway." Spicy.
Also, watch the weather in Seattle. It’s January in the Pacific Northwest. Rain is almost a given, and that completely changes how Kyle Shanahan calls plays for the 49ers.
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Basically, the "what time does the nfl start today" question is just the beginning. The real fun starts once that ball is in the air at 4:30.
Key Takeaways for Today
- Game 1: Bills at Broncos | 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS
- Game 2: 49ers at Seahawks | 8:00 p.m. ET | FOX
- Best Way to Watch: Paramount+ for the early game, FOX/Fubo for the late one.
- Tomorrow: Texans/Patriots (3 p.m.) and Rams/Bears (6:30 p.m.).
Make sure your devices are charged and the snacks are prepped by 4:00 p.m. ET. Once that first game starts, there’s usually very little downtime between the afternoon and evening broadcasts. Enjoy the games.
Check your local listings to see if there are any regional blackout nuances, though for playoff games, they are almost always national broadcasts. If you are using a streaming service, log in about 15 minutes early to handle any of those annoying "update required" screens that always seem to pop up right at kickoff. Ensure your internet connection is stable, especially for the 4:30 p.m. ET window when peak traffic usually hits.