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For the last year or so, it seemed like Thursday Night Football — whether it be through shrewd NFL scheduling or pure dumb luck — had finally shed the aura of being an inferior, often hard-to-watch, product.
That sentiment came roaring back on Thursday night during and after a truly pitiful game between Russell Wilson’s Denver Broncos and Matt Ryan’s Indianapolis Colts as neither team was able to score a single touchdown in the 12-9 game (that even went to overtime!).
Following the three-plus-hour-long assault on the sentences, football fans of all shapes and sizes — from highly-paid analysts to regular joes — took to Twitter to wonder if they just witnessed one of the worst National Football League games of all time.
NFL fans are wondering if the Thursday Night Football game between the Broncos and Colts was the worst NFL game of all time
This is the greatest worst game I’ve ever seen.
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) October 7, 2022
“This is literally the worst football game I have ever witnessed,” said sports TV personality Jim Rome.
This is literally the worst football game I have ever witnessed
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) October 7, 2022
That had to be the worst primetime game played in the last 10 years.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 7, 2022
This could be the worst football game ever played
— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) October 7, 2022
“I say this with a full appreciation for the rich history of this great event: This is the worst Thursday Night Football game ever,” said this Twitter user.
I say this with a full appreciation for the rich history of this great event: This is the worst Thursday Night Football game ever.
— Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) October 7, 2022
#TNF being on Amazon Prime is actually pretty cool when you think about it. You can seamlessly switch over to any James Bond movie you want.
— Eric Italiano (@eric_ital) October 7, 2022
This might be the worst NFL Thursday night game, and that’s saying something
— Joe McLean (@joemclean97) October 7, 2022
Every week of primetime games is the new “worst game I’ve ever seen”
— Big Game Bengal (@BengalYouTube) October 7, 2022
not even joking this might be the worst game of football i’ve ever watched
— brandon* (@brndxix) October 7, 2022
“I’m actually with Al [Michaels]. We can spin this: we may be watching the worst TNF game ever,” said football analyst Mike Golic Jr.
I'm actually with Al. we can spin this: we may be watching the worst TNF game ever. @SickosCommittee unite. let's take this back
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) October 7, 2022
If this goes to overtime, it officially becomes the worst East Coast Dads™️ game in history.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) October 7, 2022
This Broncos game is peak for peak the worst game I’ve ever watched with all due respect
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) October 7, 2022
In the Thursday Night Football game against the Colts, Wilson — who signed a $245 million deal upon his arrival in Denver — completed 21 of 39 passes for 274 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. So far this season, Wilson has completed 59% of his passes for 1,254 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Because they played on Thursday night, the Broncos now have 11 days to rest up and prepare for their crucial Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on October 17.
As for Matt Ryan — who completed 26 of 41 passes for 251 yards and two interceptions on Thursday –and the Colts, the TNF win brings their record up to a respectable 2-2-1 and puts them in the thick of the AFC North race alongside the Tennessee Titans and the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars.