Tag: TNF

Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

The Broncos have seven games left to attempt to get into the NFL playoffs.

The Denver Broncos are set to host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a Week 12 showdown with big implications in the AFC playoff race.

The Broncos are set to travel 19,930 miles this season and face the 12th-hardest strength of schedule in the league. Before any flexes, Denver’s initial schedule includes four prime-time games.

The Broncos will play nine games at their home Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and eight games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the AFC gets a ninth home game.

Related: Broncos 2023 Wallpaper Schedule

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson will aim to bounce back this fall after a disappointing first season with the Broncos in 2022. Wilson should be helped by the arrival of new head coach Sean Payton, a QB guru.

Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT)
1 Sun, Sept. 10 CBS vs. Raiders 2:25 p.m.
2 Sun, Sept. 17 CBS vs. Commanders 2:25 p.m.
3 Sun, Sept. 24 CBS @ Dolphins 11 a.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 1 CBS @ Bears 11 a.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 8 CBS vs. Jets 2:25 p.m.
6 TNF, Oct. 12 Amazon @ Chiefs 6:15 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 22 CBS vs. Packers 2:25 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 29 CBS vs. Chiefs 2:25 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 5 BYE 
10 MNF, Nov. 13 ESPN @ Bills 6:15 p.m.
11 SNF, Nov. 19 NBC vs. Vikings 6:20 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 26 Fox vs. Browns 2:05 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 3 CBS @ Texans 11:00 a.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 10 CBS @ Chargers 2:25 p.m.
15 Sat/Sun, Dec. 16/17 TBD @ Lions TBD
16 Sun, Dec. 24 NFL Network vs. Patriots 6:15 p.m.
17 Sun, Dec. 31 CBS vs. Chargers 2:25 p.m.
18 Sat/Sun, Jan. 6/7 TBD @ Raiders TBD

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Payton will aim to end that streak in 2023.

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49ers can record franchise 1st with Week 12 win in Seattle

The #49ers can do something this year that they’ve never done before in Seattle.

The 49ers’ Week 12 matchup against the Seahawks will offer the club an opportunity to do something it has never done since Seattle entered the NFL for the 1976 season – beat them in Seattle in consecutive seasons.

There admittedly weren’t many opportunities for wins in the Pacific Northwest during the first few decades of Seahawks football since they were in the AFC. San Francisco played in Seattle four times before the Seahawks came to the NFC West in 2002. The 49ers were victorious in 1976, 1988 and 1991, then lost in 1997 before winning their inaugural NFC West showdown in Seattle during the 2002 season.

They’ve played there every year since with wins in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2019 and 2022. Winning in 2023 would be their first back-to-back wins in Seattle since 1988 and 1991, and their first time doing it in consecutive seasons.

A victory for San Francisco would offer some symbolism about how they’ve retaken control of a rivalry that got away from them for most of the 2010s.

Even bigger than the symbolism though is the boost it would give the 49ers in their quest to retain the NFC West crown. They’re a game up on the Seahawks and hold the intra-division tiebreaker. Striking the first blow in the hunt for the head-to-head tiebreak would put San Francisco firmly in the drivers seat to retain supremacy in the division, and over a team that’s been a thorn in their side for most of the last two decades.

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Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

The Broncos have eight games left to attempt to get into the NFL’s playoff picture.

The Denver Broncos are set to host the Minnesota Vikings in a Sunday Night Football showdown in Week 11.

The Broncos are set to travel 19,930 miles this season and face the 12th-hardest strength of schedule in the league. Before any flexes, Denver’s initial schedule includes four prime-time games.

The Broncos will play nine games at their home Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and eight games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the AFC gets a ninth home game.

Related: Broncos 2023 Wallpaper Schedule

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson will aim to bounce back this fall after a disappointing first season with the Broncos in 2022. Wilson should be helped by the arrival of new head coach Sean Payton, a QB guru.

Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT)
1 Sun, Sept. 10 CBS vs. Raiders 2:25 p.m.
2 Sun, Sept. 17 CBS vs. Commanders 2:25 p.m.
3 Sun, Sept. 24 CBS @ Dolphins 11 a.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 1 CBS @ Bears 11 a.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 8 CBS vs. Jets 2:25 p.m.
6 TNF, Oct. 12 Amazon @ Chiefs 6:15 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 22 CBS vs. Packers 2:25 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 29 CBS vs. Chiefs 2:25 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 5 BYE 
10 MNF, Nov. 13 ESPN @ Bills 6:15 p.m.
11 SNF, Nov. 19 NBC vs. Vikings 6:20 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 26 Fox vs. Browns 2:05 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 3 CBS @ Texans 11:00 a.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 10 CBS @ Chargers 2:25 p.m.
15 Sat/Sun, Dec. 16/17 TBD @ Lions TBD
16 Sun, Dec. 24 NFL Network vs. Patriots 6:15 p.m.
17 Sun, Dec. 31 CBS vs. Chargers 2:25 p.m.
18 Sat/Sun, Jan. 6/7 TBD @ Raiders TBD

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Payton will aim to end that streak in 2023.

