NFL postseason is officially underway, but as fans search for kickoff times and prime-time matchups, one question dominates on January 9, 2026: Is there a Friday Night Football game to open the playoffs?
With Wild Card Weekend 2026 set to deliver six high-stakes matchups, clarity around the schedule is crucial for viewers tracking every detail of the road to Super Bowl 2026.
Here’s a clear look at the NFL playoff schedule, including confirmation on Friday night games, start times, and what fans can watch tonight.
Is there an NFL game on Friday Night?
Despite heavy anticipation, there is no NFL game scheduled for Friday night, January 9, 2026. The league has once again opted not to include a Friday kickoff as part of Wild Card Weekend. Additionally, there was no Thursday Night Football matchup this week on Amazon Prime Video.
The 2025 NFL regular season concluded in Week 18 with a marquee divisional clash between the Steelers and Ravens on "Sunday Night Football", where Pittsburgh secured the AFC North title. That game officially closed the regular season slate on January 4, 2026, pushing all postseason action to the weekend window.
When does wild card weekend 2026 begin?
NFL Wild Card Weekend officially begins on Saturday, featuring multiple games spread across afternoon and evening time slots.
The six playoff games will air across Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and Amazon Prime Video, giving fans wall-to-wall postseason coverage through Monday.
The league continues its staggered playoff format, ensuring each matchup gets a dedicated broadcast window while maximizing national viewership across platforms.
What time Is Football Tonight?
Since there is no NFL game on Friday, football fans won’t find professional action on TV tonight. However, those looking for live football still have an option at the collegiate level.
Indiana vs. Oregon will air on ESPN, offering a high-profile college football matchup while the NFL postseason awaits its Saturday kickoff.
What comes after the wild card round?
Following Wild Card Weekend, attention will quickly shift to the Divisional Round. The No. 1 seeds in each conference—the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC and the Denver Broncos in the AFC—will enter the postseason at that stage, raising the stakes even further as Super Bowl 2026 predictions continue to intensify.
While Friday Night Football remains absent from the NFL playoff structure, the league’s traditional Wild Card Weekend format remains intact.
Fans will need to wait until Saturday for the first postseason kickoff, but with six elimination games on the schedule, the delay is short-lived.