If you’re frantically refreshing your feed looking for the time of Packers game today, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. Honestly, you can put the cheesehead back in the closet for now. There is no Packers game today, January 17, 2026.
It’s over.
The season officially hit a wall last weekend. While the rest of the NFL world is gearing up for a massive Divisional Round double-header, the Green Bay Packers are already deep into "next year" mode.
What happened to the Packers?
You've probably been following the rollercoaster, but here’s the quick recap of why the lights are off at Lambeau. Green Bay managed to scrap their way into the postseason as the No. 7 seed after a fairly chaotic 9-7-1 regular season. They actually clinched that spot thanks to a Detroit Lions loss on Christmas Day, marking their third straight trip to the dance.
But the party didn't last.
Last Saturday, January 10, the Packers headed into a frigid Soldier Field to face their oldest rivals, the Chicago Bears, in the Wild Card Round. It started like a dream. Green Bay jumped out to a 21-3 lead by halftime. You could almost feel the momentum. Then, the wheels fell off.
The Bears roared back, the Packers' offense stalled, and Chicago walked away with a 31-27 victory. For the second year in a row, the Packers went one-and-done.
Who is playing today instead?
Since you're likely still looking for some playoff football to fill the void, the NFL has a pretty stacked Saturday schedule for the Divisional Round. Just don't expect to see any green and gold on the field.
The first game features the No. 6 Buffalo Bills taking on the No. 1 Denver Broncos. That one kicks off at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. If you’re a fan of high-altitude shootouts, Josh Allen versus that Denver secondary is basically must-watch TV.
Later tonight, at 8:00 PM ET, it’s an NFC West showdown. The San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks on FOX. The Seahawks are the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and after the Packers’ collapse last week, they’re the team everyone in the conference is trying to chase down.
The injury luck that ran out
A lot of people are pointing fingers at the defense, but let's be real—the injury bug was brutal this year. Losing Tucker Kraft to a torn ACL earlier in the season hurt the red zone efficiency. Then, the real gut-punch: Micah Parsons (who the Packers landed in a massive preseason trade with Dallas) went down with a torn ACL in Week 15 against Denver.
Basically, by the time the playoffs rolled around, the roster was held together by tape and luck.
And the luck ran out in Chicago.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season
So, what now? The front office is already staring at a massive 2026 offseason. Because of the Parsons trade, the Packers gave up their 2026 first-round pick, which makes the upcoming draft a bit of a puzzle.
They do have a list of opponents for the 2026 season, though dates and times won't be set until the league releases the official schedule in May. We know they’ll be facing the usual NFC North suspects—the Bears, Lions, and Vikings—both at home and on the road. They’re also slated to play teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins at Lambeau.
If you're looking for actionable steps to take today since there's no game to watch:
- Watch the Bills vs. Broncos at 4:30 PM ET: It’s the best way to see the team that ultimately beat Green Bay in the regular season and see if they’re the real deal.
- Scout the Seahawks vs. 49ers at 8:00 PM ET: This is likely a preview of the NFC Championship. If you want to know what the Packers need to beat next year, watch Seattle's defensive rotation.
- Check the Mock Drafts: Since Green Bay is out of the first round in 2026, keep an eye on second-round prospects who can fill that void at tight end or edge rusher.
It’s a bummer of a Saturday for the Green Bay faithful, but the Divisional Round is usually the best football of the year regardless of who’s playing. Pour a drink, grab some cheese, and try to enjoy being a neutral observer for once.