NFL games tonight feature no Monday Night Football matchups as the 2025-26 regular season concluded this past Sunday. The NFL playoffs are set to kick off this coming weekend with Wild Card Weekend starting Saturday, January 10.
🔥 Quick Facts
- No games tonight: The NFL regular season ended on Sunday Night Football in Week 18, leaving Monday, January 5 without any scheduled matches.
- Playoff kickoff this weekend: Wild Card Weekend begins Saturday, January 10, 2026 with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Carolina Panthers at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Six playoff games total: Three games each on Saturday and Sunday, with a final matchup on Monday, January 12 featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Houston Texans at 8 p.m. ET.
- Super Bowl LX destination: Championship winner advances to Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Why There’s No Monday Night Football Tonight
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The NFL regular season officially concluded on Sunday with the final week of games. Week 18 featured all teams playing simultaneously to ensure fairness, with Sunday Night Football marking the regular season’s finale. The league strategically schedules a week off before playoff competition begins to allow teams equal rest before postseason play.
This break also gives all 16 playoff teams proper recovery time following their regular season battles. Medical staffs, coaching staffs, and players use this period to address injuries and prepare game plans for their upcoming playoff opponents.
Wild Card Weekend Schedule and Matchups
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Wild Card Weekend kicks off on Saturday, January 10 with a full slate of exciting postseason matchups. The six-game format provides back-to-back playoff action across three days, with television networks spreading out the contests for maximum viewership.
Saturday, January 10 opens with the Rams visiting Carolina at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, followed by the Green Bay Packers traveling to Chicago that evening at 8 p.m. ET. Sunday, January 11 continues the action with the Bills visiting Jacksonville at 1 p.m. ET, the 49ers heading to Philadelphia at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the Chargers traveling to New England at 8 p.m. ET. The sequence concludes on Monday, January 12 with the Texans visiting Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
| Saturday, Jan 10 | 4:30 p.m. | Rams at Panthers | FOX |
| Saturday, Jan 10 | 8:00 p.m. | Packers at Bears | FOX |
| Sunday, Jan 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Bills at Jaguars | CBS |
| Sunday, Jan 11 | 4:30 p.m. | 49ers at Eagles | Fox |
| Sunday, Jan 11 | 8:00 p.m. | Chargers at Patriots | NBC |
| Monday, Jan 12 | 8:00 p.m. | Texans at Steelers | ESPN |
The Road to Super Bowl LX
Following Wild Card Weekend, the schedule accelerates rapidly toward the championship. The Divisional Round takes place on January 17-18, 2026, with four games determining which teams advance to conference championships.
The AFC Championship and NFC Championship games occur on January 25, 2026, with winners earning their trip to Super Bowl LX. The championship game arrives at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026, marking the culmination of the postseason journey. All 16 playoff teams will have an equal chance beginning this weekend to chase their championship dreams.
What Fans Should Expect This Playoff Season
The intensity level jumps dramatically once the playoffs begin. Every game becomes must-win football with no second chances for defeated teams. The Wild Card round features the lower seeds fighting to survive against higher-seeded opponents in what often produces the most unpredictable playoff moments.
Home-field advantage becomes crucial during playoff football, with top seeds earning their higher seeding through strong regular seasons. The road teams entering stadiums face hostile environments, making the NFL Playoffs notoriously difficult for visiting squads. Injuries and momentum shifts frequently determine outcomes, making the next five weeks of postseason football the most compelling period of the NFL season.
When Will Monday Night Football Return to the Schedule?
The first Monday Night Football game during playoff season arrives on January 12 with the Texans-Steelers matchup on ESPN. This game signals the final Wild Card matchup before the bracket narrows to eight teams. Following the playoffs, the network will not resume its regular Monday Night Football schedule until September 2026 when the next regular season commences.
For now, NFL fans should mark their calendars beginning Saturday, January 10 when the postseason officially begins. The next five weeks promise the most intense, competitive football of the year as teams battle for playoff survival and a chance at championship glory.
Sources
- NFL.com – Official NFL playoff schedule and matchup announcements
- NFL Operations – Important NFL dates and playoff timeline information
- ESPN – Playoff bracket, schedule details, and television coverage
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.