No Monday Night Football Tonight, but the NFL Playoff Picture Is Locked In
If you’re sitting down tonight wondering whether there’s an NFL game on, especially a classic Monday Night Football matchup, the short answer is no. There is no NFL game scheduled for tonight, Monday, January 5, 2026. The regular season officially wrapped up on Sunday night in Week 18, and as usual, the league kept Monday clear to give playoff teams a fair rest before the postseason begins.
The final game of the regular season was anything but boring. Sunday Night Football delivered a dramatic finish as the Pittsburgh Steelers edged out the Baltimore Ravens 26–24 in a winner-take-all showdown. That victory sealed the AFC North title for Pittsburgh, and it was decided in heartbreaking fashion when a 44-yard field goal attempt by Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop sailed wide. With that kick, the curtain was closed on the 2025 NFL regular season.
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So while there’s no Monday Night Football to flip on tonight, football fans aren’t completely left empty-handed. ESPN is still airing college football, with the FCS Championship game taking place this evening. Illinois State and Montana State are squaring off in a game that should satisfy anyone craving some prime-time football action.
Meanwhile, all eyes are now shifting to the NFL playoffs, and the picture is officially set. The wild-card round kicks off this coming Saturday, January 10. The Los Angeles Rams will travel to face the Carolina Panthers in the early game, followed by a heated Packers versus Bears matchup later that night. Sunday brings a full slate as well, including Bills against Jaguars, 49ers versus Eagles, and Chargers taking on the Patriots. The postseason spotlight then returns to Monday night on January 12, when the Houston Texans face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the lone Monday night wild-card game.
At the top of the standings, the Denver Broncos in the AFC and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC have earned first-round byes after finishing as the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences. Seattle, in particular, has emerged as the early favorite to win Super Bowl 60, with betting odds placing them slightly ahead of the Rams.
Beyond the playoffs, the NFL Draft order has also begun to take shape. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the first overall pick, with quarterback speculation already swirling. Other teams’ draft positions will continue to shift as playoff results roll in over the next few weeks.
So while tonight may feel unusually quiet without Monday Night Football, the calm won’t last long. The playoffs are just days away, the stakes are rising fast, and meaningful football is about to take center stage once again.
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