List of Monday Night Football results (1970–1989)
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 to 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 to 1989.
| Overtime Result | Non-Monday regular season games covered by MNF team | Super Bowl broadcast | Pro Bowl broadcast |
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 – Chicago Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals - Arizona Cardinals
1970s[]
1970 NFL season[]
In only the second MNF game on September 28, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson became the first quarterback to throw for 4 touchdown passes on Monday Night Football.
The October 19 game between the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders was originally scheduled as a head coaching matchup between Vince Lombardi of the Redskins and the Raiders' second-year mentor, John Madden. However, Lombardi died of colon cancer six weeks before the contest. In that game, Raiders running back Hewritt Dixon rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown.
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 St. Louis Cardinals, who completed a season sweep of the Cowboys at the Cotton Bowl would go 1–3–1 down the stretch to fall completely out of the playoffs and cost coach Charley Winner his job.
The Colts and Packers simultaneously became the first teams to make their second appearances on MNF when they played each other. The Browns, Lions, and Rams were the only other teams to make two MNF appearances in 1970. The only teams that did not appear on MNF in 1970 were the 49ers (who first appeared in 1971), the Saints and Patriots (who first appeared in 1972) and the Broncos and Bills (who first appeared in consecutive weeks in 1973).
The November 23 game became infamous when an intoxicated 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 | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 21 | New York Jets | 21–31 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | First MNF game |
| Monday | September 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | 44–24 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | |
| Monday | October 5 | Chicago Bears | 14–28 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| 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 | 1969 NFL Western Conf. playoff rematch |
| Monday | November 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | 10–21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 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 | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | November 30 | Miami Dolphins | 20–7 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium | |
| Monday | December 7 | Cleveland Browns | 21–10 | Houston Oilers | 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 versus 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 18 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 and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
The October 25 game featured a moment of silence for Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes who died of a heart attack on the field at Tiger Stadium the previous day.
The 49ers made their MNF debut December 6 vs. Kansas City at home.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 20 | Minnesota Vikings | 16–13 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| 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 | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 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 | Lions–Packers rivalry |
| 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 | 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 September 25 game marked the New Orleans Saints' debut on Monday Night Football. The Saints' opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs, returned to Tulane Stadium for the first time since their Super Bowl IV victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Chiefs coach Hank Stram later coached the Saints in 1976 and 1977, although the team moved to the Louisiana Superdome in 1975. Saints quarterback Archie Manning made his Monday Night debut as well; 23 years later, his son, Eli Manning, made his Monday Night debut for the New York Giants against the Saints in a game relocated from New Orleans to Giants Stadium after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina three weeks prior.
The Patriots were the other team to make its MNF debut in 1972, hosting the Colts November 6.
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 game was the first in the series' three-year history to pit two former AFL clubs against each other.
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 nine games the Dolphins won that season against teams which won five or fewer games (the Cardinals finished 4-9-1 for the third time in four seasons, and did so again in 1973).
The December 11 game saw the New York Jets wide receiver Don Maynard set a new NFL record for pass receptions when he caught his 632nd reception, a record that stood until 1975 when Charley Taylor became the NFL all-time pass receptions record holder.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | October 9 | Oakland Raiders | 34–0 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| Monday | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | 24–23 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Lions–Packers rivalry |
| Monday | October 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 10–13 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| Monday | October 30 | Detroit Lions | 24–28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| Monday | November 6 | Baltimore Colts | 24–17 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Colts–Patriots rivalry |
| 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 | Orange Bowl | |
| Monday | December 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 26–16 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 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 famously 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 Redskins victory.
The Minnesota Vikings entered the November 19 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. The victory was sweet revenge for Falcons head coach Norm Van Brocklin, who was the Vikings' first head coach from 1961 to 1966, and quarterback Bob Lee, a Vikings backup from 1969 to 1972 (as well as punter from 1969 to 1971), and again in 1976 and '77.
Only one home team lost out of the 13 games: Cleveland to Miami 17–9 on October 15 (the Raiders and Broncos played to a 23–23 tie in Denver a week later).
