The fall loves a good rivalry in the NFL. And the Bengals and Ravens have a fierce history against each other.
The Ravens sit atop the AFC North, while the Bengals are in the cellar, but the gap between them isn’t insurmountable. And a win by Cincinnati could shake up the standings in a big way (though a Ravens victory could put an effective end to the Bengals post-season dreams).
The Ravens won the first match-up of the two teams earlier this year, with a 27-24 squeaker. The team is still smarting, however, as it was the Bengals who ended their season in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Here’s how to watch the matchup and what you can expect from Thursday night games tonight and moving forward.
Which NFL teams are playing on Thursdays this season?
Here’s who’s playing where and when. (The home team is listed second.)
Thursday, Nov. 16
Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Nov. 23
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
Friday, Nov. 24
Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets, 3:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Nov. 30
Seattle Seahawks vs Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Dec. 7
New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Dec. 14
Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Thursday, Dec. 28
New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime
Can I watch NFL Thursday night games for free on broadcast television?
If you live in Baltimore or Cincinnati? Sure. Otherwise, probably not. Thursday night games are only viewable over the air if you’re in the broadcast zones of the two teams who are playing. If not, you’ll need an Amazon Prime account.
Can I stream NFL Thursday night games live online if I don’t have an Amazon Prime account?
Nope. Amazon has exclusivity to virtually all Thursday night games. (The only exception will be on Thanksgiving.) Other streaming services can’t carry them.
What changes has Amazon brought to 2023 NFL games?
Amazon is using machine learning this season to identify pivotal situations, letting fans read the play and track open receivers in real time. It will also guide viewers how fourth-down decisions are made. Meanwhile, a feature called Field Goal Target Zones overlays multiple lines on the field that show the statistical likelihoods that a kicker will make a field goal.
If you join the game in progress, a Rapid Recap feature lets you catch the action you missed before you jump into the livestream, streamlining the viewing process.
The broadcasts will also feature many of the twists from last year, including overlaying stats and game updates using its “X-Ray” technology, much like it offers information on which actors are in a scene during a film or TV show.
Who is Amazon’s broadcast team?
Al Michaels, who has called both Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football, leads the team. Kirk Herbstreit, who until last year had focused mainly on college games and been a key player on ESPN’s “College GameDay” program, contributes color commentary.
An alternate stream for younger audiences, with the YouTube troop Dude Perfect replacing the standard play-by-play and color commentary team, is also available.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the Thursday night games?
Yes. The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market as well as any played in prime time.
