Beginning in the 1970 NFL season, the National Football League began scheduling a weekly regular season game on Monday night before a national television audience. From 1970-2005, the ABC television network carried these games, with the ESPN cable television network taking over beginning in September 2006. Listed below are games played from 1970-1989.
| Overtime Result |
Stadiums and teams appearing under different names[]
Some stadiums and teams had multiple names throughout their appearances in the MNF package in this era.
First name listed is the stadium/team's name heading into 1990. All names were seen in the package at least once in this era.
Stadiums[]
- Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Atlanta Stadium
- Foxboro Stadium - Schaefer Stadium (the facility did not host a game while it was named Sullivan Stadium)
- Jack Murphy Stadium - San Diego Stadium
Teams[]
- Indianapolis Colts - Baltimore Colts
- Los Angeles Raiders - Oakland Raiders
- Phoenix Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals
1970s[]
1970 NFL season[]
The October 19 game between the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders was originally scheduled as a coaching matchup between the legendary Vince Lombardi of the Redskins and the Raiders' second-year mentor, John Madden. However, Lombardi died of colon cancer six weeks before the contest.
Following their humiliating shutout in the November 16 game, the Cowboys would go on a seven-game winning streak, not losing until a deciding field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts.
The November 23 game became infamous when Howard Cosell slurred his way through the first half and vomited on Don Meredith's boots at halftime. Cosell left Franklin Field prior to the second half, leaving Meredith to finish the game with Keith Jackson.
1971 NFL season[]
The October 11 game was the final NFL contest played in the Cotton Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys moved into Texas Stadium for its next home game on October 24 vs. the New England Patriots.
Wide receiver Dave Smith of the Pittsburgh Steelers became a part of Monday Night Football lore with an infamous mistake in the October 18th game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith was en route to scoring on a 50-yard pass play when he raised the ball over his head before reaching the end zone. Smith lost control of the ball, thinking he had already scored, with the mistake resulting in a touchback for the Chiefs.
The November 1 game between the visiting Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers ended in a 14-14 tie at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The first tie in the history of the Monday Night Football series.
The December 13 game saw the triumphant return of George Allen to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he coached the Los Angeles Rams for five seasons (1966–70). Allen's new team, the Washington Redskins, clinched its first playoff berth since 1945 with a 38-24 victory over the Rams, also handing the NFC West championship to the San Francisco 49ers. Ironically, the 49ers ousted the Redskins from the playoffs with a 24-20 victory 13 days later. In addition, one of the contestants for an NFL Punt, Pass and Kick contest shown during the game would be future Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 20 | Minnesota Vikings | 16-13 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium |
| Monday | September 27 | New York Jets | 10-17 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 4 | Oakland Raiders | 34-20 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 11 | New York Giants | 13-20 | Dallas Cowboys | Cotton Bowl |
| Monday | October 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16-38 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium |
| Monday | October 25 | Baltimore Colts | 3-10 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Monday | November 1 | Detroit Lions | 14-14 | Green Bay Packers | Milwaukee County Stadium |
| Monday | November 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 17-24 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 15 | St. Louis Cardinals | 17-20 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
| Monday | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | 21-28 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium |
| Monday | November 29 | Chicago Bears | 3-34 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | 26-17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 13 | Washington Redskins | 38-24 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
1972 NFL season[]
The October 9 game between the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers at the Astrodome is infamous for an awkward off-field incident. During the game, which the Raiders won in a 34-0 shutout, ABC cameras had panned out and showed several fans leaving. A cameraman caught one of the few to stay in the game, who showed his disgust with the Oilers' performance by raising his middle finger, prompting Don Meredith to quip, "We're number 1 in the nation."
The November 27 game saw the Miami Dolphins make their lone primetime appearance during their 17-0 season. The Dolphins had little trouble in dispatching the outclassed St. Louis Cardinals, one of seven games the Dolphins won that season against teams which won four or fewer games.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 18 | Washington Redskins | 24-21 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Monday | September 25 | Kansas City Chiefs | 20-17 | New Orleans Saints | Tulane Stadium |
| Monday | October 2 | New York Giants | 27-12 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | October 9 | Oakland Raiders | 34-0 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | 24-23 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium |
| Monday | October 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 10-13 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 30 | Detroit Lions | 24-28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 6 | Baltimore Colts | 24-17 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | November 13 | Cleveland Browns | 21-17 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
| Monday | November 20 | Atlanta Falcons | 13-24 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 27 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10-31 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 26-16 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 11 | New York Jets | 16-24 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
1973 NFL season[]
The Broncos and Bills were the last of the 26 teams of the merged NFL to make their first appearances on the program, but not against each other, rather, alone in consecutive weeks.