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry 1972 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | October 15 | Miami Dolphins | 17–9 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1972 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | October 22 | Oakland Raiders | 23–23 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 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 | Orange Bowl | 1972 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 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 Raiders' loss was their first on Monday Night, and would be their last until 1986.
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 took a hit for those two contests. On that October 28, Pittsburgh defeated Atlanta for the 14th consecutive home team victory on Monday Night and the 15th consecutive without a loss. The streak was snapped the following week when Los Angeles won at San Francisco, the fourth of 10 consecutive Rams victories at Candlestick Park.
The November 25 game at Tulane Stadium marked the first time ABC broadcast a Monday Night game in the same facility which would host the Super Bowl at the end of the season. Ironically, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints in the MNF game, then came back January 12, 1975 and ousted the Minnesota Vikings on the same field to win their first championship in franchise history. In between, ABC telecast the final Sugar Bowl played at Tulane Stadium, with Nebraska edging Florida 13–10 on New Year's Eve.
After losing to the Steelers, the Saints did not return to MNF for five years.
From 1974 until 1977, the Monday night game aired on Saturday during the final week of the regular season. Previously, there had been no prime-time game in the season's final week.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 16 | Oakland Raiders | 20–21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| Monday | September 23 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| Monday | September 30 | Denver Broncos | 3–30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| Monday | October 7 | New York Jets | 17–21 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| Monday | October 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 13–17 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | |
| Monday | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 9–10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| Monday | October 28 | Atlanta Falcons | 17–24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| Monday | November 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 15–13 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 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 | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| Monday | November 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 28–7 | New Orleans Saints | Tulane Stadium | |
| Monday | December 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3–24 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1973 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 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 Pro Bowl | January 20 | NFC | 17–10 | AFC | Orange Bowl |
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 October 6 game marked the first regular season game ever played in the Pontiac Silverdome, the then-new home of the Detroit Lions. The Dallas Cowboys, who had missed the playoffs in 1974 for the first time in nine years, beat the Lions on their way to a 4–0 start to the season. The Cowboys would return to the playoffs in 1975, starting a new nine-year streak of playoff berths, and became the first NFL wild card team ever to play in the Super Bowl.
Following their surprising 34–31 victory at Dallas Nov. 10, Kansas City did not win another MNF game until 1991. The Chiefs-Cowboys game is best remembered for a diving one-handed touchdown reception by the Cowboys' Golden Richards at the back of the end zone.
The final Monday Night Football game of the season offered one of the least attractive contests in the six-year history of the program: The 1–11 San Diego Chargers hosted the 3–9 New York Jets, with the Chargers pulling an upset 24–16 victory.
This was the first season that the Rams did not appear in one of the final two games of the season. The Rams played at home in the final Monday night game four of the first five seasons of Monday Night Football. Nevertheless, the Rams did play in the final game covered by the MNF team on Saturday, December 20, where they defeated the eventual Super Bowl champion Steelers.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 22 | Oakland Raiders | 31–21 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1974 AFC Divisional playoff rematch (The Sea of Hands) |
| 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 | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 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 | Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | December 1 | New England Patriots | 7–20 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| Monday | December 8 | Denver Broncos | 10–17 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | December 15 | New York Jets | 16–24 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| Saturday | December 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 3–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 1976 Pro Bowl | January 26 | AFC | 20–23 | NFC | Louisiana Superdome |
1976 NFL season[]
This season saw the first Monday night overtime game since overtime was instituted for the regular season 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 | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 13 | Miami Dolphins | 30–21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| Monday | September 20 | Oakland Raiders | 24–21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | September 27 | Washington Redskins | 20–17 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Redskins rivalry |
| 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 | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Monday | October 18 | New York Jets | 7–41 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 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 | 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 | |
| Saturday | December 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 20–17 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 1977 Pro Bowl | January 17 | NFC | 14–24 | AFC | Kingdome |
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.
This was Don Meredith's first season back in the booth, after three seasons at NBC. He would remain through the 1984 season.
