The NFL has officially announced the schedule for the four Divisional Round playoff games for the 2025/2026 season, scheduled for January 17th and 18th. Leaders Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, who had a break in the Wild Card round, debut at home in the postseason. The duels bring together teams with strong campaigns, including outstanding quarterbacks and defenses that stood out throughout the regular season.
The clashes follow the traditional format, with matches distributed between Saturday and Sunday. The winners advance to the conference finals on January 25th, heading to the Super Bowl LX. The phase eliminates half of the remaining teams and defines the finalists for each conference.
🚨 THE DIVISIONAL ROUND GAMES
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil)January 13, 2026
Broadcasts will be released throughout the week.pic.twitter.com/WJMoc9v782
Saturday’s games open the round with leaders on the field
Denver Broncos hosts The Bo Nix team arrives rested after the bye as seed 1 in the AFC. Os Bills, led by Josh Allen, advanced after a narrow victory against Jacksonville Jaguars in Wild Card and are looking to overcome the challenge at altitude.
Seattle Seahawks faces San Francisco 49ers on the same day at 8 p.m. (Seattle local time, 8 p.m. ET). The NFC classic Oeste takes place for the third time this season, after splitting victories in the regular phase. Seattle has a command advantage and extra rest, while the 49ers have recent overcoming despite challenges on the roster.
Sunday brings intense clashes with traditional hosts
New England Patriots hosts Houston Texans on Sunday, January 18 at 3pm (Foxborough local time, 3 p.m. ET). The Drake Maye franchise seeks to return to the decisive phases of Super Bowl after years of reconstruction. Texans, with CJ Stroud, is trying to reach the AFC final for the first time in the history of the young franchise.
Chicago Bears faces Los Angeles Rams in the closing round at 6:30 p.m. Os Bears, with the Brazilian Cairo Santos in the squad, guaranteed control of the field by winning the NFC Norte. The team is coming off a historic comeback against Green Bay Packers in Wild Card. Os Rams have Matthew Stafford at MVP candidate level after victory over Carolina Panthers.
Decisive factors expected in the clashes
Rest benefits bye teams, allowing physical recovery and strategic adjustments. Rivalidades regionals, like the NFC Oeste duel, increase the intensity with aggressive defenses and balanced attacks. In the AFC, the clash between young and experienced quarterbacks can define the course of the matches.
Transmissions and importance of the phase
The games will be shown on various channels on Estados Unidos, such as CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN/ABC, with streaming options. Divisional Round represents a crucial stage, with only four teams remaining per conference. The winners guarantee a place in the conference finals and get closer to the title.