The Evolution of Thursday Night Football
Ever find yourself nodding along on Friday morning as coworkers dissect a game you didn’t even know was happening? You might hear them mention big plays or a surprise ending, all under the banner of “Thursday Night Football.” If you’ve been wondering why America’s biggest sport is suddenly a weeknight event, you’re definitely not alone.
At its heart, Thursday Night Football is simply one of the NFL’s weekly regular-season games, carrying the same weight as the ones played on Sunday. The main difference is the day it’s played and, for most fans, where you watch it. In a major shift for live sports, Amazon now has the exclusive rights to broadcast most of these NFL games, moving them from traditional TV to its Prime Video streaming service.
From TV Special to Weekly Ritual: The Story Behind Thursday Games
Thursday Night Football might feel like a permanent part of the week now, but it started out as something much rarer. Initially, the NFL only scheduled a handful of special Thursday games, mostly around holidays like Thanksgiving. They were treated as unique events, a break from the league’s typical Sunday-centric schedule.
Seeing the high viewership for these one-off games, the NFL realized it had a golden opportunity. By creating a regular Thursday game, it could capture a massive prime-time audience on a night with little competition. This kicked off a bidding war among TV networks, each wanting to become the exclusive home for this new weekly football tradition. For a time, the games were even broadcast on the NFL Network, the league’s own TV channel.
This competition is all about something called TV rights deals. Essentially, networks pay the NFL enormous sums of money for the right to broadcast its games. The more exclusive the game package, the higher the price. For years, various networks shared the rights to Thursday Night Football, but the landscape was about to change dramatically.
Eventually, the streaming giant Amazon entered the bidding war and made an offer traditional TV networks couldn’t match. By paying billions for the exclusive rights, Amazon ensured that Thursday Night Football would become a streaming-only event. It was a landmark move that shifted a major piece of American sports from broadcast television to the internet.
What Channel Is the Game On? The Only Place to Watch TNF in 2024
Flipping through channels looking for the game? You can stop. Thanks to that massive exclusive rights deal, Thursday Night Football is now exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This means you won’t find the main national broadcast on regular TV channels like ESPN, CBS, or FOX. It’s a huge shift in how we watch sports, moving a primetime NFL game from traditional television to a streaming service.
The good news for anyone with a Prime account is that watching Thursday Night Football doesn’t cost anything extra. If you already have an Amazon Prime membership for shipping or movies, you automatically have access to every Thursday game all season long. There is no separate “NFL package” or additional fee required to tune in; it’s simply part of the standard Prime subscription.
There is one small exception to this rule. To ensure local fans can always watch their home team, the game is also broadcast on a free, over-the-air TV station—but only in the home cities of the two teams playing. For example, if the Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Dallas Cowboys, fans in the Philadelphia and Dallas metro areas can watch on a local channel. For everyone else across the country, Prime Video is the only way to watch.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Streaming NFL Games on Amazon Prime
Now that you know where to go, finding the game on Prime Video is usually the easy part. When you open the app on a Thursday night, Amazon makes the live game impossible to miss—it will almost always be the first thing you see on the home screen. Just click on the big “Thursday Night Football” banner to start watching instantly. If for some reason it’s not front and center, you can always navigate to the “Sports” or “Live & Upcoming” section to find it.
Once the game is playing, you have a secret weapon that traditional TV doesn’t offer: the Prime Video NFL X-Ray feature. Have you ever wondered who a specific player is, or what a statistic like “rushing yards” actually means? By simply tapping your screen (on a phone or tablet) or pressing “up” on your TV remote, you can access real-time stats, player info, and team details without ever leaving the game. It’s an incredibly helpful tool for new fans who want to learn on the fly.
Of course, streaming isn’t always perfect. If your game suddenly starts buffering or the picture quality drops, don’t panic. These common Amazon Prime NFL streaming problems can often be fixed with a few simple steps.
Before you get too frustrated, try this quick troubleshooting guide:
- Check your internet: Run a quick speed test on another device to make sure your connection isn’t the issue. Live sports require a stable connection.
- Restart the app: Close the Prime Video app completely and then reopen it. This simple “reboot” solves most minor glitches.
- Try a different device: If the game still isn’t working on your TV, try watching on your phone. This helps determine if the problem is with the device itself or your broader internet connection.