During what would be Don Meredith's final season of his first Monday Night stint, he was the center of three incidents in a three-week stand. In the Oakland-Denver game on October 22, Meredith famous quipped, "We're in the Mile High City, and so am I" (referring to his marijuana use at the time), followed by his drinking through the Buffalo-Kansas City game the following week. Finally, on November 5 during the Steelers-Redskins matchup, he referred to President Richard Nixon by the nickname of "Tricky Dick".
The October 8 game ended in dramatic fashion as Redskins safety Ken Houston stopped Cowboy running back Walt Garrison at the Washington one-yard-line as time expired to preserve a 14-7 Redskin victory.
The Minnesota Vikings entered the November 19th game in Atlanta with a spotless 9-0 record, but left with their first loss. The Falcons jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead, then held on as the Vikings came up one yard short on fourth down at the Atlanta 39 with 55 seconds to play. The victory was the Falcons sixth in a row.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 17 | New York Jets | 7-23 | Green Bay Packers | Milwaukee County Stadium |
| Monday | September 24 | New Orleans Saints | 3-40 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | October 1 | Atlanta Falcons | 6-31 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium |
| Monday | October 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 7-14 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 15 | Miami Dolphins | 17-9 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 22 | Oakland Raiders | 23-23 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | 14-23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | November 5 | Washington Redskins | 16-21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | November 12 | Chicago Bears | 7-19 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Monday | November 19 | Minnesota Vikings | 14-20 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium |
| Monday | November 26 | Green Bay Packers | 6-20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 26-30 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 10 | New York Giants | 6-40 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
1974 NFL season[]
The season-opening contest in Buffalo on September 16 marked the start of a three-year stint for Alex Karras as a color commentator for the show. Karras had replaced Fred Williamson, who had originally replaced Don Meredith, but was dismissed after a poorly-received effort during a few preseason contests.
The October 14 game between the Lions and 49ers marked the final Monday Night Football game ever at Tiger Stadium.
Facing huge competition from the October 28 CBS broadcast of the wedding of Rhoda Morgenstern on Rhoda and NBC's November 18 broadcast of The Godfather, ratings for Monday Night Football take a hit for those two contests.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 16 | Oakland Raiders | 20-21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | September 23 | Dallas Cowboys | 10-13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | September 30 | Denver Broncos | 3-30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 7 | New York Jets | 17-21 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | October 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 13-17 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium |
| Monday | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 9-10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 28 | Atlanta Falcons | 17-24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | November 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 24-17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | November 11 | Minnesota Vikings | 28-24 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | 42-34 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | November 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 28-7 | New Orleans Saints | Tulane Stadium |
| Monday | December 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-24 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 9 | Washington Redskins | 23-17 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Saturday | December 14 | Dallas Cowboys | 23-27 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
1975 NFL season[]
The Oakland Raiders' defeat of the Miami Dolphins on September 22 ended the Dolphins 31-game home winning streak. During this game, ABC switched at halftime to ABC News anchor Harry Reasoner for an update on the assassination attempt on President Ford by Sara Jane Moore earlier that day.
The final Monday Night Football game of the season offers one of the least attractive contests in the six-year history of the program. The 1-11 San Diego Chargers host the 3-9 New York Jets, with the Chargers pulling an upset 24-16 victory.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 22 | Oakland Raiders | 31-21 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | September 29 | Green Bay Packers | 13-23 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 36-10 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | October 13 | St. Louis Cardinals | 17-27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 20 | New York Giants | 17-14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | October 27 | Minnesota Vikings | 13-9 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | November 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 42-3 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | November 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | 34-31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 17 | Buffalo Bills | 24-33 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | November 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 32-9 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | December 1 | New England Patriots | 7-20 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 8 | Denver Broncos | 10-17 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Monday | December 15 | New York Jets | 16-24 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | December 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
1976 NFL season[]
This season saw the first Monday night overtime game since overtime was instituted in 1974, as the Redskins kicked a field goal in the extra period to beat the Eagles 20-17.
