Final Eight: NFL Divisional Round Preview (Jan 17–18, 2026)

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The field has been cut from 14 to eight, and the stakes have never been higher. This weekend, the AFC and NFC #1 seeds—the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks—officially enter the fray in the NFL Divisional Round after their first-round byes. They face a gauntlet of battle-tested Wild Card winners in a four-game slate that promises freezing temperatures and high-octane drama.

Saturday, January 17: The West Goes Wild

(6) Buffalo Bills at (1) Denver Broncos

Time: 4:30 PM ET | TV: CBS/Paramount+
The Matchup: Josh Allen is “battered and brilliant” coming off a nail-biter win in Jacksonville. He faces a Denver defense that led the league in sacks (68) and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage in the NFL.
Key Factor: Pressure. Denver sports a league-best 40.7% pressure rate. If Allen can’t get the ball out quickly to compensate for the loss of receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers (both out with ACL tears), it could be a long day at Mile High.
Line: Broncos -1

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Seattle Seahawks

Time: 8:00 PM ET | TV: FOX
The Matchup: An NFC West trilogy. Seattle took the most recent meeting in Week 18, but the 49ers are riding high after a clinical upset of the defending champion Eagles.
Injury Watch: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is dealing with an oblique injury but says the chance of him missing the game is “closer to zero.” The 49ers will be without George Kittle (IR – Achilles), a massive blow to their red-zone offense.
Line: Seahawks -7

Sunday, January 18: Tactical Warfare

(5) Houston Texans at (2) New England Patriots

Time: 3:00 PM ET | TV: ABC/ESPN
The Matchup: The Patriots have been a fortress at home, boasting a 7-1 all-time record against Houston at Gillette Stadium. The Texans, however, just dismantled the Steelers 30-6 and look like the most dangerous “road dog” in the bracket.
The Duel: New England’s disciplined secondary vs. the Texans’ explosive downfield attack. Houston is coming off a short week, while the Patriots have had 10 days to prep after their Wild Card win over the Chargers.
Line: Patriots -3

(5) LA Rams at (2) Chicago Bears

Time: 6:30 PM ET | TV: NBC/Peacock
The Matchup: Expect a “frozen tundra” vibe at Soldier Field with temperatures projected in the single digits. This is a battle of physicality: the Rams’ high-flying offense against a Bears defense that thrives in the cold.
Key Stat: The home team has won the last five matchups in this series. Chicago’s All-Pro RT Darnell Wright will be tasked with neutralizing the Rams’ pass rush to give the Bears’ offense a chance to breathe.
Line: Rams -3.5