"Thursday Night Football" has become an NFL staple in recent years. It began during the 2006 season late in the year. In 2012, it started on the second week of the regular season and ran through Week 17. Amazon acquired the exclusive rights in 2021 and retains those rights for 2026.
Whether you like it or not, these standalone games are becoming more common in the NFL. While the league gets to play on a day other than Sunday and Monday consistently, there isn't a player out there who looks forward to less practice and less rest on a short week. In past seasons, Thursday night games acquired a reputation for being sloppy matchups featuring lesser teams, but that is no longer the case. NFL schedule makers absolutely crushed this year's slate.
2026 Thursday Night Football Schedule
Here's a rundown of each Thursday night game for the 2026 season. Each contest will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET:
Week 12 Thanksgiving Slate
The Week 12 Thanksgiving slate features three marquee games:
- Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
- Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (nightcap)
Check back soon, as we will rank all of these games!