The October 11 game marked the first time the Rams had ever been shut out at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in their team history. The 49ers sacked Rams quarterback James Harris 10 times, six alone by defensive end Tommy Hart.
The October 18 game featured Alex Karras singing a fight song written for the New York Jets by then-head coach Lou Holtz before the kickoff (which was repeated for the NFL Top 10 series in the episode on "Coaches Who Belonged in College").
1976 also marked the program using a new theme song for the introduction.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 13 | Miami Dolphins | 30-21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | September 20 | Oakland Raiders | 24-21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Monday | September 27 | Washington Redskins | 20-17 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | October 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-17 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Monday | October 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 16-0 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | October 18 | New York Jets | 7-41 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | October 25 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10-20 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 1 | Houston Oilers | 14-38 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 12-20 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | November 15 | Buffalo Bills | 10-17 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 22 | Baltimore Colts | 17-16 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | November 29 | Minnesota Vikings | 16-20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | 20-35 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | December 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 20-17 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
1977 NFL season[]
The September 26 game was decided in overtime on Don Cockroft's 35-yard field goal with 10:15 left in the extra session.
The October 10 game was Joe Namath's last NFL start and last NFL game.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 19 | San Francisco 49ers | 0-27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | September 26 | New England Patriots | 27-30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 3 | Oakland Raiders | 37-28 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Monday | October 10 | Los Angeles Rams | 23-24 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14-20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 24 | Minnesota Vikings | 3-35 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | October 31 | New York Giants | 0-28 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 7 | Washington Redskins | 3-10 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 24-17 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 21 | Green Bay Packers | 9-10 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 28 | Buffalo Bills | 13-34 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Monday | December 5 | Baltimore Colts | 6-17 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 42-35 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | December 17 | Minnesota Vikings | 30-21 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
1978 NFL season[]
The September 18 game between the Colts and the Patriots featured a Monday Night Football-record 41 points scored between the two teams in the fourth quarter, 27 by the Colts. Colts running back Joe Washington had a memorable performance, scoring or helping score his teams' final three touchdowns. His catch of a touchdown pass tied the game at 20-20, and then he threw an option pass to Roger Carr to put the Colts ahead 27-20. After the Patriots tied it late, Washington returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for the winning touchdown.
The November 20 game between the Dolphins and the Oilers featured a memorable performance by Oilers' rookie running back Earl Campbell. Campbell rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns in a nip-and-tuck game that was capped off by his 81-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
The November 27 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers kicked off at 6 p.m. Pacific time, just hours after San Francisco mayor George Moscone and city supervisor Harvey Milk were murdered at City Hall by former supervisor Dan White. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, a former publicity director at the University of San Francisco, did not consider postponing the game. During the game, a large protest march to the steps of City Hall took place.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 4 | Baltimore Colts | 0-38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | September 11 | Denver Broncos | 9-12 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Monday | September 18 | Baltimore Colts | 34-27 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | September 25 | Minnesota Vikings | 24-20 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 2 | Dallas Cowboys | 5-9 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0-21 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | October 16 | Chicago Bears | 7-16 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 23 | Houston Oilers | 24-17 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 30 | Los Angeles Rams | 7-15 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | November 6 | Washington Redskins | 17-21 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 13 | Oakland Raiders | 34-21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | November 20 | Miami Dolphins | 30-35 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | November 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24-7 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 4 | Chicago Bears | 7-40 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
| Monday | December 11 | Cincinnati Bengals | 20-19 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | December 18 | New England Patriots | 3-23 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | September 24 | New England Patriots | 21-14 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Thursday | October 26 | Minnesota Vikings | 21-10 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Sunday | November 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Sunday | December 3 | Denver Broncos | 21-6 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
1979 NFL season[]
The September 4 opening game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots was stopped for more than five minutes in the second quarter to acknowledge former Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley, who was seated in a luxury box at Schaefer Stadium. Stingley had suffered a career-ending injury 13 months earlier that had left him a quadriplegic.
