Thursday Night Football features a Week 5 matchup in the NFC, with the Chicago Bears on the road to face the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field. The Commanders come into this game as favorites, while the Bears are the underdogs at moneyline odds of .
The Bears started the season 0-3, with offensive struggles and defensive injuries plaguing the team. The Commanders won back-to-back games to start the season before suffering their first loss in Week 3. Here’s a look at the odds for the Bears vs. Commanders game, along with the latest injury updates and full details on the Thursday Night Football schedule for the 2023-24 NFL season. For the rest of the season, all TNF games will air on Amazon Prime.
Thursday Night Football odds: Bears vs. Commanders
The table below has the latest betting odds for the upcoming TNF matchup. If you see a wager that you’re interested in, just click on the odds to be directed to the sportsbook where you can place your bet.
The Chicago Bears have gotten off to a rough start this season, losing three straight games by margins ranging from 10 points to 31 points. Chicago’s offense has sputtered with QB Justin Fields at the helm, prompting some hints of inner turmoil within the team. The Bears’ secondary has also been hard hit by injuries, prompting the team to sign CB Joejuan Williams off the Vikings practice squad this week, while also moving DB A.J. Thomas from its own practice squad onto the active roster.
The Washington Commanders looked revitalized while starting this season under new ownership, jumping out to wins in their first two games. A lopsided loss at home against the Bills in Week 3 tempered the mood somewhat, and the team is still hoping to see improved performances out of QB Sam Howell, who threw four interceptions against Buffalo. The Commanders gave up a league-high 19 sacks through the first three weeks, the most for any team in that span since 2005.
- Point spread: Bears , Commanders
- Moneyline: Bears , Commanders
- Total: Over/under
The Bears are 0-3 against the spread this season, and 3-0 on the over/under. The Commanders are 1-2 in both categories.
Last updated: Sept. 29
Bears vs. Commanders Thursday Night Football props
The Bears have one of the worst offenses in the league so far, averaging 15.7 points per game. QB Justin Fields is averaging 175.3 yards per game through the air, with 36.3 yards per game rushing. For the Commanders, QB Sam Howell is averaging 223.7 passing yards per game with RB Brian Robinson leading the ground attack with 72 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. Use the table below to sort through Bears vs. Commanders player prop odds from top sportsbooks, using the tab to switch among categories.
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2023 NFL Thursday Night Football schedule
The complete Thursday Night Football schedule for 2023 is below.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1 | Sept. 7 | Detroit Lions def. Kansas City Chiefs, 21-20 | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 2 | Sept. 14 | Philadelphia Eagles def. Minnesota Vikings, 34-28 | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 3 | Sept. 21 | San Francisco 49ers def. New York Giants, 30-12 | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 4 | Sept. 28 | Detroit Lions def. Green Bay Packers, 34-20 | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 5 | Oct. 5 | Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 6 | Oct. 12 | Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 7 | Oct. 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 8 | Oct. 26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Buffalo Bills | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 9 | Nov. 2 | Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 10 | Nov. 9 | Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 11 | Nov. 16 | Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 13 | Nov. 30 | Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 14 | Dec. 7 | New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 15 | Dec. 14 | Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 16 | Dec. 21 | New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
| 17 | Dec. 28 | New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime |
NFL Thursday Night Football betting results for 2022
Below is a recap of last season’s TNF games along with the betting results. Last season’s Thursday games wrapped up on Dec. 29 when the Cowboys visited the Titans.
Week 1: Buffalo Bills 31, Los Angeles Rams 10
The Rams kicked off the season at home in a celebratory atmosphere as defending Super Bowl champs, but the mood quickly shifted. Buffalo dominated the early going before Los Angeles came back to tie it at the half.
After the break, it was all Bills, as the preseason Super Bowl favorites cruised to a double-digit win. The visitors easily covered as 2.5-point favorites, while the under was the right call on the total line of 52 points.
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24
This highly anticipated AFC West showdown lived up to its billing. The Chargers held a 17-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Chiefs took over the game from that point. A 99-yard interception return from Justin Watson put them in front, and they managed to hang on for a 27-24 win. Los Angeles got the cover as four-point underdogs, while the total went just under the 52.5-point benchmark.
Week 3: Cleveland Browns 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
The Steelers held a 14-13 halftime lead, but they couldn’t keep pace in the second half of this AFC North slugfest. Jacoby Brissett threw for two scores, and Nick Chubb ran for 113 yards and a TD in a 12-point win for Cleveland. The Browns covered as 4.5-point favorites, while the over was the correct call on the 38.0 total.
Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals 27, Miami Dolphins 15
Heading into the game, there was a lot of chatter about the undefeated Dolphins. They wound up leaving Cincinnati with their first loss of the season, as Tua Tagovailoa went down to injury. Joe Burrow threw for a pair of scores in the 12-point win. The Bengals covered as four-point favorites, with the total going under the 49-point benchmark.
