The Los Angeles Chargers have secured another prime time appearance as their Week 16 home game against the Denver Broncos has been flexed from Sunday, Dec. 22, to Thursday night, Dec. 19. This marks the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot, following the league's policy amendment last season.
Under the revised policy, Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 can be flexed with at least 28 days notice before the game. Teams are now allowed to make more than one appearance on Amazon Prime Video's 16-game package, with a limit of two flexed games per season within the five-week window.
The upcoming matchup between the Chargers and the Broncos, both vying for playoff spots in the AFC West division, has led to the rescheduling of the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon.
Despite the initial absence of a Thursday game for the Chargers when the NFL schedule was released in May, this will be their second flexed prime time appearance this season. Their recent victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on NBC's “Sunday Night Football” was a result of a previous flex, bumping another matchup to accommodate the Chargers.
Currently boasting a 7-3 record and riding a four-game winning streak, the Chargers are set to face the Baltimore Ravens this week on “Monday Night Football,” marking the third coaching matchup between brothers John and Jim Harbaugh.
Furthermore, the Chargers are scheduled for another Sunday night game on Dec. 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. On the other hand, the Denver Broncos, with a 6-5 record, previously had a Thursday night victory against the Saints on Oct. 17 and are gearing up for a Monday night clash with the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 2.
In their previous encounter on Oct. 13, the Chargers emerged victorious against the Broncos with a 23-16 win in Denver, a game that saw a brief health scare for coach Jim Harbaugh. The upcoming flexed game between these two teams adds another layer of excitement to their rivalry.
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