Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Thursday Night Football announce Richard Sherman during pregame show between Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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Why is there no Thursday Night Football tonight? No Thursday Night Football January 2, 2025

And just like that, we are in the final week of the 2024 NFL Regular Season. It has been an interesting 17 weeks and us NFL fans have been treated to some spectacular moments to keep us occupied!

From debating over who should be the season MVP to which team is going to win the Super Bowl LIX; from the Chiefs losing just 1 game through week 17 to Jared Goff winning after throwing 5 interceptions and losing after throwing 5 touchdowns. These 17 weeks have given us action-packed thrillers and some games and stats that will go straight into the NFL history books.

And with week 18 upon us, there is a lot to look forward to. From the Pro-Bowl roster being announced to Saquon Barkley deliberately missing out on an all-time record, the last week has a lot in store for us. But what seems to be missing is the week 18 Thursday Night Football game.

So, is there a TNF game tonight? And if not, why no Thursday Night Football tonight? Let’s get to the answers right away!

Is there a Thursday Night Football game in week 18?

No. Sadly for the NFL fans around the world, there will be no Thursday Night Football game tonight.

The NFL has been quite consistent about ‘not including’ Thursday Night Football games in the last week of the regular season. This was the protocol when there were 17 weeks (16 games per team) in the regular season (from 1978 to 2020).

Even after the league adopted the 18-week schedule which includes 17 games per team and 1 bye-week, the rules for no Thursday Night Football in week 18 remained the same. Hence, the last Thursday Night Football game was the week 17 Bears vs. Seahawks game.

Also Read: No Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs in week 18 as this QB will start for Kansas City!

But why is there no Thursday Night Football game in week 18 of the regular season?

Why is there no TNF game in Week 18?

The absence of a TNF game from week 18 is a deliberate move from the NFL to ensure some key aspects. This includes a mix of competitive integrity, removal of strategic manipulation, player safety and viewer dynamics.

With no Thursday Night Football game on week 18, majority of the games are played on Sunday, with some occasionally being played on Saturday. This ensures that all teams are playing on a leveled-playing field and no one is getting an unfair advantage.

With playoff spots on the line in the final week, the league tries to ensure that no team tries to strategically manipulate results to their advantage. Hence, most of the games start simultaneously. If a TNF game happens, the result will be known days ahead of Sunday which can change the course of how other teams approach their game.

As for the viewer dynamics, the NFL uses flexible scheduling for marquee match-ups to be broadcasted to the widest of audience bases across the globe. No TNF game also means the players are not subjected to a shorter week, minimizing the risk that also focuses on player welfare.

NFL Week 18 schedule begins with Saturday’s Double-Header, Browns at Ravens and Bengals at Steelers. The primetime Sunday Night Football game will feature a monumental clash between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings for the supremacy of NFC North and the NFC top seed too!

(Image Credits: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images)

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Why no Thursday Night Football tonight? Week 18 TNF

Ashwin Rawat

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My story begins as a young, enthusiastic kid who always wanted to watch sports, ALWAYS. And now, I get to watch and work for sports, all the time! I have been following many sports for more than 2 decades, new to many and expanding my horizon. With more than 12 years of experience in writing, Content Management and Strategy, my goal is to do my bit at The Playoffs and reach new heights, together. A Jack Of Trade, Master Of None – Send me sports related memes and we can be best friends!