For the first time in history, the NFL has exercised its new flex-scheduling option for Thursday Night Football. The league announced on Friday that the Week 16 AFC West clash between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers will now take place on Thursday, Dec. 21, under the bright lights of Amazon Prime.
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Originally scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 24, the move bumps a previously planned matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals off the Thursday slate and into a Sunday slot.
Here's the kicker: Denver had to approve the move, as this marks the Broncos' second Thursday Night Football road game of the season.
They'll visit the Bengals just one week later in Week 17, creating an interesting wrinkle in the schedule. NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that Denver's willingness to agree to the swap may have been influenced by the scheduling equity it creates between the two teams, leveling the playing field ahead of their Week 17 showdown.
Broncos had to sign off on the Week 16 TNF flex, b/c it's their 2nd TNF road game. They were alerted Tuesday. Interesting element—Denver plays Cincinnati in Week 17 (X-mas week). Bengals got flexed out of TNF. So Denver gains the edge that the Bengals previously had for Week 17.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 22, 2024
The decision makes sense on multiple levels. The Broncos have clawed their way back to relevance with a 6-5 record, becoming one of the league's most surprising stories. Meanwhile, the Chargers sit at 7-3 and remain firmly in the playoff hunt. With postseason implications likely on the line in Week 16, this is the kind of drama the league wants on a national stage.
Flex scheduling has long been a staple for Sunday Night Football, and it's now a tool the NFL can wield for Monday and Thursday nights as well. For fans, it's a win, as it ensures meaningful games in marquee slots. For the teams involved, though? Let's just say not everyone is thrilled about the added short-week grind, but the NFL knows how to keep its product in prime time.
