Even though it’s entering its 55th season, even though Sunday Night Football
lured Al Michaels, John Madden, Fred Gaudelli and Drew Esocoff from ABC’s Monday Night Football to NBC’s Sunday Night Football in 2006- eventually becoming prime time’s number one show- and even though streaming companies are now broadcasting a season’s long worth of
prime time games, Monday Night Football is still going strong. It’s still a premiere prime time event in the sports and entertainment industry. With the additions of the Manning Cast, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to the broadcast booth and great personalities on Monday Night Countdown, Monday Night Football has become revitalized in a big, and interactive, way. You know it’s a big game whenever Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are calling it. They are the best announcing duo in the NFL, and it’s not even close. I say that in a good way because all the No. 1 broadcast crews are really good. There is just something different when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are calling a game. Their delivery, storytelling, presentation and analysis are incredible. They have made Monday Night Football big-time again.
With four doubleheaders, an NFC Championship rematch, three heavyweight inter-conference matchups, the Harbaugh Bowl and the Bills-Jets returning to the scene of the crime where Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on just the fourth snap of the Jets season, the Monday Night Football schedule in 2024 is outstanding. With 21 games, this is shaping up to be the biggest season of Monday Night Football in the franchise’s 55-year history.
21 Takeaways from the Monday Night Football Schedule
1. Joe Buck said it on NFL Network’s Schedule Release Special. This is the best Monday Night Football schedule in the franchise’s 55-year history. I agree with that. There are so many great matchups to look forward to on the schedule. All of them are compelling. Some are heavyweight fights. Some could have massive implications. And somehow, 30 of the 32 NFL teams have at least one Monday Night Football game.
2. The Monday Night Football schedule bookends in San Francisco. I have no issue with that. The 49ers and Monday Night Football are synonymous with one another, and the 49ers are the reigning NFC Champions with, perhaps, the most talented roster in the NFL.
3. The Saints got two Monday Night Football games… on the road. And not just anywhere. They will take on the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in Week 5 and the Packers in Lambeau Field in Week 16. That is not a deck stacked in the Saints favor.
4. I’m surprised the Eagles are on Monday Night Football just once this season. They have been on at least twice in each of the last two seasons, and they made some huge additions in the offseason. Not only that, but their lone appearance on Monday Night Football is early in Week 2 when they take on the Falcons.
5. Like the Saints, the Falcons also have two road games on Monday Night Football. They will play at Philadelphia in Week 2 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. Philadelphia will be a difficult game, but the game at the Raiders is a winnable game for the Falcons.
6. Monday Night Football continues to add to the number of doubleheaders they have each season, and this season has four of them. I used to think that every Monday Night Football game should be standalone. But the more I think about it, the more football games at one time the better? It may be a part of the NFL continuing to make themselves bigger than we ever thought
they could be.
7. I like that we have a Bills-Jets rematch in Week 6. This was a highly anticipated game on last year’s schedule, and it began with one of the most catastrophic injuries in NFL history. The game itself, though, was still a really good game. So much so, the NFL put this game on Monday Night Football again this season. This time, though, it has time to marinate into what could be a crucial
game in the AFC East.
8. ESPN+ will televise a Monday Night Football game in Week 7 when the Chargers take on the Cardinals in the desert. The game will kickoff at 9:00, which is a blast from the past. Monday Night Football used to kick off at 9:00. Now, Monday Night Football is on ESPN+. Talk about blending the old with the new.
9. The best Monday Night Football game, Detroit at San Francisco, is being saved for Monday Night Football in Week 17. An excellent move by the NFL.
10. To the victors go the spoils. The Chiefs get two Monday Night Football games… at home. They’ll face the Saints in Week 5 and the Buccaneers in Week 9. Those are two winnable games.
11. Speaking of Tampa Bay, they get two Monday Night Football games in three weeks. I can’t remember a team having two Monday Night Football games in three weeks. They’ll face the Ravens at home in Week 7 and the Chiefs on the road in Week 9.
12. The Ravens are the third team to have two road games on Monday Night Football. They’ll play at Tampa Bay in Week 7 and in the Harbaugh Bowl at the Chargers in Week 12.
13. Seahawks-Lions is a game that America is going to really enjoy. The two teams have
combined for 161 points in their previous two matchups. Those two games were both on Sunday afternoon in 2022 and 2023. Now, America will get to see these two teams play in prime time in front of a raucous crowd in Detroit.
14. I mentioned earlier how 30 of the 32 teams are playing on Monday Night Football at least once this season. But what are we doing with Browns-Broncos Week 13? I just don’t think that’s a game that belongs on Monday Night Football.
