For the first time in NFL history, the league announced a Thursday Night Football flex on Friday.
Flex scheduling for TNF was approved last year, but it hadn’t been utilized until the NFL announced that the Denver Broncos‘ game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 would be flexed from Sunday to Thursday.
Because the Broncos already played a road TNF game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, they had to sign off on being flexed into a second road TNF game this season, and they did. So, why’d they agree to it?
One possible reason for agreeing to the flex might be so they get more rest ahead of their Week 17 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Denver will have a short week after hosting the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 15 and they going on the road to play the Chargers on Dec. 19, but the Broncos will now get a mini bye before playing the Bengals on Dec. 28 or 29.
Cincinnati was originally scheduled to host the Cleveland Browns on TNF in Week 16, which would have given the Bengals extra rest going into the Denver game. Following the flex, the Broncos will now have extra rest.
That Denver-Cincinnati game could have huge playoff implications in the AFC, and it might be a candidate to get flexed to Saturday. If it is set for Dec. 28, that would give the Bengals another rest disadvantage.
Since we’re on the topic of scheduling…
Three of the Week 17 games below will be played on Saturday, Dec. 28.
We’ll see how it shakes out, but I personally think Broncos-Bengals is compelling enough to earn one of the Saturday slots. pic.twitter.com/KHnFb6QWWF
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) November 22, 2024
So, it seems safe to assume the Broncos were taking that Cincinnati game into consideration when they agreed to the TNF flex.
