The NFL has released its schedule for the 2023 season, so we now know which teams will be featured on Thursday Night Football games. The 2023 campaign will kick off on a Thursday night, and each subsequent week will feature a new TNF matchup.
NFL Thursday Night Football Games and Schedule
All games are on Amazon Prime unless otherwise noted.
- Week 1: Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sept. 7 | NBC - Week 2: Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sept. 14 - Week 3: New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sept. 21 - Week 4: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Sept. 28 - Week 5: Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders
Oct. 5 - Week 6: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Oct. 12 - Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints
Oct. 19 - Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Buffalo Bills
Oct. 26 - Week 9: Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Nov. 2 - Week 10: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears
Nov. 9 - Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Nov. 16 - Week 12: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Nov. 23 - Week 13: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
Nov. 30 - Week 14: New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dec. 7 - Week 15: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Dec. 14 - Week 16: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
Dec. 21 - Week 17: New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Dec. 28
Week 1: Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The 2023 NFL season will kick off with the defending champion Chiefs hosting the up-and-coming Lions in what should be a high-scoring opener. Kansas City finished first in scoring last year (29.2 points per game), while Detroit ranked fifth (26.6), so there should be plenty of fireworks to start the campaign off right.
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Playing against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense should present an early test for a rebuilt Lions defense that added Cameron Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and others to a unit that already included Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If Detroit can keep up with Kansas City in Week 1, they could put themselves on the map as a true contender.
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles shellacked the Vikings in prime time during Week 2 of the 2022 regular season, and they’ll have another opportunity to do so this year. Philadelphia will bring back almost all of their key offensive contributors, but their defense will look a little different as they begin their conference title defense. Meanwhile, Minnesota will need to prove it can keep up with the league’s best teams after largely relying on luck in one-score games last season.
Week 3: New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
Two more NFC playoff teams will square off in Week 3 when the Giants take on the 49ers in San Francisco. Brock Purdy appears likely to be ready for training camp, so he’ll presumably be the 49ers’ starting quarterback for this matchup after taking the club to an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2022. But if Purdy suffers a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery, Trey Lance or Sam Darnold could be under center.
Week 4: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
The NFL’s newfound love for the Lions knows no bounds, as Detroit will be featured on two of next season’s first four Thursday night games. The Packers’ defense will face a stiff test trying to stop the Lions’ offense, but all eyes will be on new Green Bay starting quarterback Jordan Love as he takes over for Aaron Rodgers. If Love and the Packers can take down Detroit, Green Bay could throw itself into the NFC North title mix.
Week 5: Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders
The Bears will look like an entirely different team in 2023, as new pieces litter both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. But can Justin Fields improve now that he has a better offensive line and receiver DJ Moore at his disposal? In Washington, Sam Howell looks like the favorite to start at quarterback, but veteran Jacoby Brissett could win the job outright or take over by the time this Week 5 game is played.
Week 6: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs will open the NFL season on a Thursday night, and they’ll also play a divisional TNF game in Week 6. Denver has never beaten Kansas City during the Mahomes era, and they haven’t won a contest against the Chiefs since 2015. The Broncos hope new head coach Sean Payton can revitalize Russell Wilson’s career and put Denver back in the playoff conversation.
Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints
The Jaguars and Saints are probably the strongest teams in their respective weak divisions, so this Week 7 game could give both clubs a sense of where they stand compared to the rest of the NFL.
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Going up against New Orleans’ always-intimidating defense won’t be an easy task for Trevor Lawrence, but he’ll benefit from working with new receiver Calvin Ridley, whom the Jaguars acquired in a trade with the Falcons.
Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills will begin a three-game prime-time streak against the Buccaneers before playing the Bengals on Sunday night in Week 9 and the Broncos on Monday night in Week 10. By this point in the season, Buffalo will have likely declared itself a serious AFC contender for the fifth consecutive year. Tampa Bay could be holding on in the NFC South, but we don’t even know who their starting quarterback will be yet.
Week 9: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Not every Thursday night game can be a barnburner, and this one feels like a matchup that Al Michaels might be complaining about by the time the clock expires. Still, depending on how the Titans’ quarterback situation has unfolded by Week 9, this game could feature a battle between two intriguing young passers in Kenny Pickett and Will Levis. Pittsburgh is the better team, but Mike Vrabel’s squad usually wins at least a few games it wasn’t supposed to.
Week 10: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears
The DJ Moore Revenge Game? The Panthers didn’t want to give up Moore when they acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Bears, but the veteran receiver’s inclusion in the pre-draft team was “non-negotiable.” Fields and Bryce Young have the potential to become two of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks, and this game could determine if either of their teams has a chance at the postseason in 2023.
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals beat the Ravens in the final week of the regular season before Sam Hubbard’s late-game fumble recovery gave Cincinnati another victory over Baltimore in the Wild Card Round. Tyler Huntley was the Ravens’ quarterback in both of those matchups. With Lamar Jackson back and Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers now in the fold, Baltimore will have a better chance against the defending AFC North champs.
Week 12: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
A storied NFC West rivalry will bring up the rear end of the Thanksgiving Day slate in Week 12. San Francisco beat Seattle three times in 2022-2023, including a dominant 41-23 win in the Wild Card Round. With the Cardinals and Rams not expected to be competitive next year, this late-season 49ers-Seahawks matchup could have massive implications for the divisional standings and NFC playoff seeding.
Week 13: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
One week later, the Seahawks will be back on Thursday night, playing the Cowboys, who also suited up on Thanksgiving Day. Can Geno Smith put up numbers against two of the NFL’s best defenses in back-to-back weeks? Or will Prescott and the Cowboys solidify their playoff positioning by taking down Seattle in a late-season NFC contest?
Week 14: New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers will make their second TNF appearance in six weeks when they host the Patriots in Week 14. With both Pittsburgh and New England expected to be among the fringe contenders for AFC Wild Card slots, this game could take on tremendous importance. Taking down Bill Belichick’s defense in prime time could be an early career-defining moment for Pickett.
Week 15: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders and Chargers split their series in 2022, but Los Angeles fans will never forget their Week 18 loss in 2021 that sent Las Vegas to the postseason and kept the Bolts at home.
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New Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore might have Justin Herbert producing at an MVP rate this late in the season. Will Jimmy Garoppolo have the Raiders in playoff contention?
Week 16: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
After facing the Jags on Thursday night in Week 7, the Saints will play another TNF game in Week 16 — and this one might not present much of a challenge. The Rams are undergoing a total rebuild and have next to no talent remaining on their roster. If New Orleans can’t beat this version of Los Angeles, there’s a problem.
Week 17: New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns
The Jets received five prime-time games (plus the first-ever Black Friday game) on their 2023 schedule, but they won’t play on Thursday night until the tail end of the season. Will Aaron Rodgers have Gang Green in contention at this point in the year, or will New York have disappointed in the future Hall of Famer’s first season in white and green?