15. The Cowboys have two home games on Monday Night Football in four weeks, and they are inter-conference heavyweights. They’ll face the Texans in Week 11 and the Bengals in Week 14. Both games should be really good.
16. The Bears play at the Vikings in Week 15. When is that not on a Monday Night Football matchup? I feel like it occurs every year on Monday Night Football.
17. Like the Eagles, the Packers only have one Monday Night Football game when they host the Saints in Week 16. I’m surprised. I thought after Jordan Love’s ascension they would get more than one Monday Night Football game. After all, they got two in 2023.
18. The Giants-Steelers matchup in Week 8 is one that I like. If the Giants are competitive by Week 8, this could be a really good game and one that could go either way.
19. The Harbaugh Bowl will be fun to watch. The previous two matchups between the Harbaugh’s have both been really good, including Super Bowl XLVII. If the Chargers are still in contention by Week 12, that will add to the fun of this matchup.
20. Another team that only got one Monday Night Football game: the Rams. They’ll host the Dolphins in Week 10. I’m not sure what to make of that and what the NFL thinks of them going into the season. Then again, they have five total prime time games this season.
21. The Titans-Dolphins game in Week 4 is a big game… for the Dolphins. Miami blowing a 14- point lead to the Titans with less than three minutes to play last season on Monday Night Football came back to haunt them at the end of the regular-season. Had Miami won that game, they would have won the AFC East. I hope for Miami that they learned their lesson and not to overlook any team on their schedule.
Monday Night Football Game(s) I’m Most Looking Forward To
There are two games on Monday Night Football that I’m really looking forward to. The first is the Bengals-Cowboys game in Week 14. These two teams are two of the most talented in the NFL. They have star quarterbacks, number one wide receivers and great players on defense. This could be a Super Bowl preview.
Then in Week 17, the Lions and 49ers meet in a heavyweight fight in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship. As soon as this game was announced, it became my favorite game of the season. It’s the last Monday Night Football game of the season, and there could be a lot on the line. The Lions proved they can go toe-to-toe with the 49ers, and both teams have so much talent
on them.
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Week 1: New York Jets @ San Francico 49ers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC
The NFL is essentially saying that the 2023 New York Jets season didn’t even happen from the fifth offensive snap on. They’re running it back with Aaron Rodgers on Monday Night Football to start the 2024 Season, only this time the Jets will be on the road. And not just on the road, but on the road against the reigning NFC Champions San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers have been a thorn in Rodgers’ side his whole career. But he’s also had success against them, including wins in his last two starts in San Francisco. Also worth noting: the 49ers didn’t fare well in 2020 coming off losing Super Bowl LIV. So how will they fare coming off their devastating loss in Super Bowl LVIII? The Jets may be getting the 49ers at the right time, especially after rebuilding their offensive line by signing left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency.
Week 2: Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
It’s great to see the Falcons back in prime time. But they have not fared well in Philadelphia recently, last winning there in 2012 and losing their last three games in Lincoln Financial Field since then.
The crowd for this game is going to be incredible. Jason Kelce, who played 13 seasons in Philadelphia, will be in Lincoln Financial Field as an analyst on Monday Night Countdown. I’ve always said Kirk Cousins is a better quarterback than he’s been given credit for, but this is the kind of game he has not been able to consistently win throughout his career. If the Falcons are a serious contender in the NFC, this is a game that Kirk Cousins needs to lead them to a victory to put them on the NFC’s radar.
Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
I feel like there’s a perception that the Jaguars may not be good this season after losing five of six to end the regular-season in 2023, keeping them out of the Playoffs. However, I still think the Jaguars will be good this season. Trevor Lawrence is a good enough quarterback to be a franchise quarterback. His numbers may not have been as good as they were in 2022, but he was injured at multiple points throughout the season.
There’s enough talent around him where the Jaguars are still a contender in the AFC South. As for Buffalo, there too may be a perception that they won’t be as good without Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis on offense and Tre’Davious White on defense. I beg to differ, though. Josh Allen is a top five quarterback and Sean McDermott is a top ten head coach. Plus, there’s still a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and, at the end of the day, there aren’t seven teams in the AFC better than Buffalo.
Week 3: Washington Commanders @ Cincinnati Bengals – 8:15 p.m. on ABC
This is a game I did not expect to be on Monday Night Football. However, because the AFC North is playing the NFC East, that could be a reason why this game is on Monday Night Football. Washington is entering a new era, with Jayden Daniels at quarterback, Dan Quinn as head coach and new ownership. But this is going to be a tall task for the Commanders. The Bengals should be among the AFC’s elite again this season, so long as Joe Burrow stays healthy. Their talent on both sides of the ball should overwhelm the Commanders deficient roster, especially in front of an electric environment at Paycor Stadium.
