American Football Database
Advertisement

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[]

Teams[]

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.

Day Date Visiting Team Final Score Host Team Stadium
Monday September 21 New York Jets 21-31 Cleveland Browns Cleveland Stadium
Monday September 28 Kansas City Chiefs 44-24 Baltimore Colts Memorial Stadium
Monday October 5 Chicago Bears 14-28 Detroit Lions Tiger Stadium
Monday October 12 Green Bay Packers 22-20 San Diego Chargers San Diego Stadium
Monday October 19 Washington Redskins 20-34 Oakland Raiders Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Monday October 26 Los Angeles Rams 3-13 Minnesota Vikings Metropolitan Stadium
Monday November 2 Cincinnati Bengals 10-21 Pittsburgh Steelers Three Rivers Stadium
Monday November 9 Baltimore Colts 13-10 Green Bay Packers Milwaukee County Stadium
Monday November 16 St. Louis Cardinals 38-0 Dallas Cowboys Cotton Bowl
Monday November 23 New York Giants 20-23 Philadelphia Eagles Franklin Field
Monday November 30 Miami Dolphins 20-7 Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Stadium
Monday December 7 Cleveland Browns 21-10 Houston Oilers The Astrodome
Monday December 14 Detroit Lions 28-23 Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

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[]

References[]

Advertisement