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3 biggest winners and losers of Thursday Night Football: Bengals face Joe Burrow injury disaster (again)

The Bengals are done if Joe Burrow’s wrist injury is serious.

Well, we were supposed to see an epic clash of contending teams on Thursday Night Football. Instead, largely thanks to Joe Burrow’s wrist injury, we got a 34-20 clunker in favor of the Baltimore Ravens, who are cementing themselves as a top-tier AFC team.

It’s mid-November now, so that means playoff chases will soon start to heat up in earnest. That also means it’s time to start taking stock of what the Cincinnati Bengals can still accomplish (with or without Burrow) and where the Ravens might be headed in the coming weeks, in January, and perhaps even February.

Let’s unpack the winners and losers from a weird and dramatic night in Baltimore.

NFL fans thought the Bengals might have hidden a Joe Burrow wrist injury after questionable footage surfaced

What were the Bengals hiding about Joe Burrow’s fishy injury situation?

At first glance, Joe Burrow seemingly just suffered a severe wrist injury on Thursday night. It’s an unfortunate break, to be sure, but it is also an all-too-common one from playing professional football. But there might be more than meets the eye with the Cincinnati Bengals’ talisman’s health and how the team can hold its own if he misses significant time.

At least in what the Bengals wanted everyone to know about Burrow.

You see, before Burrow even left the Bengals’ matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, footage shown on the Amazon Prime broadcast (courtesy of WCPO in Cincinnati) shows that the quarterback might have already been dealing with a wrist ailment before the game. While a little unclear at first, the clip features Burrow wearing some sort of brace on the same wrist that would eventually force him out. Hmm.

There’s one major problem here — Burrow wasn’t listed on the injury report by the Bengals. If proven that he already had a wrist ailment before Thursday Night Football — usually, you don’t wear braces on healthy wrists — this would be a demonstration of Cincinnati circumventing the NFL’s injury-reporting rules. It doesn’t help that the Bengals apparently deleted a Twitter post featuring the video, presumably because it gave away that Burrow wasn’t healthy and should’ve been on the injury report. Uh-oh.

Beyond following league rules, there could be a lot of underhanded ethics at play here. The league does not mandate that teams properly disclose injuries purely for competitive reasons. (Though that plays a huge role.) It is also a de facto message to fans who might travel to games and spend time and money, as well as fantasy football managers and bettors (especially as the NFL envelops itself more around sports betting) on what to watch for.

The Bengals might have to brace themselves for a requisite punishment because this doesn’t look good.

Joe Burrow was in so much agony from a wrist injury that he couldn’t grip the ball

Joe Burrow literally JUST got healthy!

Joe Burrow just might be snake-bitten in 2023. There’s no two ways about it.

It wasn’t long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals’ star quarterback tried to work through a harmful calf injury. After taking nearly half the season to recover, Burrow started to look healthy and like himself again. And with a healthy Burrow, the Bengals themselves started resembling Super Bowl contenders again.

They might have to recalibrate those expectations now.

Late in the first half of the Bengals’ matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, Burrow appeared to injure his wrist. The severity of his ailment seemed to be so serious that Burrow literally couldn’t grip the football on the Cincinnati sideline. Once he realized his predicament, the quarterback shook his head and kneeled in apparent frustration.

Burrow would leave the game in ambiguity as we await further word on the severity of his injury:

Needless to say, this could be a worst-case scenario for Burrow and the Bengals. They had only just started getting a rhythm as a team in a hopeful playoff push. If Burrow once again misses any extended time moving forward, that might be a death sentence on Cincinnati’s aspirations through the rest of 2023.

Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

The Broncos have nine games to attempt to get into the NFL playoff hunt.

The Denver Broncos are set to face the Buffalo Bills in a Monday Night Football showdown in Week 10.

The Broncos are set to travel 19,930 miles this season and face the 12th-hardest strength of schedule in the league. Before any flexes, Denver’s initial schedule includes four prime-time games.

The Broncos will play nine games at their home Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and eight games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the AFC gets a ninth home game.

