The NFL world was exceedingly skeptical about Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos entering the 2024 season, but the team’s performance is rapidly altering the way they are seen. The Broncos are 6-5 heading into a key Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the NFL is fully expecting the Broncos to be in the playoff mix a month from now after making an incredibly historic move to change Denver’s schedule.
According to various rumours, the Broncos will take part in the first-ever Thursday Night Football flex in Week 16 of the 2024 season. They were supposed to play the Los Angeles Chargers (in LA) on Sunday, December 22 at 2:05 PM MT. On Thursday, December 19, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers will replace the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
The Broncos, headed by Bo Nix, will be in prime time for their rematch against the Chargers, with the playoffs potentially on the line.
NFL moves Broncos-Chargers to Thursday Night Football for Week 16
There has never been a game flexed into Thursday Night Football, which means that whatever was initially scheduled has remained such since the NFL added that game to the weekly docket. The Denver Broncos have exceeded expectations this season, so the NFL had no choice.
Thursday night games are eligible for flexing from Week 13 to the end of the season, which is most likely why none have been flexed. It is typical for Sunday Night Football games to be flexed for NBC, but we have never seen a game flexed from Sunday to Thursday.
The news for the Broncos is slightly bittersweet. Denver’s players and coaches appreciate the benefits of playing on a short week, which is unusual. The Broncos had to consent to the game being flexed, so why would they agree to a short week late in the season? Why would they desire this? Well, there are probably several factors here.
First, the Broncos get a bye week in Week 14. That means that following their bye week, they will play the Indianapolis Colts before travelling to Los Angeles for a short week. The Broncos will use their bye week to work ahead of schedule. They may strategize for both the Colts and the Chargers simultaneously.
Second, facing the Chargers on a short week will allow the Broncos plenty of time to prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals. It essentially gives them an extra “mini bye,” similar to the one they received after playing the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night earlier this season.
Third, the Broncos have previously played the Chargers. That’s a divisional opponent they’re already familiar with, having game-planned for them earlier this season, and if you’re going to have a short week, it might as well be against someone in your division.
The NFL schedule makers gave the Broncos only two primetime games to open the season. They were forecast by Vegas oddsmakers to win only 5 or 6 games this season, but they now have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs and possibly making some noise. The fact that the Broncos have been offered the opportunity to play in primetime versus the Chargers is a tremendous honour for the team, even if it means playing on a short week.
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