It's Thursday once again, and the NFL's weekly scheduling cadence has its fans champing at the bit for some football action.
There's just one problem with that. It's the playoffs.
The playoffs are the most exciting time of the NFL season, as 14 teams get a chance to fight for the right to play in the Super Bowl. With wild-card weekend in the books, there are now just eight standing; and by the end of Sunday, only four will remain.
But on Thursday, there won't be any teams eliminated from postseason contention. Why? Because "Thursday Night Football" is over for the 2023 NFL season.
MORE: Watch NFL playoff games live with Fubo (free trial)
Here's everything to know about the NFL's postseason schedule and when "TNF" will return to our screens.
Is there a 'Thursday Night Football' game tonight?
No, there isn't a "Thursday Night Football" game tonight. The program ended in Week 17 and will not return until Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.
While the NFL has added a "Monday Night Football" game to its schedule in recent postseasons, the league avoided scheduling a Thursday game. Doing so would give the teams playing in the Thursday game minimal time to prepare for it. That would put a more banged-up squad at even more of a disadvantage than usual, so it's unlikely the NFL would pursue this option.
The final "Thursday Night Football" game of the year was played between the Browns and the Jets in Week 17. Joe Flacco led Cleveland to a 37-20 victory in a game during which he threw for 309 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
MORE PLAYOFFS: Updated bracket | TV schedule | Divisional round picks
Sports on TV today
There is no televised football Thursday night, as the college football season is now well over too. The United Football League (UFL) — made up of the now-merged USFL and XFL — won't start playing until March, so it will be a while before football fans see any potential games on a Thursday.
The good news for sports fans is that basketball and hockey season are in full swing. That means there will be more featured matchups televised each week as each season crosses its midpoint. Additionally, the Australian Open is ongoing, so tennis fans will be able to catch some of that late-night action live.
Below is a rundown of what will air in the usual "TNF" slot on Thursday:
- NBA: Bulls at Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT); Grizzlies at Timberwolves (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
- NCAAM: USF vs. Memphis (7 p.m. ET, ESPN); Wichita State vs. FAU (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2); Oregon State vs. Utah (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- TENNIS: 2024 Australian Open — Third Round (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
NFL playoff schedule 2024
Wild-card round
Saturday, Jan. 13
| Result |
| Texans 45, Browns 14 |
| Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7 |
Sunday, Jan. 14
| Result |
| Packers 48, Cowboys 32 |
| Lions 24, Rams 23 |
Monday, Jan. 15
| Result |
| Bills 31, Steelers 17 |
| Buccaneers 32, Eagles 9 |
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 20
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Texans at Ravens | 4:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD, Fubo |
| Packers at 49ers | 8:15 p.m. | TBD | TBD, Fubo |
Sunday, Jan. 21
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Buccaneers at Lions | 3 p.m. | TBD | TBD, Fubo |
| Chiefs at Bills | 6:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD, Fubo |
Conference championships
Sunday, Jan. 28
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| AFC championship game | 3 p.m. | CBS or Fox | TBD, Fubo |
| NFC championship game | 6:30 p.m. | CBS or Fox | TBD, Fubo |
Super Bowl 58
Sunday, Feb. 11
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| AFC champion vs. NFC champion | 6:30 p.m. | CBS, Nickelodeon | Paramount+, Fubo |