The October 1 game at Lambeau Field marked the first time ever that a Monday Night Football game had taken place in Green Bay. The three previous Packers home games in the series had taken place in Milwaukee (1970, 1971, and 1973).
In the November 12 game between the Eagles and the Cowboys, Eagles kicker Tony Franklin booted a 59-yard field goal.
In the December 3 Raiders/Saints game, Ken Stabler rallied the Raiders from a 35-14 deficit. He threw a 8-yard touchdown pass to Cliff Branch for the winning score.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16-13 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | September 10 | Atlanta Falcons | 14-10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | September 17 | New York Giants | 0-27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | September 24 | Dallas Cowboys | 7-26 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 1 | New England Patriots | 14-27 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field |
| Monday | October 8 | Miami Dolphins | 3-13 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Monday | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | 7-17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium |
| Monday | October 22 | Denver Broncos | 7-42 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 29 | Seattle Seahawks | 31-28 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | November 5 | Houston Oilers | 9-6 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | November 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | 31-21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 19 | Atlanta Falcons | 14-20 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | November 26 | New York Jets | 7-30 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | December 3 | Oakland Raiders | 42-35 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | December 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17-20 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | December 17 | Denver Broncos | 7-17 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 6 | Los Angeles Rams | 13-9 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Sunday | October 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 6-30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Thursday | October 25 | San Diego Chargers | 22-45 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Thursday | November 29 | New England Patriots | 24-39 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
1980s[]
1980 NFL season[]
The November 24 game was the one where New Orleans Saints fans, watching what would become a dreadful 1-15 campaign that season, began wearing paper bags over their heads and referring to the team as the "Aints".
The December 8 game will be forever remembered for Howard Cosell's announcement of the murder of John Lennon during the fourth quarter. ABC News' Nightline provided live coverage of Lennon's death shortly after the conclusion of the game.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 17-3 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | September 15 | Houston Oilers | 16-7 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | September 22 | New York Giants | 3-35 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | September 29 | Denver Broncos | 14-23 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | October 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 13 | Washington Redskins | 17-20 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 20 | Oakland Raiders | 45-34 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 27 | Miami Dolphins | 14-17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium |
| Monday | November 3 | Chicago Bears | 21-27 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | November 10 | New England Patriots | 34-38 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | November 17 | Oakland Raiders | 19-17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | November 24 | Los Angeles Rams | 27-7 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | December 1 | Denver Broncos | 3-9 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Monday | December 8 | New England Patriots | 13-16 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 15 | Dallas Cowboys | 14-38 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | December 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17-26 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 9-10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium |
| Sunday | October 26 | San Diego Chargers | 31-42 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Thursday | November 20 | San Diego Chargers | 27-24 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Thursday | December 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-6 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
1981 NFL season[]
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 7 | San Diego Chargers | 44-14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | September 14 | Oakland Raiders | 36-10 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Monday | September 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 35-21 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| Monday | September 28 | Los Angeles Rams | 24-7 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 5 | Atlanta Falcons | 13-16 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | October 12 | Miami Dolphins | 21-31 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | October 19 | Chicago Bears | 17-48 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | October 26 | Houston Oilers | 13-26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | November 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 17-19 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | November 9 | Buffalo Bills | 14-27 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 16 | San Diego Chargers | 23-44 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | November 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 30-31 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | November 30 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10-13 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 27-30 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
| Monday | December 14 | Atlanta Falcons | 16-21 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | December 21 | Oakland Raiders | 10-23 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10-30 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Thursday | September 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20-14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Sunday | October 18 | Los Angeles Rams | 17-29 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Thursday | December 3 | Cleveland Browns | 17-13 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
1982 NFL season[]
This was the season in which a nine week players strike forced the NFL to postpone seven regular season games. The September 20 game between the Packers and the Giants would be the last game played until November 21. The Packers-Giants game was the first Monday Night game hosted by the Giants.
