While many look to Sunday as the major day of football, the NFL week starts on Thursday, when two teams face off in primetime to kick off the games. So far the Thursday night games haven’t disappointed, with a couple of fun games that went down to the end.
Last week the 49rs easily handled the Giants in a bit of a snoozer. New York was without Saquon Barkley, and it showed as the team struggled on offense. They also struggled on defense but we can’t put that on Saquon.
This week we get an NFC North battle for the top of the division. The kneecap biting Detroit Lions travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers. It looks like these two teams will be fighting it out all year for the division title, mostly because the Bears and Vikings are horrible.
Who will take control of the NFC North this Thursday night? And what do the rest of the Thursday night games look like going forward this year?
This guide will give you insight into all of the games on the Thursday night slate, with an in depth profile of the upcoming matchup and general previews for the entire TNF schedule.
Best Thursday Night Football Betting Sites
- BetOnline: Best overall
- Bovada: Best for football live betting
- BUSR: Most generous welcome bonus
- MyBookie: Excellent NFL prop bets
- Everygame: Best football futures
- XBet: Best odds for regular season wins
- Thunderpick: Best for crypto bets
- BetUS: Best NFL specials
- Sportsbetting: Great football coverage
- GTBets: Best for totals betting
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Thursday Night Football 2023 Schedule
All Thursday Night games will be streamed on Amazon Prime
9/7 – Week 1: Lions @ Chiefs (Lions Win 21-20)
9/14- Week 2: Vikings @ Eagles (Eagles Win 34-28)
9/21- Week 3: Giants @ 49rs (49rs Win 30-12)
9/28- Week 4: Lions @ Packers (8:15 EST)
10/5- Week 5: Bears @ Commanders (8:15 EST)
10/12-Week 6: Broncos @ Chiefs (8:15 EST)
10/19-Week 7: Jaguars @ Saints (8:15 EST
10/26-Week 8: Buccaneers @ Bills (8:15 EST)
11/2- Week 9: Titans @ Steelers (8:15 EST)
11/9-Week 10: Panthers @ Bears (8:15 EST)
11/16-Week 11: Bengals @ Ravens (8:15 EST)
11/24-Week 12: Dolphins @ Jets (3:00 EST)- This game is on Friday.
11/30-Week 13: Seahawks @ Cowboys (8:15 EST)
12/7- Week 14: Patriots @ Steelers (8:15 EST)
12/14-Week 15: Chargers @ Raiders (8:15 EST)
12/21-Week 16: Saints @ Rams (8:15 EST)
12/28-Week 17: Jets @ Browns (8:15 EST)
There is no Thursday night game for week 18.
This Week: The Week 3 Thursday Night game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers is on September 28, at 8:15 PM EST.
Related post: Best NFL Betting Sites
Preview of the 2023 Thursday Night Football Slate
Week 4: September 28 – Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: Det (-3) | O/U TBD
This is looking like a battle for NFC North supremacy. Both teams have looked solid if not spectacular so far this season and the Lions are probably happy to get their trip to Green Bay out of the way before November or December.
Both teams won their games last week to run their records to 2-1. The Lions easily beat the Falcons 20-6, with Jared Goff throwing for one touchdown and running for another. The Detroit defense dominated Atlanta, holding them to less than 200 total yards of offense.
The Packers had a bit of a tougher task, falling behind 17-0 before scoring all 18 points in the 4th quarter to squeak out the victory. The team was helped by a Derek Carr injury, which did as much to shut down the Saints as the Packers defense. But a win is a win, and a come from behind win has to give the team confidence
And so these teams will both look to gain the early advantage in the NFC North. Perhaps more interestingly, Jordan Love and Jarred Goff will use this result to decide once and for all who is the more underappreciated quarterback.
Week 5:October 5- Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
The Monsters of the Midway have been more like mosquitos in 2023, but with less bite. Chicago is still trying to figure out if they should have kept the #1 pick last year instead of rolling with Justin Fields. At this point, they may have the #1 pick next year too.
Washington somehow started the season 2-0 before remembering who they were before getting demolished 37-3 by the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Both of these teams are so bad that whichever head coach loses this game has to be worried about keeping his job.
Week 6:October 12- Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
Will Sean Payton have Russell Wilson turned around by week 6? Or, is it possible that Wilson isn’t even the starter by the time Denver plays the Chiefs? Honestly we don’t think it matters.
Wilson is clearly in decline and after the Chiefs slow start, we think they will start barrelling through the league eventually and if they haven’t gotten started by this game, it will be a great place to start their re-ascendance to the top of the league. Blowout potential in this one.
