By Nick Kosmider, Daniel Popper and Zac Jackson
The NFL has flexed a game into a “Thursday Night Football” for the first time, moving the Denver Broncos’ Week 16 matchup at the Los Angeles Chargers into prime time on Dec. 19.
The two teams, led by former Oregon quarterbacks Bo Nix and Justin Herbert, were originally set to play on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 22. The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals game that was originally slated for Thursday night will now be played that Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.
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NFL owners approved a rule change in 2023 that allowed games to be flexed into a Thursday slot between Weeks 13 and 17, with such moves requiring a four-week notice.
The matchup means the Broncos will now play two prime-time games in December, the first coming against the Browns on “Monday Night Football” in Week 13. The matchup against the Chargers will give a national audience a look at Nix, who won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award following his four-touchdown performance in a Week 11 rout of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Chargers, meanwhile, have won five out of their last six games under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh — the first of those coming in a Week 6 win against the Broncos — and remain in the hunt for the AFC West title.
The Broncos, who already played a Thursday night road game earlier this season against the New Orleans Saints, had to OK being flexed since this will be their second road Thursday night game of the season. They are embracing the switch, in part, because it will give them extended rest heading into a pivotal Week 17 road game against the Bengals.
“We’d rather be flexed in than flexed out,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton. “It’s a real good team that is playing real good (football). And it flexes Cincinnati out, who we play the next week, so there is a little (rest consideration). It is what it is.”
Payton said his 2006 Saints team was the first one to flexed into a Sunday night matchup, against the Dallas Cowboys, but he downplayed the history of being the first team flexed into a Thursday slot.
“It’s all good,” he said. “Just tell us when we’re playing.”
Consider it the Harbaugh Effect
The Chargers have now been flexed into prime time for the second time this season. Their Week 11 matchup with the Bengals was moved from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night. That ended up being an epic game, with the Bengals erasing a 21-point second-half deficit before the Chargers pulled it out late on Herbert’s 15th career game-winning drive.
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The Chargers are interesting. The Chargers are exciting. They are good for business. And now, they will be playing four prime-time games in a six-week stretch, starting with last week’s Bengals game. They host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night in Week 12. They play at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in Week 14. — Daniel Popper, Chargers beat writer
Can Nix make a statement in Rookie of the Year race?
Nix had a slow start to the season, throwing only one touchdown and four interceptions across his first four games. Since then, he’s arguably been the best rookie quarterback in the NFL (13 touchdowns, two interceptions), putting him firmly alongside players like Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the Rookie of the Year race. The “Thursday Night Football” stage will give Nix the opportunity to make a major statement.
This will be the third matchup between Nix and Herbert, including a college clash in 2019, when Herbert was at Oregon and Nix was a true freshman starter at Auburn. Nix led a late touchdown drive to win that game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Herbert came out on top in Week 6 this season. — Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer
Why the Bengals-Browns game moved
The Bengals aren’t out of contention yet, but from a playoff appeal standpoint, the move makes sense. The Bengals are probably disappointed because the home team has won nine straight AFC North Thursday night games dating back to 2015, a streak the Browns extended with their upset of the Steelers Thursday night. The Browns now could be looking at back-to-back flex situations; they’re currently scheduled to host Miami on Sunday night in Week 17. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
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(Photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
