As the dust settles on the 2025 NFL Wild Card round, football fans across the country are catching their breath and gearing up for another thrilling weekend of playoff action. With no NFL games scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2026, all eyes are now fixed on the upcoming Divisional Round, where four games promise to deliver high-stakes drama and showcase some of the league’s most accomplished coaches and resilient teams. The anticipation is palpable—especially for the marquee matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos, which is set to take place at Empower Field at Mile High this Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Wild Card weekend came to a close in emphatic fashion on Monday night, January 12, with the Houston Texans dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on ESPN and ABC. That game not only ended the Steelers’ season but may also have marked the final NFL appearance for legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and perhaps even the last game for head coach Mike Tomlin. For fans who missed the action, recaps and replays are available on ESPN+, NFL+, Disney+, and other streaming platforms such as Fubo, Sling, DIRECTV, and YouTubeTV. But as of January 13, there’s no football on TV—college or professional—leaving fans to eagerly count down the days until the Divisional Round kicks off.
So, what’s next on the NFL calendar? The Divisional Round begins this Saturday and continues through Sunday, January 18, with four crucial games that will set the stage for Super Bowl 60. The No. 1 seeds in each conference—the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos—are back in action after enjoying a hard-earned bye week. For fans hungry for more football, the wait is almost over, with the first whistle just around the corner.
Of particular interest is the AFC Divisional Round clash between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. This matchup isn’t just about two talented teams vying for a spot in the conference championship; it’s also a battle between two of the most experienced and respected head coaches in the NFL. Sean Payton, now at the helm of the Broncos, has coached a remarkable 310 games (including the postseason), placing him second among all active coaches—trailing only Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs. Across the field stands Sean McDermott, the Bills’ steady leader, whose 163 games coached (tied for third among active coaches) have yielded a league-best .650 winning percentage among coaches with at least 100 games under their belt.
For Bills fans, McDermott’s success is both a point of pride and, curiously, a source of debate. Despite his impressive record, a vocal minority continues to call for his dismissal. Yet, the numbers speak for themselves: among all coaches in NFL history with at least 100 games, McDermott’s winning percentage ranks tenth, with only legends like Vince Lombardi, John Madden, George Halas, Don Shula, and Tony Dungy ahead of him. As reported by Sal Maiorana, “Of that group, Lombardi, Madden, Halas, Shula and Dungy are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Belichick will be there eventually.” Payton, meanwhile, boasts a .623 winning percentage from his 16 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, a testament to his consistency and tactical acumen.
The Bills have become the very definition of postseason reliability, qualifying for the playoffs for seven straight years and reaching the divisional round for six consecutive seasons. Saturday’s game will mark McDermott’s 16th postseason contest, tying him with John Madden for 23rd on the all-time list. Payton edges just ahead with 19 playoff games, tying him for 15th with coaching greats like Marv Levy and Bill Parcells.
McDermott, reflecting on the significance of these playoff opportunities, shared, “You don't take them for granted, let's just start there. At the same time, the experiences - I've been here, we've been there - and so I guess it brings some level of, call it seasoning, and you would hope poise and composure. Like anything else, you learn from experience and you hope you get smarter and gain more wisdom because of it if you're aware of things and where you want to go and the vision you have for yourself and your team.”
For those planning to tune in, the Bills-Broncos showdown will be broadcast nationally on CBS. In New York State, local viewers can catch the game on WROC channel 8 (Rochester), WIVB channel 4 (Buffalo), WTVH channel 5 (Syracuse), and several other affiliates. Streaming options abound, with NFL.com, the NFL mobile app, NFL+, Fubo Sports, Sling, Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV + NFL Sunday Ticket, and Paramount+ all offering live access. If you prefer to listen on the go, SiriusXM satellite radio will carry the game on channels 225 (Bills feed) and 380 (Broncos feed), while the Bills Radio Network will broadcast across a host of stations throughout New York.
The broadcast team is a familiar and star-studded lineup: Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties, with Tony Romo providing analysis and Tracy Wolfson reporting from the sidelines. On the radio side, Chris Brown (play-by-play), Eric Wood (analyst), and Sal Capaccio (sideline reporter) will bring the action to life for listeners across the region.
As for the odds, the matchup is about as close as it gets. As of January 14, the Bills are slight favorites, giving up just 1.5 points, with the over-under set at 46.5. The money line sits at Bills minus-108 and Broncos minus-108, reflecting the razor-thin margin between these two well-matched squads. Both teams have plenty to prove and everything to gain, so expect every snap to count.
While the NFL Divisional Round is the main event this weekend, football fans can also look ahead to the college ranks, where Miami and Indiana are set to clash in the championship game on January 19. But for now, all the energy and excitement are focused on the NFL as the road to Super Bowl 60 continues.
With seasoned coaches, storied franchises, and a national audience ready to watch, Saturday’s Bills-Broncos game is shaping up to be a classic. As the league’s elite battle for a spot in the conference championship, fans can only wonder: who will rise to the occasion and keep their Super Bowl dreams alive? One thing’s for sure—this weekend, the NFL promises high drama, unforgettable moments, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat action that keeps fans coming back year after year.