Divisional Round NFL Playoffs 2026: Schedule, Key Matchups & Expert Predictions

Saturday’s NFL Divisional Round double-header brings high-stakes rematches and fresh quarterback duels after a wild-card weekend packed with upsets. First up, the top-seeded Denver Broncos welcome the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field (4:30 p.m. ET, Jan 17). DraftKings Sportsbook installed Denver as a narrow 1.5-point favorite with a –112 moneyline despite Buffalo’s clutch 27-24 road win in Jacksonville that featured Josh Allen’s late touchdown scramble. Allen now faces rookie sensation Bo Nix, who guided the Broncos to their first AFC West crown since 2015. Edge rusher Baron Browning (ankle) is trending toward playing, while Buffalo lists LT Dion Dawkins (shoulder) as day-to-day. The Bills have reached the Divisional Round six times in nine seasons under Sean McDermott but are 1-4 in that span; ending that skid on the road in Denver’s thin air is the franchise’s latest postseason litmus test. Saturday’s nightcap flips to the NFC where the Seattle Seahawks, rested after their bye, host the surging San Francisco 49ers (8:15 p.m. ET). Seattle swept the regular-season series, yet the Niners arrive with momentum after stunning Philadelphia 23-19 behind Brock Purdy’s fourth-quarter comeback. Pete Carroll’s defense must again corral Christian McCaffrey, who averaged 145 scrimmage yards in the wild-card victory. Weather models call for steady rain, an X-factor for each club’s deep-shot passing game and for DK Metcalf’s matchup against Charvarius Ward. Sunday opens in Chicago as the No. 2 Bears entertain the Los Angeles Rams (3 p.m. ET, Jan 18). Matt Eberflus’ unit ranked top-three in takeaways and now faces Matthew Stafford, whose three-touchdown rally sank Carolina 34-31 last week. Chicago’s offense leans on dual-threat quarterback Caleb Williams, and his scramble ability will be pivotal against an Aaron Donald front that produced 60 regular-season sacks. Early lines favor Chicago by 4.5, but monitor WR DJ Moore’s hamstring; the Pro Bowler was a limited practice participant Tuesday. The Divisional Round finale slots the New England Patriots against the winner of Monday’s Houston Texans–Pittsburgh Steelers clash (6:30 p.m. ET, Jan 18). Bill Belichick’s Patriots secured a 16-3 shutdown of Justin Herbert and the Chargers to clinch the No. 2 AFC seed; their reward is either Drake Maye vs. C.J. Stroud II in a rookie QB duel or a classic Patriots-Steelers playoff chapter. New England’s secondary, paced by Christian Gonzalez, has allowed the league’s fewest explosive passes since Week 10, a looming hurdle for either opponent’s vertical attack. Complete 2026 NFL Divisional Round schedule Saturday, Jan 17 • Bills at Broncos — 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+ • 49ers at Seahawks — 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock Sunday, Jan 18 • Rams at Bears — 3 p.m. ET, FOX • Texans/Steelers at Patriots — 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC Key storylines to watch 1. Altitude test: Buffalo averaged just 18.7 points in three previous Denver trips during the Allen era. Conditioning and in-game oxygen rotations could decide a one-score contest. 2. Rookie quarterbacks on center stage: Bo Nix, Caleb Williams and potentially C.J. Stroud II or Kenny Pickett give this round unprecedented first-year QB intrigue. 3. Defensive difference-makers: Micah Parsons may grab national headlines, but NFC West edge rushers Nick Bosa and Boye Mafe headline a sack race that could tilt the late Saturday game. 4. Weather watch: Forecasted gusts topping 20 mph in Chicago could push the Bears–Rams total below the current 48.5 over/under. 5. Revenge narratives: The Rams seek payback for a Week 4 loss at Soldier Field that ended on a red-zone interception; the 49ers target redemption after dropping both clashes with Seattle by a combined five points. SEO takeaway Fans searching terms like “NFL Divisional Round 2026 schedule,” “Bills vs Broncos odds,” “49ers at Seahawks prediction” and “Rams vs Bears kickoff time” will find everything needed above—from kickoff windows and television channels to injury news and betting trends—to prep for the most anticipated weekend of the football calendar.