Who Are the Voices of TNF? Meet Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit
When you tune into Thursday Night Football, you’re not just watching the game; you’re hearing it through the voices of two of the most famous broadcasters in sports. The main broadcast team for TNF on Prime Video features the legendary duo of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit. But what exactly do they do? Their roles are distinct and designed to give you the complete story of the game.
The voice you’ll hear most is Al Michaels, who handles the play-by-play. Think of him as the narrator of the game, describing the action exactly as it unfolds on the field—who has the ball, how far they ran, and what just happened. If a name in sports broadcasting is iconic, it’s his; Michaels has been the lead voice for countless Super Bowls and even called the famous “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey game.
Alongside him is Kirk Herbstreit, who serves as the color analyst. If Michaels tells you what happened, Herbstreit tells you why it happened. As a former star college quarterback, he provides expert insight into the strategy, player decisions, and the bigger picture of the game. Many viewers will recognize him as the lead analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay. Together, their partnership brings a classic, authoritative feel to Amazon’s modern broadcast.
Is Thursday Football as Good as Sunday? The ‘Short Week’ Explained
With a legendary broadcast team, you might assume every TNF game is a classic. But there’s a long-running debate among fans and players about whether Thursday games are as exciting as their Sunday counterparts. The entire controversy boils down to one simple concept that dramatically impacts every player on the field: the “short week.”
Normally, players get a full week to recover from a physically punishing Sunday game. When a team has to play again on Thursday, however, they only get three days of rest. This is what’s known as the “short week.” Imagine putting your body through an intense, full-contact workout, and then having to do it all over again with only half your usual recovery time. That’s the challenge every player faces heading into Thursday Night Football.
Because of this quick turnaround, many argue that the quality of play can suffer. With less time to heal and prepare, players are more fatigued, and teams have less time to install complex game plans. This can sometimes lead to games that feel a bit sloppier or less polished than a Sunday showdown, where both teams are operating at full strength and with a complete week of practice.
So why does the NFL schedule these games? For the league and its partners like Amazon, a standalone game on a weeknight is a huge television draw, capturing the attention of millions. While the debate over game quality continues, every TNF matchup still counts in the standings and often features the league’s biggest stars. Ultimately, you’ll have to judge for yourself whether the action lives up to the Sunday standard.
Who’s Playing This Year? The Complete 2024 Thursday Night Football Schedule
Now that you know the story behind TNF, you can plan which games to watch. To find out who plays on the NFL game this week, simply find the current date in the full 2024 NFL Thursday game schedule below. All games are broadcast exclusively on Prime Video.
- Week 2 (Sept. 12): Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
- Week 3 (Sept. 19): New England Patriots @ New York Jets
- Week 4 (Sept. 26): Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
- Week 5 (Oct. 3): Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
- Week 6 (Oct. 10): San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
- Week 7 (Oct. 17): Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints
- Week 8 (Oct. 24): Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams
- Week 9 (Oct. 31): Houston Texans @ New York Jets
- Week 10 (Nov. 7): Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
- Week 11 (Nov. 14): Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 12 (Nov. 21): Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns
- Week 13 (Nov. 29): Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (Black Friday Game)
- Week 14 (Dec. 5): Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
- Week 15 (Dec. 12): Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
- Week 16 (Dec. 19): Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 17 (Dec. 26): Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
If you’re not sure where to start, matchups featuring famous teams like the Dallas Cowboys (Week 4) or Green Bay Packers (Week 14) are always a great entry point. The biggest new event this season, however, is the first-ever NFL Black Friday football game on November 29th. Taking place the day after Thanksgiving, this special afternoon game aims to become a new holiday tradition. Just like the other Thursday games, it’s an exclusive part of the Prime Video schedule.
You’re Ready for Kickoff: Your 3-Step Plan to Enjoy Thursday Night Football
You’ve gone from wondering what Thursday Night Football is all about to understanding why it exists, where to find it, and what to expect. The next time you see football taking over your Prime Video account or hear coworkers discussing a midweek game, you’ll know exactly what’s happening and be ready to join the conversation.
Ready to give it a try? Here’s a simple three-step plan for your first game night:
- Pick a Game: Glance at the schedule and choose a matchup that sounds interesting.
- Open Prime Video: On Thursday night, open the app on your TV or device—the game will be front and center.
- Follow Along with X-Ray: If you get lost, use Amazon’s X-Ray feature for quick player stats and rule explanations.
You’re no longer on the outside looking in. Thursday night is no longer a mystery but an opportunity to relax with an exciting live event. You have everything you need to tune in with confidence. Enjoy the game.