Week 4: Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
We saw this matchup last season on Monday Night Football, where the Titans pulled off a
miracle comeback in the fourth quarter.
Even though the Titans went on to finish 6-11, their offseason has been one of the best in the NFL. That makes them an even more formidable opponent for the Dolphins.
Miami is one of the most aesthetically pleasing teams to watch in the NFL. They should be electric again this season. The difference for them, hopefully, this season is a healthier defense.When healthy, their defense is strong up front and in the secondary.
Week 4: Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions – 8:15 p.m. on ABC
Seattle has beaten the Lions in Detroit in each of the last two seasons. The win in 2022, when both teams finished 9-8, turned out to be vital when the Seahawks were the last team in the Playoffs in the NFC. This season, it could be a crucial win again for Seattle in a crowded NFC. Detroit has high expectations, again, this season. And this is a game, if they win, they’ll look back on and be thankful they did win. Their division may be a tighter race with the emergence of Jordan Love and the Packers. This could be a shootout with two teams that like to throw the ball down the field and are aggressive on offense.
Week 5: New Orleans Saints @ Kansas City Chiefs – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
I thought this would be a good matchup for prime time. Kansas City is the featured team in this matchup, another prime time game in their quest for a three peat. The Saints are kind of stuck in no man’s land. They’re not bad, but they’re not great either. They’ve had a 9-8 record in two of the last three seasons, just barely missing the Playoffs. They have the talent to be a really good team. It’s just a matter of that talent coming together and coaching.
Week 6: Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
This should be a highly entertaining game. The Bills and Jets is an underrated rivalry, and if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy this season then both Bills-Jets game could have a lot riding on them.
Week 7: Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
This is an interesting matchup. An interesting element to this matchup is that Baker Mayfield has multiple wins over the Ravens in his career. The Ravens may be the better team going into this game, but Tampa Bay proved last season that they are not to be taken lightly.
Week 7: Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
This is a unique matchup because it blends the old with the new on Monday Night Football. This will be the first Monday Night Football game on ESPN+, and it’s kicking off at the old time of kickoffs on Monday night at 9 p.m.. This will also be the Chargers first Monday Night Football game with Jim Harbaugh as their head coach.
Week 8: New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC
These two teams have a lot of history, even though they have combined for just four playoff wins in the last 12 seasons. This can be a good game if the Giants are a competitive team by Week 8. As for Pittsburgh, we may not know who is going to play quarterback with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on the team.
Week 9: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Kansas City Chiefs – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
These two teams met in Super Bowl LV and played in multiple high-profile regular season games in Tom Brady’s three seasons with the Buccaneers. Now in the post-Tom Brady era, it will be interesting to see how the Buccaneers can fare against the now two-time defending Super Bowl Champions Chiefs.
Week 10: Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Rams – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
This is a fun matchup between two fun teams that play in two fun cities. I’m excited to watch this different Monday Night Football matchup, including Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey facing his former team.
Week 11: Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
One of my favorite games of the season. This will be a big stage for the Texans in Jerry World on Monday Night Football. If the Texans want to be taken seriously, especially in their home state, this is a game they need to show up in, preferably win.
Week 12: Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
The Harbaugh Bowl being played on the Monday night before Thanksgiving is a great time for it to be played. The Ravens should definitely be in contention by Week 12. If the Chargers are in it too, this game could be really fun to watch
Week 13: Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
I still don’t know why this game is on Monday Night Football. But sometimes these games turn out to be really good. Maybe Denver will surprise people, if Bo Nix is starting and playing well, and be in the mix in the AFC playoff race. Cleveland should be in the thick of the race, but there could be questions about quarterback again at this point of the season.
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC
Another one of my favorite games of the season. What’s interesting is Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott haven’t been healthy for the previous two Bengals-Cowboys matchups in 2020 and 2022. Hopefully they will both be healthy for this game. If so, this game could be a high-scoring
game.
Week 15: Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings – 8 p.m. on ABC
There’s a chance we see both teams start rookie quarterbacks in this game. Caleb Williams was drafted No. 1 overall by the Bears this past April, and the Vikings took J.J. McCarthy 10th overall.
Week 15: Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
The Falcons, I think, will be hitting their stride late in the season. This makes this game against the Raiders one they should win, but we have seen the Raiders play spoiler in the past. If Aidan O’Connell makes some strides this season, the Raiders could be playing for something as well in this game.
Week 16: New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
This game is so stacked against the Saints. Playing on the road at Green Bay in prime time is never easy, especially in December. Green Bay should be rolling by this point, and they could still have a chance at the NFC North title.
Week 17: Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC
This is the game I’m most looking forward to in the entire season. It’s a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship, and there could be massive implications in this game all the way up to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
