NFL Divisional Round Weekend: Who plays today, Sunday Jan. 18? Matchups and times

After both No. 1 seeds progressed from the Divisional Round yesterday, today witnesses a pair of matchups between the No. 2 and No. 5 seeds, as the final two Conference Championship Game tickets are doled out.

In the AFC, the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans will do battle for the right to face the Denver Broncos on Championship Sunday. In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears, with the Seattle Seahawks awaiting the winner in the conference decider.

In Saturday’s Divisional matchups, the Broncos earned a thrilling, 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, exacting revenge for their Wild Card defeat to Josh Allen and Co. in 2024. Later in the day, the Seahawks completed a Divisional double for the NFL’s two top seeds, thumping the San Francisco 49ers 41-6.

Divisional Round schedule today, Jan. 18:

• Texans (No. 5) vs Patriots (No. 2)

Led by MVP contender Drake Maye, the Patriots reached the Divisional Round with a 16-13 Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend. It was New England’s first victory in a playoff game since 2018 - the year they won the last of their six Super Bowl championships.

The Texans, meanwhile, are chasing a place in their first ever AFC Championship Game. One of 12 teams never to have won a Super Bowl, Houston reached the Divisional round with a 30-6 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh - the franchise’s maiden road win in a postseason game.

Time: 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT

Place: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

TV: Airs nationally on ESPN and ABC; streaming options include fubo

• Rams (No. 5) vs Bears (No. 2)

The Rams, whose quarterback Matthew Stafford is the bookmakers’ favorite for the MVP award, are seeking their first NFC Championship berth since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2021. Second only to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl betting, Sean McVay’s men advanced to the Divisional Round courtesy of a 34-31 triumph over the Carolina Panthers.

The Rams face a Bears team that is in the Divisional Round for the first time since 2010, after beating the Green Bay Packers 31-27 on Wild Card Weekend. Chicago’s first playoff win in 15 years required quite the comeback: spearheaded by star QB Caleb Williams, the Bears overcame an 18-point half-time deficit to eliminate Green Bay at Soldier Field.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
• Place: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
• TV: Airs nationally on NBC; streaming options include fubo

2025 NFL playoffs - the bracket:

Divisional Round live with AS USA

You’ll be able to follow live-text coverage of today’s Divisional Round action, right here at AS USA. Jen Bubel will bring you play-by-play commentary of the Texans vs the Patriots, before Dane Arlauckas talks you through the Rams vs the Bears.

Related stories

Live

Seahawks thump Niners, book NFC Championship ticket

Live

Broncos defeat Bills in thrilling OT Divisional Round win!

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.