Broncos Thursday Night Football flex leaves some fans scrambling

Initially a Sunday afternoon kickoff on Dec. 22, the Broncos and Chargers become the first-ever game flexed to Thursday night.

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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — On Friday, Denver Broncos fans planning to travel to Los Angeles for the week 16 game against the Chargers were sent into a panic when the NFL flexed the game to Thursday night.

Greg Wellesley lives in Commerce City, teaches at Quist Middle School in Thornton, and had plans to travel to L.A. to see the game.

"We actually looked at the schedule this week and made an anticipation we might have a flex this week," he said. "I was thinking Sunday night football because I didn't even know it was possible to move to Thursday night."

It’s the first game ever flexed to a Thursday night. A league source said the Broncos welcomed the move even though they already played a Thursday night road game at New Orleans in week 7.

On Friday, Wellesley said that at first he was unsure if he could make it to the game.

"We were going to leave Friday night right after work," he said. "We had about a 10 p.m. flight to head out. So we weren't going to miss any time at work it was going to work out great, and unfortunately the flex kind of threw those plans out."

The NFL had said they announced the Thursday night flex four weeks in advance, in hopes that Broncos fans would have enough time to alter travel plans.

On Friday, Wellesley said it was a costly change, but he ultimately decided to not miss the game.

"We were able to do okay with it but we definitely didn't come out financially better because of this decision," he laughed.

But it's a decision he hopes will end in a victory for the Broncos.

"I will tell you at the end of the day, if we win the game I am going to be thrilled no matter what," Wellesley said.

Initially, the Thursday night game on Dec. 19 was to be the Cleveland Browns at the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC North Division matchup. But both teams have been disappointments this season.

Wellesley believes the prime time slot will be a chance for his team to show everyone how good the Broncos can be.

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