The NFL regular season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 8 with a potential big game preview. The Buffalo Bills will head to Los Angeles to battle the defending champion Rams. Current odds have the visitors favored with lots of points in the forecast for a must-see primetime meeting of two of the top favorites in Super Bowl futures betting.
Here are the opening lines for the Bills vs. Rams in NFL Week 1, followed by a look at the rest of this year’s Thursday Night Football schedule.
Thursday Night Football lines: Bills vs. Rams odds
Heading into the NFL regular season, the Bills and Rams have high expectations. The TNF opener has the potential to be a thriller as a result. Odds from online sportsbooks are pointing to a close game with a chance for lots of points.
- Point spread: Bills -2 (-110), Rams +2 (-110)
- Point total: 51.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
- Moneyline: Bills -130, Rams +110
Buffalo has been one of the top teams in the AFC for several years running, but the current core has yet to reach the Super Bowl. Last year, the season came to a close with a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Josh Allen will be leading the way for the loaded offense once again, while the defense could be even better following the signing of Von Miller.
It’ll be a celebratory atmosphere for the Rams as they welcome the Bills to SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in a thriller in last year’s Super Bowl. This year’s squad is among the current favorites to win the NFC once again. The offense could be even more efficient in year two of the Matthew Stafford era, while the defense has the potential to be one of the league’s best.
Last updated: Aug. 11, 2022
NFL Thursday Night Football schedule 2022
The 2022 Thursday Night Football schedule has multiple interesting matchups. NBC handles the broadcast duties for Week 1 and Thanksgiving night, while the remainder of this year’s TNF games will be on Amazon Prime Video.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 8 | Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 4 | Sept. 29 | Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 5 | Oct. 6 | Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 6 | Oct. 13 | Washington Commanders @ Chicago Bears | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 7 | Oct. 20 | New Orleans Saints @ Arizona Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 8 | Oct. 27 | Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 9 | Nov. 3 | Philadelphia Eagles @ Houston Texans | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 10 | Nov. 10 | Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 11 | Nov. 17 | Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 12 | Nov. 24 | New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| 13 | Dec. 1 | Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 14 | Dec. 8 | Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Rams | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 15 | Dec. 15 | San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
| 17 | Dec. 29 | Dallas Cowboys @ Tennessee Titans | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime |
Thursday Night Football props
NFL primetime games normally have a lot of props. There are some for the game as a whole or for individual teams, but the most popular props tend to be for player performances. Examples of popular Thursday Night Football player props include the following:
- TD props: Anytime, first and last, multiple TDs
- Over/under on player yards: QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs
- QBs: Attempts, completions, INTs, longest pass
- RBs, WRs, TEs: Attempts, receptions, longest play
- Defensive players: Sacks, INTs, tackles
- Kickers: FGs, PATs, total points
On the game and team side, you can bet on the total points for each quarter and half, the exact winning margin and much more. For each Thursday Night Football game, you’ll have dozens of prop betting options.
Sportsbooks will release the prop betting odds for the Bills vs. Rams in advance of the game. In the interim, here are some players to keep in mind and team notes for both sides as you look ahead to Thursday Night Football.
- Bills: Buffalo averaged 28.4 points and 381.9 total yards per game last year, while allowing 17.0 and 272.8.
- Josh Allen: The current favorite to win the NFL MVP award, Allen threw for 4,407 yards and 36 TDs a season ago.
- Devin Singletary: The RB averaged 51.2 rushing and 13.4 receiving yards per game while finding the end zone seven times in 2021.
- Stefon Diggs: The top target in the passing game, Diggs had 103 receptions, 1,225 yards and 10 TDs last year.
- Rams: Los Angeles averaged 27.1 points and 372.1 total yards per game last season while giving up 21.9 and 344.9.
- Matthew Stafford: In his first year with the Rams offense, Stafford threw for 4,886 yards and 41 TDs.
- Cam Akers: Akers was out for most of last season due to injury, but now he’s likely to be the featured back in the prolific Rams offense once again.