In the January 3 game between the Cowboys and the Vikings, Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett ran for 99 yards and a touchdown - still the longest running play from scrimmage in the NFL. Worth noting is that the Cowboys had only ten players on offense when the ball was snapped on that play, fullback, Ron Springs did not get on to the field, in time, after Minnesota kicked off to Dallas, in the third quarter.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 36-28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | September 20 | Green Bay Packers | 27-19 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | September 27 | Cincinnati Bengals | Canceled due to strike | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 4 | San Francisco 49ers | Canceled due to strike | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium |
| Monday | October 11 | Philadelphia Eagles | Canceled due to strike | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 18 | Buffalo Bills | Canceled due to strike | New York Jets | Shea Stadium |
| Monday | October 25 | New York Giants | Canceled due to strike | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | November 1 | Detroit Lions | Canceled due to strike | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Monday | November 8 | San Diego Chargers | Canceled due to strike | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | November 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | Canceled due to strike | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | November 22 | San Diego Chargers | 24-28 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | November 29 | Miami Dolphins | 17-23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium |
| Monday | December 6 | New York Jets | 28-13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | December 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 37-7 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | December 20 | Cincinnati Bengals | 34-52 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Monday | December 27 | Buffalo Bills | 10-27 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | January 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 27-31 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 16 | Minnesota Vikings | 22-23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Thursday | December 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 30-24 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Sunday | December 19 | Atlanta Falcons | 17-29 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
1983 NFL season[]
The September 5 game between the Cowboys and the Redskins was when Howard Cosell referred to Redskins wide receiver Alvin Garrett as a "little monkey." Cosell would also call his final MNF game on December 12 between the Packers and the Buccaneers, as he did not make the trip to the west coast for the last game of the season.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino made his NFL debut in the September 19 game between the Raiders and the Dolphins.
The October 24 game between the Cardinals and the Giants is the only five-quarter deadlock in MNF history, as the Cardinals' Neil O'Donoghue blows three field goal attempts in the extra period, one of them from extra-point distance. It was also the first overtime game on a Monday night since Howard Cosell announced the death of John Lennon in 1980.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 5 | Dallas Cowboys | 31-30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | September 12 | San Diego Chargers | 17-14 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Monday | September 19 | Miami Dolphins | 14-27 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | September 26 | Green Bay Packers | 3-27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 3 | New York Jets | 34-10 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | October 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24-14 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | October 17 | Washington Redskins | 47-48 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field |
| Monday | October 24 | New York Giants | 20-20 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 31 | Washington Redskins | 27-24 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Monday | November 7 | New York Giants | 9-15 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | November 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 36-13 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | November 21 | New York Jets | 31-28 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | November 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14-38 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 2-13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | December 12 | Green Bay Packers | 12-9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium |
| Monday | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | 17-42 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 48-17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Thursday | September 15 | Cincinnati Bengals | 7-17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Sunday | October 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 40-38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Thursday | December 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 42-10 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Friday | December 16 | New York Jets | 14-34 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
1984 NFL season[]
An early season snowstorm in the October 15 game at Denver caused the Packers to fumble on their first two plays. Both fumbles were returned for Broncos touchdowns.
The October 21 Sunday special game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys started at 9:45 EST due to ABC covering the second 1984 Ronald Reagan-Walter Mondale debate. This was the latest time a regular season NFL game started until 2006 - beginning that year, MNF would air two games in week 1, the second kicking off after 10:00 PM EDT.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 20-13 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | September 10 | Washington Redskins | 31-37 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | September 17 | Miami Dolphins | 21-17 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | September 24 | San Diego Chargers | 30-33 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | October 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | 17-38 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 31-10 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 15 | Green Bay Packers | 14-17 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 22 | Los Angeles Rams | 24-10 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium |
| Monday | October 29 | Seattle Seahawks | 24-0 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Monday | November 5 | Atlanta Falcons | 14-27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14-17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | November 19 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24-27 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | November 26 | New York Jets | 17-28 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 3 | Chicago Bears | 7-20 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Monday | December 10 | Los Angeles Raiders | 24-3 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | December 17 | Dallas Cowboys | 21-28 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 23-17 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday | September 16 | Denver Broncos | 24-14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Sunday | October 21 | New Orleans Saints | 27-30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Thursday | November 29 | Washington Redskins | 31-17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Friday | December 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 16-19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Sunday | January 20 | Miami Dolphins | 16-38 | San Francisco 49ers | Stanford Stadium (Super Bowl XIX) |
1985 NFL season[]
The September 19 Thursday night game is memorable for Bears QB Jim McMahon's third quarter performance. Bears coach Mike Ditka elected not to start McMahon because of various ailments keeping him out of practice all week. ABC cameras kept showing McMahon begging Ditka to put him in the game. Finally, with the Vikings leading 17-9, McMahon entered the game and threw a 70-yard TD to Willie Gault on his first snap. The Bears immediately got the ball back at the Vikings' 25-yard line on the next series on a Wilber Marshall fumble recovery, and McMahon hit Dennis McKinnon on the very first play for a TD. Then, on the very next series, McMahon completed 3 of 5 passes and another TD to McKinnon. For the third quarter, McMahon had taken seven snaps and completed five passes for three TD's.
