If you’re staring at your remote wondering who’s playing tonight in the NFL game, you aren't alone. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the Divisional Round of the playoffs is officially here. This isn't just a regular double-header. We’re talking about the bridge between the Wild Card chaos and the Conference Championships. The stakes? Massive. The weather? Probably freezing in Denver.
Honestly, today is basically a dream for anyone who loves high-stakes football. We have the top seeds coming off their bye weeks, rested and ready to defend their turf against the "underdogs" who survived last weekend. If you missed the news, the 1-seed Denver Broncos and the 1-seed Seattle Seahawks are finally seeing the field after a week of rest.
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The Early Window: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. This is a fascinating rematch of last year's Wild Card round. Josh Allen and the 6-seed Buffalo Bills are heading into the thin air of Empower Field at Mile High to face Sean Payton’s 1-seed Denver Broncos.
Buffalo is coming off a gritty 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It wasn’t pretty, but Josh Allen did what he does best: superhero stuff. He essentially carried that offense on his back, which he might have to do again because the Bills' roster is looking a bit banged up. On the other side, the Broncos have been a powerhouse at home, going 8-1 this season. This is Denver's first home playoff game in over a decade. Bo Nix versus Josh Allen? It's the kind of matchup that makes you want to cancel your dinner plans.
The Broncos are narrow favorites here, with the spread sitting around -1.5. That tells you everything you need to know—the Vegas experts think this is a coin flip. Denver’s defense is fierce, but can they contain Allen when he decides to go into "Human Hurdle" mode?
The Nightcap: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
If you thought the afternoon game was intense, just wait until 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. We’re getting an NFC West showdown at Lumen Field. The 6-seed San Francisco 49ers travel north to take on the 1-seed Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle has been on an absolute tear, finishing the regular season 14-3 and winning their last seven games. Sam Darnold has legitimately revitalized his career in Seattle, throwing for over 4,000 yards this season. However, he’s been dealing with an oblique injury. Coach Mike Macdonald said he’s confident Darnold will play, but you have to wonder if that injury will limit his mobility against a Niners pass rush that can still be terrifying.
Key Factors for 49ers vs. Seahawks
- The 12th Man: Seattle's home-field advantage is real. The crowd noise at Lumen Field is basically a 12th defender.
- Injury Reports: Keep an eye on the Niners' Fred Warner (Ankle) and Ji'Ayir Brown (Hamstring), who are reportedly out. That's a huge blow for Kyle Shanahan’s defense.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba: He’s been a monster lately, racking up nearly 1,800 receiving yards this year. San Francisco’s secondary has to find a way to keep him in front of them.
The Seahawks are favored by 7 points, which is the largest spread of the weekend. But don't count out Brock Purdy and the Niners. They just knocked off the Eagles 23-19 and have a weird way of playing their best football when everyone assumes they’re finished.
Where to Watch and How to Stream
You've got options. If you’re still rocking cable, it’s CBS for the first game and FOX for the second. If you’ve cut the cord, you’re looking at Paramount+ for Bills/Broncos and FOX One or the FOX Sports app for 49ers/Seahawks.
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Kinda crazy to think that by the time you go to bed tonight, we’ll already know half of the teams playing in the Conference Championships. The Divisional Round is usually when the "pretenders" get separated from the "contenders."
Actionable Tips for Tonight’s Games
- Monitor the Weather: Denver is notorious for late-day temperature drops. If the wind picks up, expect more ground-and-pound from Kenneth Walker III or the Denver run game.
- Watch the Injury Status: Check the "Inactives" list exactly 90 minutes before kickoff. If a key offensive lineman is out for Buffalo, Josh Allen is going to be running for his life.
- Check the Betting Lines: If the Seahawks line moves from -7 to -6.5, it might mean big money is coming in on San Francisco, or there’s concern about Darnold’s oblique.
Grab your wings, settle into the couch, and enjoy. This is arguably the best weekend of the entire NFL calendar.