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Thursday Night Football is usually a mixed bag. These short-week games often mean sloppy games. Worse, it seems NFL schedule-makers purposely slot bad teams into the Thursday matchup. But on the other hand, it’s an extra night to make money betting on the NFL. With only one game per week, it allows bettors to hone in their focus rather than spread themselves too thin on Sundays.
To help you maximize your Thursday Night Football bets, we’ve compiled this guide. It covers the major how-to’s of football betting on this primetime matchup plus our very own expert tips. There is a lot to cover so let’s get right into it.
Best TNF Bets Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Thursday Night Football kicks off with a highly anticipated AFC East showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, both teams eyeing a Super Bowl run this season. For the Dolphins, winning at home is crucial if they want to seriously contend for the division title. As we break down this Week 2 matchup, we’ll explore the best bets and predictions for what promises to be a thrilling game.
Despite losing star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the Bills’ offense remains potent under quarterback Josh Allen. The mid-season change in play-calling to Joe Brady led to a reduced role for Diggs, suggesting that his absence might not impact the team as much as expected. Buffalo plans to increase its rushing volume while focusing on yards after the catch in the passing game, with rookie Ray Davis and veteran Curtis Samuel stepping in to fill the void. With these adjustments, the Bills are expected to maintain one of the league’s top offenses.
On the other side, the Dolphins face challenges, particularly with their offensive line, which has weakened following the loss of guard Robert Hunt to free agency. This vulnerability could spell trouble for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the Bills’ defense. Additionally, Miami’s pass rush, featuring Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips, remains uncertain as both return from severe injuries. With Josh Allen’s track record of success against the Dolphins and Miami’s defense adjusting to a new coordinator, the Bills are favored to win a close game, 27-24.
TNF Betting Odds
Once the NFL season resumes, you can visit this platform to access the latest Thursday Night Football bets. We will provide updated odds for the primary bet types, including moneyline, over/under, and spread, for each week’s TNF matchup.
Best Thursday Night Football bonuses
Here’s a noteworthy aspect of TNF betting (or any NFL betting): it might come at no cost. Leading online sportsbooks are currently offering generous amounts of free play, both presently and during the NFL regular season. Taking advantage of these promotions means you’ll have complimentary funds to pursue the most lucrative TNF bets. Check out the table below for a preview of the bonuses that will be up for grabs:
And here’s an additional point of interest—those highlighted bookies not only present attractive bonuses but also provide exceptional mobile-betting experiences. This feature is particularly advantageous for betting on the go, especially when you find yourself watching TNF away from home.
Thursday Night Football Schedule
Thursday Night Football is very much a “prime time game.” Say what you want about its game quality, but playing on prime time — old TV term for peak viewing hours between 8 and 11 pm EST — still has huge significance. The matchup draws the nation’s eyes in the same manner that Monday Night Football or Sunday Night Football do.
Thursday Night Football happens from Week 2 to Week 17. The only weeks that don’t feature TNF are Week 1 and Week 18. One week even includes the nightcap of Thanksgiving, which means way more eyeballs than usual.
In 2023, the NFL passed a new rule that allows Thursday Night Football games to be “flexed.” For those unfamiliar, flexing means the league can change who’s playing. Usually, this is done to feature a more interesting matchup with implications. Flex scheduling can be used only from Week 13 to Week 17, nothing else.
Obviously, because swapping a Thursday game for Sunday presents huge scheduling conflicts — for the teams and fans attending — the league has to make these changes 28 days in advance. That 28-day rule is specific to TNF, and not the others. So far, nothing has been flexed. This is more common for Sunday Night Football but inevitably it’ll happen on Thursday eventually.
How to bet Thursday Night Football like a sharp?
NFL betting, whether it’s on Thursdays, Sundays, or Mondays, is all pretty much the same thing. Allow us to explain a few of the bet tips you’ll find handy when betting games on TNF:
Do Your Research
But here’s the thing: it takes research to uncover information to use in betting. As a bettor, you should be evaluating Thursday matchups in-depth. What are potential X-factors in the game? If you notice a team is struggling to defend the run gets matched up with the NFL leader in rushing — that’s a game-breaking mismatch. It might be worth taking bets on rushing yards, which you’d find in the prop market.
Expect The Unexpected
The one thing we’ll say is very specific to Thursday Night Football betting is this: expect the unexpected. Since teams typically only have three days off before playing this game, the usual preparation gets thrown out the window. Coaches, players, and even bettors don’t have the usual amount of time to “scout” their opponent.
Check The Stats
What results out of that is usually sloppiness or downright mistakes — turnovers, penalties, missed assignments, etc. Sometimes that leads to an outpouring of points or just a lack of it. Both ends of the spectrum are on the table with TNF.
How To Watch Thursday Night Football?
All the best bets for Thursday Night Football can be had at one of the online sportsbooks listed below. Moneyline, over/under, props, and spreads — it’s all there for the taking for every single TNF matchup. Heck, prop bets Thursday Night Football are especially large, which can create hundreds of unique betting opportunities. You can see what’s available for this week’s game by visiting one of the bookies below.
One thing that really stands out about the sites above is their app football betting experiences. You can easily gamble on the go on these apps, which is especially handy for TNF because you might not be at home like you would on a Sunday. Prime video will host the games for the 2024/25 TNF.
| 1 | Date | Matchup |
| 2 | September 12 | Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins |
| 3 | September 19 | New England Patriots @ New York Jets |
| 4 | September 26 | Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants |
| 5 | October 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons |
| 6 | October 10 | San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks |
| 7 | October 17 | Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints |
| 8 | October 24 | Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams |
| 9 | October 31 | Houston Texans @ New York Jets |
| 10 | November 7 | Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens |
| 11 | November 14 | Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles |
| 12 | November 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns |
| 13 | November 29 | Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs |
| 14 | December 5 | Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions |
| 15 | December 12 | Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers |
| 16 | December 19 | Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals |
| 17 | December 26 | Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears |
Which team has the most TNF wins all-time?
| Team | Wins |
| Detriot Lions | 43 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 41 |
| Chicago Bears | 30 |
| Green Bay Packers | 25 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 19 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 17 |
| New England Patriots | 16 |
| Indiana Colts | 16 |
| New York Giants | 16 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 15 |
| Denver Broncos | 14 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 14 |
