NFL results today live: QB fireworks, late drama and playoff shockwaves
26.01.2026 - 15:24:11
Game of the Night: Kansas Citys Air Raid vs. Buffalos Grit
This one felt like January football, even if the calendar says regular season. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen went throw-for-throw in a primetime classic that had RedZone energy from opening kickoff to the final whistle.
Mahomes was in full magician mode: 327 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, carving up Buffalo with those trademark off-platform lasers. He hit Travis Kelce on a vintage seam route for a 28-yard score, then dropped a perfect back-shoulder TD to Rashee Rice on 3rd-and-goal that had the Bills secondary just staring at each other.
But Allen refused to blink. The Bills star posted 311 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, plus 64 rushing yards and a rushing TD, bulldozing linebackers on designed QB power like it was a playoff elimination game. The signature moment: a 4th-and-6 scramble where Allen broke a sack, spun out, reversed field, and drilled a dart to Stefon Diggs on the sideline to set up a late score.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter. With Kansas City up three and driving, Mahomes tried to force a deep shot on a free play and got picked off anyway the officials ruled the Bills defender had both feet in and control in a wildly controversial call that Twitter instantly exploded over. Buffalo flipped that takeaway into a methodical drive capped by a tight end leak TD, snatching the lead for good in a 34-30 thriller.
Final box-style snapshot:
- Patrick Mahomes (KC): 27/41, 327 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
- Josh Allen (BUF): 24/36, 311 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 10 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
- Stefon Diggs: 8 catches, 104 yards, 1 TD
- Travis Kelce: 7 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD
MVP vibes? Allen owned the clutch moments tonight, but both QBs reminded everyone theyre permanently in the Super Bowl conversation.
Lamar Lights It Up, Burrow Battles Back
In the AFC North, it was pure hatred and highlight reels as Lamar Jacksons Ravens took on Joe Burrows Bengals in a slugfest that started slow and turned explosive in the second half.
Lamar was terrifying in space, ripping off 89 rushing yards and adding 254 passing yards with 2 touchdowns. The Ravens leaned into motion and misdirection, freezing Cincys linebackers as Lamar repeatedly pulled on the read option and slipped upfield for chunk plays. His best throw: a cross-body strike rolling left, threading a 22-yard touchdown between two safeties to Zay Flowers.
Burrow, meanwhile, looked like the cool assassin again. After a quiet first half, he dialed in for 296 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, including a gorgeous go-ball to JaMarr Chase on a 3rd-and-12 that traveled 45 yards in the air and dropped right into the basket. Chase finished with 7 catches, 118 yards, 2 TDs, constantly winning one-on-one.
The sequence that decided it: late fourth, Bengals trailing by four, 4th-and-goal from the 5. Burrow tried to hit Tee Higgins on a quick in-breaker, but Roquan Smith jumped the window and nearly housed the interception. The Ravens offense then bled the clock with a brutal 9-play, all-run closer that felt like a playoff flex.
Final read on the stars:
- Lamar Jackson (BAL): 18/27, 254 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 11 carries, 89 yards
- Joe Burrow (CIN): 25/38, 296 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
- JaMarr Chase: 7 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD
Lamar looked every bit like an MVP frontrunner, while Burrows box score was strong but one throw short when it mattered most.
NFC Drama: Late Heroics and a Standings Shake-Up
Over in the NFC, the headliner was a heavyweight clash with huge seeding implications. The San Francisco 49ers survived a furious late rally to edge the Dallas Cowboys in a game that swung the conference race.
Brock Purdy wasnt perfect, but he was poised: 276 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, spreading the ball around while leaning on Christian McCaffreys dual-threat excellence (over 120 scrimmage yards again). The iconic moment: Purdy hitting Brandon Aiyuk on a 4th-and-3 slant that looked dead, only for Aiyuk to shake a tackle and rip up the sideline for a 40-yard gain that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
Dak Prescott stuffed the stat sheet with 308 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the Niners defense lived in the backfield in crunch time. Nick Bosa and company racked up multiple sacks in the final two drives, including a monster 3rd-and-10 sack that forced Dallas into a desperation Hail Mary as the clock expired. That last throw hit a mass of hands in the end zone and bounced harmlessly to the turf inches from a season-altering miracle.
This win nudges San Francisco into a stronger position in the NFC race, while Dallas slides a step back in the quest for home-field advantage.
Where This Leaves the Playoff Picture
With Buffalo knocking off Kansas City and Baltimore handling Cincinnati, the AFC top seeds just got a serious shake. The Bills tighten the gap on the conferences elite, the Ravens look like a legit No. 1 seed threat, and suddenly every upcoming divisional rematch feels like a mini playoff game.
In the NFC, San Franciscos statement win keeps them right in the mix for the conferences top seed, while the Cowboys are now looking over their shoulder at surging wild-card contenders.
What does this mean for the playoff race? Check the current NFL picture here
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
Beat Writer Take: This Felt Like January
You can feel it in games like these: the tempo is different, the hits are heavier, and every 3rd-and-long feels like a season referendum. Mahomes and Allen just gave us another instant classic, and that interception controversy? Thats the kind of moment that lives in fanbases heads for years.
Heres the blunt truth: Buffalo looked like a team thats tired of almosts. They finished drives, they stole a possession on defense, and they trusted Allen to be the battering ram in crunch time. On the flip side, Kansas City still looks terrifying, but the margin for error in the AFC is shrinking fast. One bad read, one weird officiating decision, and your path to the Super Bowl suddenly goes through someone elses stadium.
In the NFC, the 49ers keep proving that when theyre healthy, they control the line of scrimmage and the narrative. Dallas showed plenty of heart, but until they close out these big-time matchups, its hard to fully buy them as a Super Bowl lock.
Closing Whistle: Buckle Up for the Stretch Run
The NFL scores live today didnt just fill up the touchdown highlight reels they re-wired the postseason math in both conferences. Quarterback stats are popping, fan bases are either dreaming or doom-scrolling, and every snap from here on out is going to feel bigger.
If youre trying to map out every tiebreaker and see whos really in the drivers seat for the Lombardi chase, this is your next stop:
See full NFL stats & standings
Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.
