The NFL’s primetime slate in 2022 was the subject of many jokes and criticism from fans, broadcasters and just about anyone else that paid attention for a second.
After all, how many Broncos games could one take in 2022?
Well, the NFL has a solution — one that probably won’t go over well with the paying fans in attendance. On Monday at the NFL owners meetings, the league voted to allow flex scheduling for the “Thursday Night Football” schedule in 2023.
MORE: Al Michaels excited about 2023 ‘TNF’ slate: ‘League did us a solid’
It’s a major shift for the NFL and a big hit to everything the league preaches about player safety. Previously, only games on Sunday’s were eligible to be flexed throughout the day — meaning the biggest difference, in most cases, was having a 1 p.m. ET kickoff moved to 8:20 p.m. ET for ‘Sunday Night Football.’
The proposal passed 24-8 with the Giants, Jets, Packers, Bears, Raiders, Lions, Bengals and Steelers all voting against it, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Giants owner John Mara was one of the most outspoken opponents on the matter, calling the idea “abusive” to fans when it was initially brought up in March at those owners meetings. Raiders owner Mark Davis also chimed in saying to USA Today’s Jarrett Bell, “Just make the schedule and play it.”
Giants’ John Mara is “adamantly opposed” to TNF flex scheduling proposal pic.twitter.com/JIUoo5kTec
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) March 29, 2023
The second version of the proposal is the one that passed. The original called for the flex decision to be announced 15 days in advance, while the approved version calls for 28 days.
The Sporting News examines the NFL’s new ‘Thursday Night Football’ flex scheduling policy.
Why is the NFL introducing the ‘Thursday Night Football’ flex in 2023?
The league believes that those late season matchups need to have meaning, much like many didn’t in 2022. Amazon is paying a lot of money for the “Thursday Night Football’ rights and would like to have games worth watching, while the league wants to keep its newest partner happy.
Approving this type of flex scheduling should also bring in more revenue for the league thanks to the amount of eyes that will be brought to the screen, and people to the stadium, for these big events.
MORE: Which NFL teams will be featured in prime time the most and least in 2023?
Here were the games in 2022 that would’ve been eligible to be flexed:
| Week | Game/Result |
| 13 | Bills 24, Patriots 10 |
| 14 | Rams 17, Raiders 16 |
| 15 | 49ers 21, Seahawks 13 |
| 16 | Jaguars 19, Jets 3 |
| 17 | Cowboys 27, Titans 13 |
For the most part, these contests lacked intrigue in addition to being blowouts. During a time of year when teams are fighting for playoff spots, the NFL wants to showcase those teams in standalone spots in primetime.
Which ‘Thursday Night Football’ games can be flexed?
According to the NFL’s rule, only the games during Week 13-17 will be eligible to be flexed onto Thursday nights. Here are the games that will apply to this season:
| Week | Matchup |
| 13 | Seahawks vs. Cowboys |
| 14 | Patriots vs. Steelers |
| 15 | Chargers vs. Raiders |
| 16 | Saints vs. Rams |
| 17 | Jets vs. Browns |
‘Thursday Night Football’ flex rules
The league must inform the teams involved no later than 28 days in advance of the event. In addition, any team flexed into the Thursday night game cannot exceed the seven primetime game limit as established previously by the NFL.
Teams can only be flexed to Thursday once during the season and cannot play two on the road, but also cannot exceed more than two Thursday games during the season.
The rule has outlined that flexible scheduling can only be applied to ‘Thursday Night Football’ twice during the season, meaning the league and its partners cannot decide to completely alter the Weeks 13-17 schedule.
According to the proposal, this is considered to be a one-season trial that only applies to 2023. However, it will apply to 2024 instead if it goes unused this season.
MORE: What to know about NFL approving emergency QB rule for 2023 season
For a look at the full language of the rule, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has the details.
Here are the full details https://t.co/kDNQz0YTvf pic.twitter.com/2R1n0Qu9R6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2023
‘Thursday Night Football’ schedule 2023
Both Amazon and the NFL hope to have better fortunes in 2023 with their scheduling on Thursday nights.
| Week | Date | Matchup |
| 2 | Sept. 14 | Vikings at Eagles |
| 3 | Sept. 21 | Giants at 49ers |
| 4 | Sept. 28 | Lions at Packers |
| 5 | Oct. 5 | Bears at Commanders |
| 6 | Oct. 12 | Broncos at Chiefs |
| 7 | Oct. 19 | Jaguars at Saints |
| 8 | Oct. 26 | Buccaneers at Bills |
| 9 | Nov. 2 | Titans at Steelers |
| 10 | Nov. 9 | Panthers at Bears |
| 11 | Nov. 16 | Bengals at Ravens |
| 12 | Nov. 24 (Friday) | Dolphins at Jets |
| 13 | Nov. 30 | Seahawks at Cowboys |
| 14 | Dec. 7 | Patriots at Steelers |
| 15 | Dec. 14 | Chargers at Raiders |
| 16 | Dec. 21 | Saints at Rams |
| 17 | Dec. 28 | Jets at Browns |