Week 7:October 19- Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: TBD | O/U TBD
Jacksonville are trying to crash the party in the AFC, where every team seems to have a top 10 quarterback, which is technically impossible. By week 7 the Jags will have already returned from their annual London trip and played a game again in the states. So jet lag shouldn’t be an issue.
Derek Carr has fit in well in New Orleans and should continue on that track with the talented receivers he gets to throw to. This is a game we are looking forward to as both teams are sneaky good.
Week 8:October 26- Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Buffalo Bills
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: TBD| O/U TBD
Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen facing off. The Over/Under on times the announcers say “he probably shouldn’t have thrown that pass” is 13 and it’s likely that half of those passes get completed.
The Bills are clearly the better team in this matchup, but as we alluded to, either quarterback has the potential to win or lose this game single handedly. Should be fun to watch.
Week 9:November 2- Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
Take the under on this game. It’s as close to 1970’s football as we’ll ever get. Both teams are going to try to establish the run, whether it is working or not. While both teams are well coached, this game isn’t going to be very aesthetically pleasing to most modern football fans.
Try to find a grandpa to watch this game with, they will love it.
Week 10:November 9- Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: TBD | O/U TBD
Every single story going into this game will be about how the Bears traded the #1 overall pick to Carolina, who in turn drafted QB Bryce Young. If Young outplays Justin Fields in this game the City of Chicago might go on strike. Regardless of how the young QBs play, the winner of this game will unquestionably be declared the winner of that trade. Because we do dumb stuff like that all the time.
Week 11:November 16- Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: Bengals -1 | O/U TBD
Analysis: The AFC North is consistently one of the strongest divisions in football, and this season should be no exception. This means the Week 11 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals could have Division title implication
Both teams will need to overcome slow starts and injury issues on offense if they hope to be in position to lead the division by this game. Plenty of time to at this point.
Review the last Ravens vs Bengals game
Week 12:November 24 (Friday)- Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Broadcast Info: 3:00 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD| O/U TBD
Now that the Jets are going to play the rest of the season without Aaron Rogers, it’s impossible to forecast where they will be by the time this game rolls around.
The Dolphins have put all of their eggs in the Tua basket and as long as he’s healthy, that offense should be a threat every snap. IF…HE…IS….HEALTHY. Here’s hoping he is.
Week 13:November 30- Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
Looking this far ahead in the season can be tricky sledding. Especially with the Cowboys, who have looked like world beaters at points over the last several years, before turning into a pumpkin each season, usually very late or in the playoffs.
Seattle was a pleasant surprise last year and they hope to build on that with a very talented roster. The Seahawks receivers vs the Cowboys secondary should be an interesting matchup to watch.
Week 14:December 7- New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line: TBD | O/U TBD
Have these teams both moved to the back of the AFC line? Neither has a top 10 quarterback, and though they’ve been competitive lately, it hasn’t quite lived up to the championship expectations these franchises have developed over the past 2 decades.
It’s very likely that one or both of these teams won’t be in the playoff race by this point, although we probably wouldn’t say that to either of these coaches face to face.
Week 15:December 14- Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
Look, just like the week 14 game it wouldn’t surprise us if both of these teams are looking forward to the season ending by the time they play this game, but we don’t care.
These two teams and these two coaches have us already liking the over on this game. We smell a shootout, even if it is a couple of months away. Shootouts really smell.
Week 16:December 21- New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD| O/U TBD
Nothing like Christmas in LA (kidding). But the Saints will be hoping to get a win in their stocking in this pre-holiday matchup. Will either team be playing for anything other than draft position? We think they will, especially New Orleans, and even if the Rams are out of it at this point, they played spoiler late last season and they’d be glad to do it again.
Week 17:December 28- New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns
Broadcast Info: 8:15 PM EST on Amazon Prime Video
Current Line:TBD | O/U TBD
Analysis: In an AFC conference filled to the brim with talent, this week 17 matchup was slated to be a great game featuring two quarterbacks looking to provide their franchise with a trip to the postseason. However, that all changed 4 plays into Aaron Rogers debut with the Jets.
Cleveland also believes that they have a Super Bowl level quarterback, but the rust hasn’t come off of Deshawn Watson yet and we’re not sure that it will. If the NFL could flex Thursday night games, this would be a potential candidate.
Check out our other NFL guides:
Previous TNF Action
Week 3: San Francisco 49rs 30 – New York Giants 12
Before week 1 this could have been billed as a potential NFC championship game, but by the time we got to kickoff, it seemed obvious that these two teams were not equals.
Brock Purdy spread the ball around, throwing for two touchdowns, and Christian Mcafferty scored a touchdown to run his streak to 12 consecutive games of at least one score.
The 49rs also extended their regular season win streak to 13 games. This suggests that defenses should try to keep Mcafferty from scoring touchdowns if they want to win, but what do we know?
Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles 34 – Minnesota Vikings 28
Jaylen Hurts overcame a slow passing start to lead Philadelphia over the Vikings in week 2. Hurts ran for 2 touchdowns and D’andre Swift ran for 175 yards as the Eagles dominated on the ground.
Minnesota kept the game close, as they almost always do. But unlike last year, when the Vikings went 11-0 in one score games, this one went the other way, which might be a bad sign for Minnesota this season.
Week 1: Detroit Lions 21 – Kansas City Chiefs 20
In a mild shocker to open the season, the Detroit Lions knocked off the defending Super Bowl champs by a single point at Arrowhead Stadium.
It was a sloppy game for both teams, and the Chiefs were missing stars Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. We don’t think this game is a bad omen for Kansas City, but it may be a good indicator that the Lions are for real this season. Vegas certainly thinks so, as Detroit’s Super Bowl odds moved from +2500 to +1800 following the game.
See how all our Week 1 picks did against the spread
Thursday Night Football Betting Trends & Strategies
1. Scoring Variance
In the 2022 season, teams scored less than or equal to their prior week’s score 68.75% of the time. While matchups are never the same, the shortened adjustment period leaves teams with a limited game plan, and thus most NFL teams have the personnel capable of at least holding them to similar performance as the prior week.
There will always be exceptions, especially as the course of the season changes rosters and lineups throughout the season, taking its toll on the games, but keeping track of prior week scores and using this to decide on the Over/Under line set for the game by sportsbooks can be an effective strategy for hitting on bets and turning a profit.
2. Expect The Under
Trying to find patterns in the results based on favorite vs underdog, against the spread records, home vs away, over vs under… There is a ton of variance, making betting on the results difficult to predict. Here were the results of last season’s Thursday Night Games
Home Team Record: 9-8
Away Team Record: 8-9
Betting Favorite Record: 11-6
Betting Underdog Record: 6-11
Betting Favorite Record Against The Spread: 9-8
Betting Underdog Record Against The Spread: 8-9
Points (Over) Record: 6-11
Points (Under) Record: 11-6
As you can see the two biggest “dependable” lines from last season’s results are that the betting favorite will usually win, and that teams underscore on condensed weeks. Hence, the under is the more reliable call.
However, on weeks like the season opener, with more time to prepare, that may not be as often. Be sure to research teams specifically to determine what outcome you’re expecting.
3. Match Ups Are Key
Divisional games on Thursday Night are more often grudge matches than not; as of the five divisional games last season, four were under on points, and no team scored over 30 in those games.
With a condensed week for limited game-planning on offense and familiarity against divisional foes for the defenses, these games are sure to be tight even if the teams aren’t viewed equally heading into the game.
Check out our Monday Night Football guide as well
Best Sites for Thursday Night Football Betting
BetOnline: BetOnline is an easy-to-navigate sportsbook filled with great lines and live betting opportunities to track as you enjoy the game. They’re offering the chance for new users to get a 50% deposit match up to $1,000, but there is a required $55 deposit to meet a 10x rollover.
Bovada: Agree on the advice of Kansas City to cover? Bovada is currently offering their line at -6.5 while most books have the line set at -7, and the book offers plenty more favorable lines to users. New players are eligible for a 50% deposit match up to $250 using fiat currency or a 75% match up to $750 with Bitcoin by entering code BTCSWB750.
BUSR: This football betting site offers one of the most generous welcome offers to sports bettors. You can bet on your favorite football team with BUSR’s welcome bonus of up to $1,500. You have to meet the 20x rollover requirements and deposit a minimum of $100.
MyBookie: MyBookie is quick to the action, and on a shortened week that’s important in order to get your bets placed early for the Thursday Night Football games. If you open a new account here, you’ll get a 50% deposit match of up to $1,000 ($50 minimum deposit and 10x rollover apply).
Sportsbetting.ag: This sportsbook is filled with odds boosters to give you great parlay opportunities and a chance to bring home some major rewards. For new users looking to sign up, you’ll be eligible for a 50% welcome bonus up to $1,000 just by using the code SB1000, although there is a $55 minimum deposit and 10x rollover apply.
Guide to TNF Betting: Thursday Night Football FAQ
There is so much to know about the NFL’s primetime schedule; having it all figured out can be quite tricky.
But fret not, as we have you covered with some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Thursday Night Football.
When Is Thursday Night Football?
The game ordinarily is usually set for kickoff at 8:15 PM EST, but for national broadcast games such as the season opener and Thanksgiving night, the games will start at 8:20 PM EST. Having a primetime game earlier in the week gives a nice weekday opportunity to unwind and enjoy a game for sports fans worldwide.