The October 21 game is memorable for rookie Bears defensive lineman William Perry scoring a rushing touchdown after entering the game as an extra backfield blocker.
The October 28 game marked the final Monday night appearance at home for the Los Angeles Raiders until their return to Oakland in 1995.
In the November 11 game, a thrown snowball caused the 49ers to miss an extra point, a determining factor in the team's one-point loss.
The November 18 game between the Giants and the Redskins is infamous for Lawrence Taylor's tackle that ended Joe Theismann's career.
The December 2 game between the Bears and the Dolphins, when the Dolphins put an end to the Bears' bid to match their undefeated season in 1972, was and still is the highest rated game in Monday Night Football history.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 9 | Washington Redskins | 14-44 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | September 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | September 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 35-24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | 37-24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | October 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10-27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 14 | Miami Dolphins | 7-23 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 7-23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 28 | San Diego Chargers | 21-34 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Monday | November 4 | Dallas Cowboys | 10-21 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 16-17 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | November 18 | New York Giants | 21-23 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 25 | Seattle Seahawks | 6-19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 2 | Chicago Bears | 24-38 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 9 | Los Angeles Rams | 27-20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 16 | New England Patriots | 27-30 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 16-6 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 20-36 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Thursday | September 19 | Chicago Bears | 33-24 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Sunday | October 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 30-29 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Sunday | December 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 44-54 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Friday | December 20 | Denver Broncos | 27-24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
1986 NFL season[]
During this season, MacGyver began a six-year run as the program's lead-in - the longest lasting such program in history.
The September 8 game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys marked the NFL debut of Herschel Walker.
The September 29 game was the last MNF game in St. Louis until 2000, when the Rams played their season opener at the Trans World Dome.
The October 27 game took place at the same time as Game Seven of the 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium in nearby Flushing, New York.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 8 | New York Giants | 28-31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | September 15 | Denver Broncos | 21-10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Monday | September 22 | Chicago Bears | 25-12 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field |
| Monday | September 29 | Dallas Cowboys | 31-7 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | October 6 | San Diego Chargers | 7-33 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | October 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 22-24 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | October 20 | Denver Broncos | 10-22 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 27 | Washington Redskins | 20-27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | November 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 20-17 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | November 10 | Miami Dolphins | 16-26 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | November 17 | San Francisco 49ers | 6-14 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 24 | New York Jets | 3-45 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Monday | December 1 | New York Giants | 21-17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 8 | Los Angeles Raiders | 0-37 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | December 15 | Chicago Bears | 16-13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Monday | December 22 | New England Patriots | 34-27 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl |
Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | September 11 | New England Patriots | 20-6 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Thursday | September 18 | Cincinnati Bengals | 13-30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Thursday | November 20 | Los Angeles Raiders | 37-31 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium |
| Sunday | December 7 | Dallas Cowboys | 10-29 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Friday | December 19 | Los Angeles Rams | 14-24 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
1987 NFL season[]
There was a player strike called after the completion of Week 2's games. As a result all games for Week 3 were canceled but unlike the 1982 players' strike, owners decided to resume play with replacement players. Replacement players were used in games played from Week 4 until Week 6 (including the 49ers-Giants, Raiders-Broncos, and Redskins-Cowboys MNF games). Once a new collective bargaining agreement ended the strike, regular players came back and played starting with Week 7.
The October 26 game between the Broncos and the Vikings was rescheduled because Game 7 of the 1987 World Series (which was also broadcasted by ABC), which featured the Minnesota Twins, had to play at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Sunday night, when the Vikings were originally slated to host the Broncos. Therefore, the game was moved to Monday night, and was played simultaneously with the Browns-Rams game. Coincidentally, the Browns had been slated to host the Broncos in the canceled Monday night game (in a rematch of The Drive).
