So you're trying to find out who played Thursday Night Football last week? Or maybe you're planning your NFL viewing schedule and need to know upcoming matchups? I get it - as a longtime football fan who's missed kickoff more times than I'd like to admit because I couldn't track down the schedule. This guide solves that problem permanently.
2023-24 Season: Every Thursday Night Football Matchup
Honestly, the NFL makes this harder than it should be. Instead of one centralized schedule page, you're hunting through team sites and news articles. After wasting 20 minutes last month trying to confirm who played Thursday Night Football on September 14th (spoiler: Vikings-Eagles), I decided to compile everything here.
Complete TNF Schedule with Results
| Date | Matchup | Final Score | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 2023 | Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs | 21-20 (Lions) | Goff's 4th quarter TD drive |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles | 28-34 (Eagles) | Hurts' 4 TDs |
| Sep 21, 2023 | New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers | 12-30 (49ers) | McCaffrey's 2 TDs |
| Sep 28, 2023 | Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers | 34-20 (Lions) | Campbell's goal-line stop |
| Oct 5, 2023 | Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders | 40-20 (Bears) | Fields' 4 TD passes |
| Oct 12, 2023 | Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs | 8-19 (Chiefs) | Mahomes' 3rd quarter scramble TD |
(Updated weekly through Super Bowl - bookmark this page!)
Remember that Broncos-Chiefs game? I almost turned it off at halftime - what a snoozefest until Mahomes did his magic. Sometimes Thursday games feel like preseason quality with starters playing injured.
How NFL Scheduling Actually Works
People think the NFL just randomly picks teams for Thursday nights. Not true. There's a method behind it:
Scheduling priorities in order:
- Division matchups (38% of TNF games)
- Teams coming off bye weeks (prevents short rest)
- Market size (NY/LA/Chicago get priority)
- QB star power (Mahomes/Allen/Burrow)
Thursday Night Football games usually kick off at 8:15 PM ET on Amazon Prime Video. But here's what nobody tells you - the international games mess with this. When the Packers played the Lions in London last season? That "Thursday" game actually happened at 2:30 PM ET. Almost missed kickoff because nobody updated the schedule sites.
Teams You'll See Most Often
Based on last 5 seasons:
| Team | TNF Appearances | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 11 | 82% |
| Green Bay Packers | 9 | 67% |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8 | 62% |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 3 | 33% |
Small market teams get screwed - ask any Jaguars fan when they last saw prime time love.
Finding Past TNF Matchups (The Easy Way)
Google "who played Thursday Night Football" and you'll get:
- Outdated articles from 2022
- Schedule predictions instead of results
- Fragmented team-specific info
Save yourself the headache. Here's what actually works:
Reliable Sources:
- NFL.com's schedule archive (deep in their site map)
- Pro-Football-Reference.com (search "Thursday Night Football 2022")
- ESPN's NFL scoreboard (filter by day)
Last Thanksgiving I was arguing with my brother-in-law about who played Thursday Night Football back in 2019 during that crazy fog game. Took us 15 minutes to confirm it was Colts-Texans. Should've bookmarked this page then.
Memorable Thursday Night Football Games
| Season | Matchup | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Broncos @ Colts | Lowest scoring TNF game (12-9) |
| 2021 | Bills @ Saints | Moved to Detroit due to hurricane |
| 2020 | Rams @ Buccaneers | Brady vs. Goff QB duel |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Thursday Night Football games ever get flexed?
Yes - starting Week 13, the NFL can move better matchups to Thursday. Happened last year when Bengals-Ravens replaced Panthers-Falcons. Saved us from a terrible game.
Why do TNF games often look sloppy?
Three days' rest isn't enough. Players are banged up from Sunday. Coaches install simpler game plans. Receivers run lazy routes. It shows.
Can I watch without Amazon Prime?
Local broadcasts air in both teams' markets. Bars with NFL Sunday Ticket get them too. Otherwise? You're paying for Prime.
Who decides who played on Thursday Night Football?
The NFL scheduling committee releases it in May. But networks influence picks - Amazon pushed hard for Chiefs-Eagles this season.
Upcoming TNF Games to Watch
Based on insider rumors and team trajectories:
- Nov 16: Bengals @ Ravens (Burrow vs. Jackson rematch)
- Nov 23: 49ers @ Seahawks (Thanksgiving rivalry game)
- Dec 14: Chargers @ Raiders (AFC West shootout potential)
Mark your calendars for that Chargers-Raiders game. Justin Herbert against that shaky Vegas secondary? Could be fireworks.
Controversy Corner: The TNF Player Safety Debate
Let's be real - Thursday games are dangerous. The NFL's own data shows 30% more concussions on short weeks. Remember Tua's concussion last year? Happened four days after Sunday contact. Yet the league keeps expanding TNF for money. Feels hypocritical when they preach player safety.
Why This Season Feels Different
Amazon's production is legit - their 4K streams put CBS to shame. And with more division games, the intensity ramped up. That Lions-Packers matchup? Felt like playoff football. Still hate the injury risk though.
At the end of the day, knowing who played Thursday Night Football comes down to reliable sourcing. I refresh this page every Tuesday during the season - saves me from scrolling through five different apps. Whether you're betting, fantasy prepping, or just settling bar arguments, this guide's got you covered for every kickoff.
Comment