- Cooper Kupp: The MVP of Super Bowl 56 had a season for the ages last year with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 TDs.
Other ways to bet on Thursday Night Football
As you dig deeper into the Thursday Night Football betting menu, you’ll find a host of other options. Here’s a look at some of the other top ways to bet on the first game of the NFL week.
- Single-game parlays: You can place multi-leg wagers just for the TNF game. For example, you could wager on the over/under on total points and a favorite prop or two. The odds will depend on the selections that you add to the slip, and you have to get all of your picks right to win.
- In-game betting: You can wager in real-time as the TNF game plays out. Live betting opens as soon as the game kicks off and can keep going until the final whistle blows. You’ll see updated odds and offerings throughout the game, including options for spreads, totals, props, quarters and halves.
- Alternate lines: If you’re not happy with the main pregame spreads and totals, sportsbooks offer alternate lines where you can give or take additional points. The odds will shift based on the number that you choose, as alternate lines give you the option of taking on more safety or risk for your bets.
Beyond betting on TNF on a standalone basis, you can also use the game as a starting point for multi-game parlays. For example, you could tie together the moneyline outcome with your other favorite calls from the full Sunday slate or Monday Night Football.
Thursday Night Football history/trends
Thursday Night Football became a regular part of the NFL schedule in 2006. Initially reserved for the latter part of the year, TNF has since expanded to become a staple of the weekly NFL slate.
The primetime game has shifted around broadcast outlets several times throughout its history. Amazon Prime is now the main home for TNF, but the Week 1 season opener and Thanksgiving night game will be on NBC.
Since 2006, all 32 teams have played multiple times on TNF. The San Francisco 49ers lead the way with 17 appearances through the end of the 2021 NFL season, while the Detroit Lions have appeared the fewest times with three.
Some squads have excelled under the bright TNF lights on an all-time basis. Here are the top five team records since 2006:
- Green Bay Packers: 9-2, .818
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-3, .750
- New England Patriots: 9-3, .750
- Indianapolis Colts: 11-4, .733
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-3, .728
At the opposite end of the spectrum, a number of clubs have struggled so far on TNF:
- Carolina Panthers: 5-10, .333
- Buffalo Bills: 3-6, .333
- Detroit Lions: 1-2, .333
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-9, .308
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-10, .286
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-10, .286
Last season, 16 NFL games took place on Thursday night. Here’s how the trends and splits shook out for the season:
- Moneyline: Favorites 13-3
- Spreads: Favorites 9-7
- Totals: Over 5-11
- Home/away: Home 8-8
Thursday Night Football moneyline favorites had great success last season, but the results were closer to even on the spread. Last season’s slate trended toward the under, while it was a virtual coin flip for home teams. It’ll be interesting to see if these trends continue or shift for the 2022 Thursday Night Football schedule.
Thursday Night Football FAQ
Where can I watch or stream Thursday Night Football?
Amazon Prime is the broadcast home for the majority of this year’s Thursday Night Football schedule. The subscription service will cover all games with the exception of the Week 1 opener and the Thanksgiving night game, both of which will be on NBC. For those two games, viewers can also stream the action on the NBC Sports app or Peacock.
Do home teams have an advantage on Thursday Night Football?
Due to the short week of preparation and not having to travel, there is a perceived built-in advantage for home teams on Thursday Night Football. However, home teams were just 8-8 on last year’s TNF slate. As always, view each game on its own merits when making wagering decisions.
When was the first Thursday Night Football game?
There were occasional NFL Thursday night games from the late 1970s onward, but it has been a regular part of the schedule since 2006. The first game for the modern era took place on Nov. 23, 2006. The Kansas City Chiefs picked up a 19-10 victory over the visiting Denver Broncos on Thanksgiving night.
What’s the highest-scoring game in Thursday Night Football history?
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 41-39 on Sept. 21, 2017. The visiting Rams held a 24-13 lead at the half, with the two teams combining for another six TDs after the break. For bettors, the Rams at +3 and over 40.5 points were the correct calls for the wild shootout.