The NFL has officially exercised its first flex scheduling for a Thursday Night Football game, featuring an AFC West matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers, now slated for the December 19 slot. According to reports from Moneyline, this change means that the originally scheduled game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals will now take place on Sunday, December 22.
This new scheduling comes after NFL owners approved a proposal in May 2023 allowing for flex scheduling of Thursday night games. The stipulations for moving a game into the Thursday time slot include a minimum four-week notice and the adjustment can only occur between Weeks 13 and 17. The deadline for the league to confirm the flex for the Browns-Bengals matchup was on Friday, leading to this significant scheduling adjustment. The Browns recently experienced a thrilling Thursday night game, securing a 24-19 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, during which a total of 27 points were scored in the fourth quarter alone. Nick Chubb's two-yard run for the game-winning touchdown with just 57 seconds left clinched the win for the Browns, although their season record of 3-8 puts them in a challenging position regarding playoff contention.
On the other hand, the Bengals, known for their dynamic offensive capabilities, have also faced adversity. Despite Joe Burrow's standout performance this season, they suffered a damaging 34-27 defeat against the Chargers, which significantly impacted their playoff aspirations. Currently holding a 4-7 record and enjoying a bye week, the Bengals are preparing to host the Steelers on December 1. Meanwhile, the Broncos and Chargers have emerged as pleasant surprises in the league, both occupying wild card spots in the AFC and boasting the top two defenses based on points allowed per game. In their previous encounter this season, the Chargers triumphed over the Broncos 23-16 in Denver, with Los Angeles establishing a strong lead before Denver managed to score 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