The November 30 Raiders/Seahawks game marked the memorable Monday Night Football debut of Bo Jackson, with his 91-yard touchdown run.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 14 | New York Giants | 19-34 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | September 21 | New England Patriots | 24-43 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | September 28 | Denver Broncos | Cancelled due to strike | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 5 | San Francisco 49ers | 41-21 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14-30 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 19 | Washington Redskins | 13-7 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | 17-30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 26 | Denver Broncos | 27-34 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Monday | November 2 | New York Giants | 24-33 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium |
| Monday | November 9 | Seattle Seahawks | 14-30 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | November 16 | Chicago Bears | 29-31 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | November 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 30-26 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 30 | Los Angeles Raiders | 37-14 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | December 7 | New York Jets | 28-37 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| Monday | December 14 | Chicago Bears | 0-41 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 29-21 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | December 28 | New England Patriots | 24-10 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium |
Postseason games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | January 31 | Washington Redskins | 42-10 | Denver Broncos | Jack Murphy Stadium (Super Bowl XXII) |
1988 NFL season[]
The September 12 game between the Cowboys and the Cardinals was the first game the Cardinals played in Arizona after relocating from St. Louis.
The October 3 game between the Cowboys and the Saints would be the final MNF game coached by Tom Landry.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 5 | Washington Redskins | 20-27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | September 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 17-14 | Phoenix Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium |
| Monday | September 19 | Indianapolis Colts | 17-23 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | September 26 | Los Angeles Raiders | 30-27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Monday | October 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 17-20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | October 10 | New York Giants | 13-24 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium |
| Monday | October 17 | Buffalo Bills | 37-14 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 24 | San Francisco 49ers | 9-10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 31 | Denver Broncos | 23-55 | Indianapolis Colts | Hoosier Dome |
| Monday | November 7 | Cleveland Browns | 24-17 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | 31-6 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| Monday | November 21 | Washington Redskins | 21-37 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | November 28 | Los Angeles Raiders | 27-35 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | December 5 | Chicago Bears | 3-23 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | December 12 | Cleveland Browns | 31-38 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| Monday | December 19 | Chicago Bears | 27-28 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
1989 NFL season[]
The October 9 game between the Raiders and the Jets was the first game for Art Shell as the Raiders head coach, becoming the first African-American NFL head coach in the modern era.
The November 6 game between the Saints and the 49ers was originally scheduled for New Orleans but was switched with their October 8 game when the San Francisco Giants played in the NLCS.
The December 11 game between the 49ers and the Rams had John Taylor become the first player in NFL history to score two touchdowns of over 90 yards in a single game.
The December 25 game between the Bengals and the Vikings was the first NFL game played on Christmas since the 1971 playoffs.
1989 also marked Monday Night Football's 20th season, and Hank Williams, Jr made his debut to the program with his hit "All My Rowdy Friends".
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 11 | New York Giants | 27-24 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | September 18 | Denver Broncos | 28-14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | September 25 | Cleveland Browns | 14-21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium |
| Monday | October 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13-27 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
| Monday | October 9 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14-7 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | October 16 | Los Angeles Rams | 20-23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium |
| Monday | October 23 | Chicago Bears | 7-27 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium |
| Monday | October 30 | Minnesota Vikings | 14-24 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium |
| Monday | November 6 | New Orleans Saints | 13-31 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | November 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | 24-26 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome |
| Monday | November 20 | Denver Broncos | 14-10 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| Monday | November 27 | New York Giants | 24-34 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park |
| Monday | December 4 | Buffalo Bills | 16-17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome |
| Monday | December 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 30-27 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium |
| Monday | December 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20-30 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome |
| Monday | December 25 | Cincinnati Bengals | 21-29 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
See also[]
- Monday Night Football
- Monday Night Football results (1990–2009)
- Monday Night Football results (2010–present)
- ESPN Sunday Night Football results (1987-2005)
- NBC Sunday Night Football results (2006-present)
- NFL Network Run to the Playoffs results (2006-present)
References[]
- Total Football II,, Edited by Bob Carroll, Michael Gershman, David Neft and John Thorn, Harper Collins Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-06-270174-6.
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