>> Find the best odds at BetOnline
How Can I Watch Thursday Night Football?
The broadcast will be available on NBC for the season-opening and Thanksgiving night games. However, the other games will be televised on Amazon Prime Video.
Is There A Thursday Night Football Game For Every Week Of The Season?
Almost, there will be one for the first 17 weeks. However, all games for Week 18 take place on Saturday and Sunday to have a balanced finale for all teams as they head into the postseason to compete for the Super Bowl.
Learn how to bet on NFL games
Thursday Night Football History
While NFL games had occurred on Thursday night plenty of times in the past, the official branding of Thursday Night Football debuted on Thanksgiving Day in 2006 as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos by a score of 19-10.
The trend of starting Thursday Night Football on Thanksgiving lasted until 2008 when the league struck a deal to expand their window for the games, and thus, they began earlier in the season. It again expanded to 13 weeks out of season in 2012 and eventually became an agreed-upon every-week occurrence (sans the final week of the season) in 2015.
The broadcast has been split between numerous networks: NFL Network, CBS Sports, NBC, Fox, and most recently, Amazon Prime.
Despite this, a 2022 Thursday Night Football Game would average 16.7 million viewers per contest, which is on par with the average NFL game from this past season.
Thursday Night Football offers many great opportunities for teams to get into a grudge match, and through the years, it has led to some all-time performances that will never be forgotten. Amongst all the epic moments, though, none stand out more than the 2015 Thursday Night Football matchup between the 7-4 Green Bay Packers and the 4-7 Detroit Lions.
The Packers were sliding after starting the season off 6-0, and their struggles continued into this night’s matchup, as they trailed 20-0 midway through the 3rd quarter. However, Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay caught fire as they marched back to only trail 21-23 with 3:04 left on the clock.
The Packers then completed the comeback on the game’s final play, as Rodgers launched a 61-yard hail-mary touchdown to Richard Rodgers for the score and a big-time victory to right the ship and get the team back on track for playoffs.
Thursday Night Football Betting Tips
With there generally only one game to start the week, it can be crucial to start your slate with success. There are tons of different stats, numbers, and styles you can use to approach your bets, but we’ve done the research to give you the best methods of finding success and putting the most money in your pocket.
1. Create An Account With Multiple Sports Books
Opening an account on numerous platforms gives you a great opportunity to find and discover the best Thursday Night Football odds and lines that are offered. Too often, sports bettors will stick to one book for all their bets, and they fail to realize all the potential money they’re leaving on the table!
No one wants to miss out on maximizing their earnings. If you’re betting this football season, be sure to check across multiple sportsbooks like BetOnline and Bovada over the year, especially for Thursday Night Football.
2. Take Advantage Of The Promotional Offers
Sportsbooks all over are desperate for your business, and they’re consistently offering opportunities such as first-time deposit matches, free bets, and numerous other types of deals to acquire your interest.
While these are their marketing strategies, it’s also because they assume the average bettor won’t have the insight and knowledge to result in making a profit off of them. Luckily for you, with the insight of this guide added to your already existing knowledge, you’re put into a position to succeed and capitalize on these offers.
Check out BUSR’s welcome bonus.
3. Keep An Eye On The Injury Report
With a short week, the process for injured players becomes much more condensed. With players being evaluated constantly and some players not receiving an exact designation for Active/Inactive until hours before the game, it’s important to keep yourself updated on what players could be impacted by the game.
Teams often change their approach for condensed preparation and can often operate with caution to preserve the health of their players for the long term.
As a bettor, it’s very important to be sure to track and analyze these reports in order to come to the best decision on how it could impact the game. These situations are especially important at key positions such as quarterback.
4. Try To Time Your Bets
Keeping track of betting lines can be an excellent way to make the most money. While trying to time when lines will most be in your favor, getting in early on the action is generally the safest method of ensuring you get quality lines when getting into the action on your Thursday Night Football bets.k7
Excited for Thursday Night Football?
While the season is still a few months out, the books are open and the chance to get in on the offers is now! Take a look around across the best football betting sites and take advantage where you can because the rewards could be huge!
BetOnline, Bovada, and BUSR offer the most competitive odds, and the welcome bonuses are not too bad either. Wherever you decide to place your bets for Thursday Night Football, always remember to bet responsibly!
DISCLAIMER: Online gambling comes with risks. There’s no guarantee of financial gain, so you should only gamble with what you can afford to lose. All information on this site is for entertainment purposes only.
While gambling can be fun, it can also be addictive. If you or anyone you know suffer from a gambling addiction problem, we recommend you call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 to speak with an advisor. Please remember that our guides and all gambling sites are 18+. Also, check with local laws if online gambling is legal in your area.
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