Week 5: Indianapolis Colts 12, Denver Broncos 9 (OT)
The forecast was for a pretty low-scoring affair heading in, and that turned out to be the case as the Colts won in overtime of what turned into a battle of the kicking game. Indianapolis covered as three-point road underdogs, with the total sailing comfortably under the 42-point game-time line.
Week 6: Washington Commanders 12, Chicago Bears 7
For the second straight week on TNF, the winning side posted a grand total of 12 points. The Commanders were down 7-3 at the half, but they handled the scoring the rest of the way to exit with a five-point win. Washington covered as a one-point road favorite, with the total easily cruising under the 39-point line.
Week 7: Arizona Cardinals 42, New Orleans Saints 34
After two straight low-scoring TNF games, a shootout erupted for this edition. The Cardinals and Saints lit up the scoreboard, with the hosts escaping with an eight-point victory. Arizona covered as a 2.5-point home favorite, while the total easily cruised over the 44-point benchmark.
Week 8: Baltimore Ravens 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22
The Ravens hit Tampa Bay as two-point underdogs and struggled out of the gate. They were down 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but Baltimore took control the rest of the way to exit with a five-point win behind a pair of third-quarter TD passes from Lamar Jackson. The road dogs covered, with the total going over the 46.5-point bar.
Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles 29, Houston Texans 17
The Eagles traveled to Houston as big favorites, and they got the job done with a 12-point win behind a pair of TD throws from Jalen Hurts. While Philadelphia exited with a decisive victory, Texans backers who had the dogs +14 were able to cash tickets. The total just inched over the 45-point over/under.
Week 10: Carolina Panthers 25, Atlanta Falcons 15
The Falcons entered Carolina as 2.5-point favorites, but the hosts had other ideas. The Panthers got out to a 13-0 lead and maintained control the rest of the way for a 10-point home win. D’Onta Foreman racked up 130 rushing yards and a score. Carolina got the cover as a home underdog, while the total went under the game-time line of 41.5.
Week 11: Tennessee Titans 27, Green Bay Packers 17
The Titans held a 14-6 lead at the half, but Green Bay made it interesting heading into the final frame while trailing 20-17. Ryan Tannehill connected with Austin Hooper for a game-sealing TD as Tennessee exited with a 10-point road win. The Titans got the cover as three-point underdogs, while over was the correct call on the 40.5-point total.
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings 33, New England Patriots 26
After being tied at 16-16 at the half, the Patriots took a 26-23 lead into the fourth quarter. The Vikings took charge and mounted a pair of scoring drives to escape with a 33-26 home win. New England failed to cover as a 2.5-point underdog, while the over was the correct call on the total of 41.5 points.
Week 13: Buffalo Bills 24, New England Patriots 10
The Bills were four-point favorites for the trip to New England. The Patriots held a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Buffalo took control from there for a 14-point victory. Josh Allen threw for a pair of TDs in the win. Mac Jones tossed a single score on a tough night for the Patriots offense. The Bills got the cover as road favorites, while under was the right choice on the 43.5-point total.
Week 14: Los Angeles Rams 17, Las Vegas Raiders 16
Baker Mayfield joined the Rams after the Panthers waived him. Just a few days later, he was under center on TNF. The improbable story became that much more Hollywood when Mayfield led an impressive 98-yard scoring drive to pull out a one-point home win. Los Angeles covered as a six-point underdog, while the total went under the 42-point line.
Week 15: San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
The 49ers traveled to Seattle with a chance to clinch the NFC West. The club took a 14-3 lead into the half and never looked back in a 21-13 victory. Brock Purdy threw for 217 yards and a pair of TDs in the win. San Francisco covered as a three-point road favorite, while the total was well under the 42.5-point line.
Week 16: Jacksonville Jaguars 19, New York Jets 3
In a battle of two teams fighting for a playoff spot, the Jets struck first and got out to an early 3-0 lead. That would turn out to be the lone offensive highlight for New York on the evening. Jacksonville dominated the action the rest of the way and took care of the rest of the scoring for a 16-point win. The Jaguars easily covered as 2.5-point road dogs, with the total finishing under the 36.5-point line.
Week 17: Dallas Cowboys 27, Tennessee Titans 13
The Cowboys traveled to Tennessee as 13.5-point favorites, as the Titans rested a number of players with their sights set on a Week 18 date with the Jaguars to decide the AFC South. The hosts made it interesting for three quarters, but Dallas pulled away in the end for a 14-point victory, just covering the pregame spread. The total was just under the 40.5-point line.
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 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 you add to your slip, and you must get all 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 wagers 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 other bets 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 and through the 2021 NFL season.
- 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
For the 2021 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 for this campaign, but the results were closer to even on the spread. The slate as a whole trended toward the under, while it was a virtual coin flip for home teams.
Thursday Night Football FAQ
Where can I watch or stream Thursday Night Football?
Amazon Prime is the broadcast home for the majority of this season’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 are 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 during Thursday Night Football. However, home teams were just 6-11 over the course of 2022’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.