NFL flexes upcoming 'Thursday Night Football' game for first time ever

For the archetypal clip successful league history, the NFL is flexing a "Thursday Night Football" game. 

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals were scheduled to play the Thursday nighttime crippled during Week 16, but the NFL is replacing that matchup with the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.

The alteration is unprecedented due to the fact that of however drastically antithetic squad mentation is betwixt a Thursday and Sunday game. 

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media during a property league up of the Super Bowl astatine Allegiant Stadium Feb. 5, 2024, successful Las Vegas.  (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Teams and players mostly don’t similar playing connected Thursday due to the fact that of a deficiency of betterment clip and mentation tin pb to injuries. 

The Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 Thursday to amended to 3-8 and are person to the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2025 NFL Draft than playoff contention.

The Bengals, contempt Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase playing well, are 4-7 and person an uphill ascent to marque the playoffs. 

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Los Angeles Chargers moving backmost J.K. Dobbins is congratulated by caput manager Jim Harbaugh aft scoring against the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2nd fractional Sept. 8, 2024, successful Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The Chargers (7-3) and Broncos (6-5) some inhabit playoff spots successful the AFC and their Week 16 matchup could beryllium pivotal for determining seeding, not to notation amended ratings for the NFL. 

The existent seeding successful the AFC:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

4. Houston Texans (7-4)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

7. Denver Broncos (6-5)

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Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton looks connected arsenic players instrumentality portion successful drills during grooming campy July 27, 2023, successful Centennial, Colo.  (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and Miami Dolphins (4-6) are connected the extracurricular looking in. 

The Chargers volition beryllium location for the Thursday nighttime matchup against the Broncos Dec.19. Both teams are location the anterior week, perchance different crushed the NFL made the docket change. 

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