NFL Thursday Night Football Betting
For the third straight week Thursday Night Football will feature a divisional matchup with serious playoff implications involved. And for the first time in that stretch we venture to the American Football Conference for a Western Division matchup between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to get Week 16 of the NFL season started. The previous two TNF games had a playoff-like feel to them with both being close. Detroit kept its hold on the NFC’s best record with a 34-31 win over Green Bay two weeks ago, and the Rams all but eliminated the defending NFC champion 49ers with a 12-6 road win in Week 15.
The Bolts snapped a three-game losing streak to Denver with a 23-16 victory in Week 6, the second straight contest decided by exactly seven points. Of the past 10 matchups seven were one-score games with the Broncos winning four of them. After starting the season with two losses, the Broncos moved into a playoff spot by winning eight of their next 11 games, including three in a row heading into their Week 15 tilt with Indianapolis. The early line had the Chargers as a 3-point home favorite with the total at 42.
NFL Week 16 Thursday Night Football Betting Odds
Denver Broncos +3
Los Angeles Chargers -3
Total: 42.5
Money Line: Broncos +130, Chargers -150
I’m not sold on the Broncos being a serious threat. Of their eight wins through Week 13 only one is against a team currently with a winning record. Denver’s first win of the year in Week 3 was a dominant 26-7 decision over Tampa Bay. The Bucs entered their Week 15 game with the Chargers boasting a 7-6 record. You still have to win the games and the Broncos have done that taking out Las Vegas twice, Cleveland, Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, and the Jets. Four of those clubs have already reached double-digit setbacks. All five of their losses were to teams that enter Week 15 with at least eight wins.
After scoring a total of 14 points in losses to Baltimore and Kansas City, the Broncos dialed up the heat winning their next three games by averaging 36 points. Over that stretch Bo Nix threw for 874 yards with seven touchdowns. Overall they Broncos have been inconsistent on offense averaging 320.2 yards to rank 21st in the NFL, but Nix has played better and is commanding the offense now that he’s entrenched as the starter. Nix has thrown for more yards and touchdowns Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, who were selected first and second in this year’s draft.
The first meeting between the teams was a typical Chargers victory this season. They held Denver scoreless into the fourth quarter and controlled the football for more than 37 minutes in securing a 23-16 triumph. The Bolts have held 11 of their first 13 opponents to 20 points or less and lead the NFL allowing just 15.9 points per game. They tend to give up chunks of yards but stiffen when it matters most. The Chargers boast the No. 1 red zone defense and are also second in goal-to-go percentage. They’ve also been good on third down holding opponents to a 35 percent conversion rate, seventh-best in the NFL.
You still have to score points in order to win and that could be more difficult for the Chargers with Justin Herbert nursing nagging ailments. He sustained an ankle injury and thigh bruise in the Week 14 loss to Kansas City, though he missed only one play in that game. Herbert finished the contest completing 21 of 30 for 213 yards and a TD. “He has the strength of 10 men,” coach Jim Harbaugh said of his QB.
For the Chargers it’s not about scoring a lot of points, which is why the numbers are lagging. They are 20th in scoring and 24th in total offense. Rather it’s about controlling the clock, not turning the ball over and taking advantage of opportunities. Herbert has thrown only one interception through 13 games and the Bolts have a league-low six giveaways.
Thursday Night Football Schedule
Amazon Prime Video gets its first Thursday night game in Week 2 when the Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills. These two bitter rivals have shared the same division since 1966. Last year, the Bills overtook the Dolphins on the final day of the 2023 regular season with a 21-14 win in Miami. Miami lost its final two games of the regular season to blow the division title.
In Week 3 another AFC East matchup will be on Prime Video when the New York Jets host the New England Patriots. The Jets and Patriots have shared the same division since 1960 as charter members of the American Football League. Last year, the Patriots reached rock bottom and fired the man who many view as the GOAT of NFL coaches. Bill Belichick is gone, and his assistant, Jerod Mayo, is the new head coach. Owner Robert Kraft wants a more collaborative approach but whether it works or not remains to be seen.
New England took QB Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and it would not be a surprise if Maye cracks the lineup, overtaking Jacoby Brissett, currently #1 on the depth chart.
One of the best and oldest rivalries from the NFC East will be renewed in Week 4 when the Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants. Head coach Brian Daboll took a huge step back after leading the G-Men to a playoff win in 2022. QB Daniel Jones is also under intense scrutiny after cashing in on the success of the 2022 campaign.
Dallas is Dallas, which means a highly hyped team that is probably not as good as advertised. But owner Jerry Jones is a marketing genius who keeps the Cowboys in the headlines. This year, the focus will be on head coach Mike McCarthy and QB Dak Prescott, who could both be in the final season of their time in Dallas. Jones is friends with Bill Belichick, who will be rumored to take over for McCarthy every time something goes wrong. Dak Prescott is in the option year of his contract, with Trey Lance waiting in the wings. McCarthy and Prescott are under fire for past playoff failures.
In Week 6, the Seattle Seahawks will host the San Francisco 49ers in renewal of what, at times, is the hottest rivalry in the NFC West. Seattle has a new head coach, Mike Macdonald, who replaces long time HC Pete Carroll. Macdonald made his hones as a defensive coordinator with the Michigan Wolverines and the Baltimore Ravens. Seattle took a step back in 2023 and is eager to rebound.
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