Related: Broncos 2023 Wallpaper Schedule

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson will aim to bounce back this fall after a disappointing first season with the Broncos in 2022. Wilson should be helped by the arrival of new head coach Sean Payton, a QB guru.

Denver Broncos 2023 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT)
1 Sun, Sept. 10 CBS vs. Raiders 2:25 p.m.
2 Sun, Sept. 17 CBS vs. Commanders 2:25 p.m.
3 Sun, Sept. 24 CBS @ Dolphins 11 a.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 1 CBS @ Bears 11 a.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 8 CBS vs. Jets 2:25 p.m.
6 TNF, Oct. 12 Amazon @ Chiefs 6:15 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 22 CBS vs. Packers 2:25 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 29 CBS vs. Chiefs 2:25 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 5 BYE 
10 MNF, Nov. 13 ESPN @ Bills 6:15 p.m.
11 SNF, Nov. 19 NBC vs. Vikings 6:20 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 26 Fox vs. Browns 2:05 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 3 CBS @ Texans 2:05 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 10 CBS @ Chargers 2:25 p.m.
15 Sat/Sun, Dec. 16/17 TBD @ Lions TBD
16 Sun, Dec. 24 NFL Network vs. Patriots 6:15 p.m.
17 Sun, Dec. 31 CBS vs. Chargers 2:25 p.m.
18 Sat/Sun, Jan. 6/7 TBD @ Raiders TBD

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Payton will have to get the team back on track quickly if they’re going to compete for a playoff spot this fall.

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3 biggest winners and losers of Thursday Night Football: Woeful Bears help 2024 draft pick

The Bears’ TNF win officially opens the door to drafting a new QB.

No one expected a show of fireworks between the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. In fact, we knew this was a patently garbage game on paper and would probably not morph into an instant classic.

In a 16-13 win for Chicago, the Bears and Panthers predictably delivered boredom amid an unrepentant snoozefest. As someone who literally (and regrettably) watched all 60 minutes, I’m not sure I remember more than a handful of select plays. And even then, this game is already fading from my memory because I’m probably trying to repress its ugliness.

But it wasn’t all bad! Chicago’s victory carries some serious ramifications for the organization’s future. Meanwhile, Bryce Young’s failure to outduel a former Division II quarterback doesn’t spell out good things for his future.

Let’s dive into the winners and losers from TNF in Chicago.

D.J. Moore reunited with former Panthers teammate Brian Burns by literally jumping into his arms

D.J. Moore REALLY missed Brian Burns.

Aside from a random Jason Kelce appearance and some odd 2024 draft implications, there wasn’t much for your average football fan to enjoy during the Chicago Bears’ Thursday night matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

But that same sentiment didn’t apply to two crucial figures for both teams: Bears star receiver D.J. Moore and Panthers franchise pass-rusher Brian Burns. Once teammates in Carolina, Moore was traded to Chicago last spring as part of the deal that helped the Panthers land Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

And when Moore finally saw Burns again on the sideline before the game in Chicago, he couldn’t help but explode with joy at seeing his friend again:

Awww. That’s just the best. Even in different cities on different teams, it’s apparent that Moore and Burns remain close friends. Shoot, I’d probably hug my pal the same if I hadn’t seen him in a while, too. Who wouldn’t?

Al Michaels seemed overjoyed that Jason Kelce’s TNF appearance temporarily saved him from Bears-Panthers

Al Michaels owes Jason Kelce a fruit basket for helping him ignore TNF.

We knew the Chicago Bears’ matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football would be an atrocious rock fight. Even with some weird draft incentives for the Bears, no rational football-loving mind saw this game on paper and thought it was a burgeoning classic.

Apparently, the folks who work and produce TNF thought the same thing! So they prepared accordingly. Instead of keeping full attention on a game featuring Tyson Bagent and Bryce Young — a disappointing No. 1 overall pick — the broadcast brought in Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce into the booth.

Why, you might ask?

Well, for no discernible reason other than that Kelce is a magnetic personality, and this was one of the obvious worst TNF games on paper all year. No one, not even the announcers, really wanted to watch this matchup closely. The gambit with Kelce — easily more interesting by himself than two of the NFL’s worst teams on the field — clearly worked with an overjoyed Al Michaels. Any criticism of the announcer lacking enthusiasm seemingly faded the moment he got to talk to Kelce:

Who could possibly blame Michaels for perking up once Kelce sat next to him? He seems like such a fun guy with a lot of energy. Now imagine talking to Kelce instead of devoting your energy to a horrid football game. It’d be a no-brainer every time.