We started the 2023 season with four straight Thursday Night Football games featuring teams on the rise, Super Bowl odds favorites, and storied divisional matchups.
Sadly, when you look at the Week 5 odds, we get our first TNF contest that doesn't exactly, well, spark joy and excitement.
Apologies to the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders but, woof.
The look-ahead NFL odds for this matchup have the Commanders laying around five points over the currently winless Bears. However, considering Washington is trying to rebound from a thrashing by Buffalo... with a game against the Eagles... and the Bears are just trying to not get embarrassed for the first time all year, the official lines — and eventual NFL player props markets — could see a big swing after the Week 4 action.
Nonetheless, we've got the current odds for the upcoming TNF matchup, the Thursday Night Football schedule for 2023, and TNF player props for the key skill positions (once available).
Thursday Night Football odds
Bears vs Commanders opening odds
- Point spread: Chicago +5.5 (-110) at FanDuel | Washington -4.5 (-110) at DraftKings
- Moneyline: Chicago +200 at FanDuel | Washington -218 at DraftKings
- Total: Over 42.5 (-110) at bet365 | Under 42.5 (-110) at bet365
Best Thursday Night Football bonuses
New Users
Up to $1,500 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win! Claim Now
New Users
Get up to $1,000 in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Thursday Night Football 2023 schedule & how to watch
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9/7 | Detroit Lions (21) at Kansas City Chiefs (20) | 8:20 | NBC |
| 2 | 9/14 | Minnesota Vikings (28) at Philadelphia Eagles (34) | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 3 | 9/21 | New York Giants (12) at San Francisco 49ers (30) | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 4 | 9/28 | Detroit Lions (34) at Green Bay Packers (20) | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 5 | 10/5 | Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 6 | 10/12 | Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 7 | 10/19 | Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 8 | 10/26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 9 | 11/2 | Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 10 | 11/9 | Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 11 | 11/16 | Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 12 | 11/23 | San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks | 8:20 | NBC |
| 13 | 11/30 | Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 14 | 12/7 | New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 15 | 12/14 | Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 16 | 12/21 | New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 17 | 12/29 | New York Jets at Cleveland Browns | 8:15 | PRIME |
| 18 | No TNF matchup in Week 18 |
TNF betting tips
From Jason Logan, Covers Senior Industry Analyst
What happened before?
Thursday games present a tight turnaround for the teams involved. Look back at the teams’ recent schedule challenges and see if this short week compounds a busy calendar — especially for the road team. Practice and prep time are at a premium during these short weeks... and they will lose a day to travel.
Injuries loom large
Thursday games also leave less time for teams to heal up. Injured players don’t have the same window for recovery and are often ruled out early. Even players nursing bumps and bruises, or playing through pain, can feel the squeeze of the short week, so read up on who’s hurting — but not listed on the injury report.
Coaching matters
Coaching can give a big edge on the short week. Give the benefit of the doubt to veteran coaches and experienced staff, who are known for their game prep and have navigated the challenges of TNF before.
Baby, it (gets) cold outside
Thursday night games can also be an advantage for cold weather teams come December and January. Temperatures plummet when the sun goes down and places like Green Bay, Chicago, and Buffalo turn into frozen wastelands. While the sub-zero temps impact both sides, visitors from warmer cities or indoor stadiums may struggle to adapt when the mercury drops.
Home-field frenzy
Home-field advantage can get a bit of a boost on Thursday nights. The home crowd has been tailgating all day, rather than partying for a 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. ET kickoff. That ravenous crowd is then released into the stadium, giving the home hospitality a little extra bite.
Thursday Night Football Odds FAQ
There is one TNF game each week, mostly broadcast on Amazon Prime, with some games on NBC.
There are six teams — Detroit, Kansas City, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle — that all play twice on TNF this year.
The Indianapolis Colts have the most TNF wins, with 12 victories in 16 games played.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the winningest team since TNF began in 2006, with a .769 win percentage (10-3).
