Divisional Round Showdown: Bills Challenge Broncos, 49ers Face Seahawks in AFC and NFC Battles, Plus Key Bets.

Just eight teams remain in the NFL playoffs, with Saturday’s Divisional Round poised to eliminate two contenders from Super Bowl contention. The slate features crucial matchups, highlighting the top seeds in both conferences as they embark on their postseason journeys.

Following a crucial bye week earned by securing the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are set to commence their playoff campaigns on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The Broncos will host the Buffalo Bills, who advanced after quarterback Josh Allen delivered a commanding three-touchdown performance, leading his team past a formidable Jacksonville Jaguars squad in the Wild Card Round. Denver enters this matchup notably healthy, leveraging their week of rest, while Buffalo grapples with several key contributors on both sides of the ball who are either injured or entirely sidelined, particularly impacting their wide receiver corps.

In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks prepare for their third encounter this season with a familiar rival, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers secured their Divisional Round berth by triumphing over the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles. This marks the third meeting between these NFC West adversaries this year, with San Francisco clinching a Week 1 victory and Seattle dominating in Week 18 to secure both the NFC West title and the coveted No. 1 seed in the conference. The 49ers have navigated a season plagued by numerous injuries to star players, and they face another significant blow with tight end George Kittle having suffered a torn Achilles last weekend in Philadelphia. Seattle also faces a notable injury concern with quarterback Sam Darnold, whose status is questionable after an oblique injury emerged on the Thursday injury report.

These two pivotal NFL contests initiate the Divisional Round, but the sports landscape on Saturday extends beyond football, encompassing a robust schedule of major NBA, NHL, and college basketball games. Below is a detailed overview of key matchups and betting considerations for Saturday, January 17, as well as a look ahead to Sunday’s action. All times are Eastern.

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NFL Divisional Round: Best Bets and Broadcast Information

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Television: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+

The Buffalo Bills, despite being a No. 6 seed, carry significant buzz and pressure into this Divisional Round. The current AFC playoff landscape, notably absent of perennial powerhouses led by Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), or Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), presents Josh Allen with arguably his clearest path to a Super Bowl appearance in his career. Allen, the reigning MVP, was instrumental in last week’s Wild Card victory, amassing over 300 yards of offense and accounting for three total touchdowns against a top-tier Jaguars defense.

However, the Bills now face a Denver Broncos defense that concluded the regular season ranked second in yards allowed and third in points allowed, establishing itself as an elite unit. The primary question for Denver revolves around the offensive production needed to complement their defense and propel them to the AFC Championship Game. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has experienced an inconsistent season, and the Bills’ defense allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL this season, posing a challenge to Denver’s aerial attack. Conversely, Buffalo’s run defense has shown vulnerabilities, potentially setting the stage for rookie running back RJ Harvey to shoulder a substantial workload for the Broncos.

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, favors the Broncos in this contest, projecting Denver to win outright 53% of the time on the money line in what is effectively a pick ’em game. Conversely, SportsLine expert Brady Kannon expresses confidence in the Bills, advising them to cover as +1.5-point underdogs. Kannon’s rationale stems from concerns regarding Nix and the overall consistency of the Denver offense, alongside the Broncos’ historical struggles against mobile quarterbacks, a category in which Josh Allen excels.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Television: FOX
Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)

The third installment of the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry unfolds this Saturday in Seattle, with the victor of this crucial rubber match earning a coveted spot in the NFC Championship Game. The Seattle Seahawks demonstrated significant progress in Mike Macdonald’s second year as head coach, achieving a franchise-record 14 regular-season wins. Their success was anchored by the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense and a top-10 scoring offense, spearheaded by quarterback Sam Darnold and emerging wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, have commendably navigated a season marked by a litany of injuries to key players. Their offensive approach has increasingly relied on the dynamic duo of quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey, a reliance further amplified by the recent Achilles tear sustained by star tight end George Kittle. The historical context of this rivalry adds another layer of intrigue; the visiting team has enjoyed recent dominance, with the 49ers winning their last four games in Seattle, while the Seahawks have claimed the last two matchups in Santa Clara. This includes a decisive Week 18 victory for Seattle, where they limited the 49ers to just three points and under 200 total yards in a 13-3 triumph. In their two prior postseason meetings, the home team emerged victorious on both occasions—Seattle in 2013 and San Francisco in 2022.

The SportsLine model identifies value in backing the 49ers on the money line, predicting the significant underdogs to win outright in 35% of simulations, thereby offering considerable returns at their longer odds. SportsLine expert Matt Severance, however, believes the total of 45.5 points is excessively high. Severance highlights several factors: Seattle’s league-leading scoring defense and their rested status, Kittle’s absence impacting the 49ers’ offense, and Brock Purdy’s historical performance against Mike Macdonald-coached defenses. Purdy holds a 2-3 record against Macdonald’s teams (including his tenure as a defensive coordinator in Baltimore), averaging only 18.4 points per game in those contests. Furthermore, in his last five games against top-three NFL scoring defenses, including playoff matchups, Purdy’s teams have averaged a mere 15.6 points per game.

NBA Best Bets Today: Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Television: NBA TV
Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)

The Portland Trail Blazers have quietly established themselves as one of the NBA’s hotter teams recently, securing seven victories in their last 10 games to ascend the Western Conference standings. With a current record of 20-22, the Trail Blazers are firmly entrenched in the playoff race, largely due to their improved recent form. Their upcoming challenge is significant, as they welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to town. The Lakers, holding a 24-15 record, are considered one of the top teams in the West, though their recent performance has been inconsistent, maintaining a .500 record over their last 10 games while other conference rivals have gained ground. These two teams have met twice earlier this season, with each side claiming one victory. The SportsLine model supports Portland tonight, forecasting the Blazers to win in the majority of simulations and to cover the -3.5 point spread 61% of the time.

Looking Ahead: NFL Divisional Round Preview

Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears

Time: 6:00 p.m. ET (Sunday, January 18)
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Television: NBC
Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)

Both the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears navigated thrilling, tightly contested Wild Card matchups to reach the Divisional Round. The Rams secured a late touchdown to narrowly defeat the Carolina Panthers, while the Bears orchestrated a stunning fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 25 points to upset their arch-rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Sean McVay’s Rams, despite entering the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, are viewed as strong contenders, possessing the second-shortest odds to win the Super Bowl at DraftKings.

The Chicago Bears are enjoying an impressive inaugural season under head coach Ben Johnson, consistently demonstrating a knack for pulling off dramatic late-game victories. Defensively, the Bears face a formidable challenge against Los Angeles’ potent offense, particularly given Chicago’s struggles against the run, ranking among the worst run defenses in the NFL. However, the Bears excel at forcing turnovers, leading the league in both turnovers forced and turnover differential. A clean, mistake-free performance from the Rams’ offense will likely be crucial for their path to victory on the road.

The Bears are positioned as 3.5-point underdogs despite holding home-field advantage. The SportsLine model identifies value in backing the home team, projecting the Bears to win outright in 45% of simulations. SportsLine expert Emory Hunt believes that the anticipated frigid temperatures in Chicago this weekend could significantly influence the outcome. Hunt suggests that the extreme cold is likely to diminish the effectiveness and sharpness of the Rams’ typically potent passing game, thereby enabling the Bears to potentially "steal a few possessions away and make this one tougher for the Rams to come back on the road."

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