The October 10 game was Joe Namath's last NFL start and last NFL game.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | October 10 | Los Angeles Rams | 23–24 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| Monday | October 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | October 24 | Minnesota Vikings | 3–35 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 1976 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 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 | Orange Bowl | |
| Monday | December 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 42–35 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Cowboys rivalry |
| Saturday | December 17 | Minnesota Vikings | 30–21 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| 1978 Pro Bowl | January 23 | AFC | 13–14 | NFC | Tampa Stadium |
1978 NFL season[]
The September 4 game, the 1978 MNF season opener, was when Howard Cosell and the announcing crew was given a plate of nachos and Cosell began using the term 'nacho' for the duration of the game; this moment is notable for helping spread the popularity of the dish outside of its native Texas where it was invented.[1]
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. It was the first MNF telecast from the Astrodome since the infamous 1972 game versus the Oakland Raiders where a fan gave the middle finger to a camera.
The November 27 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers kicked off at 6 pm. 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. A rarely discussed moment happened before the game just prior the national anthem. The stadium observed a moment of silence to honor the fallen mayor. Between that and the national anthem a truck backed into the stadium flag pole sending it crashing to the ground. It was a large wooden pole near the southern end zone. It shocked the crowd who were already uneasy from a very tragic day in San Francisco.
In the regular season finale December 18, New England Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks was not present, suspended by owner Billy Sullivan after he accepted the same position at the University of Colorado. Coordinators Ron Erhardt and Hank Bullough served as co-coaches for the game, which the Miami Dolphins won 23–3. Fairbanks was allowed to coach the Patriots in the AFC divisional playoff vs. Houston, which New England lost 31–14.
From 1978 to 1986, ABC would televise some Thursday and Sunday night games.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Colts–Patriots rivalry |
| Sunday | September 24 | New England Patriots | 21–14 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| Monday | September 25 | Minnesota Vikings | 24–20 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| Monday | October 2 | Dallas Cowboys | 5–9 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| Monday | October 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0–21 | Miami Dolphins | 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 | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| Thursday | October 26 | Minnesota Vikings | 21–10 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | 1977 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 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 | |
| Sunday | November 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 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 | Night of the assassination of San Francisco Mayor |
| Sunday | December 3 | Denver Broncos | 21–6 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry 1977 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 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 | |
| 1979 Pro Bowl | January 29 | AFC | 7–13 | NFC | Los Angeles Memorial 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). Two weeks later, the Jets hosted the first ever MNF game in New York City, and defeated the Vikings.
The Seattle Seahawks made their MNF debut October 29 versus the Atlanta Falcons. Four weeks later, they played their first MNF home game versus the New York Jets.
In the November 12 game between the Eagles and the Cowboys, barefoot Eagles kicker Tony Franklin booted a 59-yard field goal. It was the longest MNF field goal until Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski hit an altitude-assisted 63-yarder at Denver in 2011, tying the league record as it then stood, and is still the Monday night non-altitude assisted record.
In the December 3 Raiders/Saints game, Ken Stabler rallied the Raiders from a 35–14 deficit. He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cliff Branch for the winning score. Stabler later played for the Saints from 1982 through the first half of 1984.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16–13 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | |
| Thursday | September 6 | Los Angeles Rams | 13–9 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| Monday | September 10 | Atlanta Falcons | 14–10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | 1978 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Monday | September 17 | New York Giants | 0–27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| 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 | |
| Sunday | October 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 6–30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | 1978 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | 7–17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | |
| Monday | October 22 | Denver Broncos | 7–42 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1978 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Thursday | October 25 | San Diego Chargers | 22–45 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 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 | 1978 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Monday | November 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | 31–21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 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 | |
| Thursday | November 29 | New England Patriots | 24–39 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| Monday | December 3 | Oakland Raiders | 42–35 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| Monday | December 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–20 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry 1978 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | December 17 | Denver Broncos | 7–17 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | Broncos–Chargers rivalry |
| 1980 Pro Bowl | January 27 | NFC | 37–27 | AFC | Aloha Stadium |
1980s[]
1980 NFL season[]
Dallas defeated Washington marking the first time that those teams opened up the Monday Night Football season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their first game on ABC Thursday, September 11 at home versus the Los Angeles Rams, then played their first Monday night game at Chicago October 6.
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". One night later, Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Roberto Duran in the famous 'No Mas' bout for the welterweight world boxing championship.
The December 8 game was forever remembered for Howard Cosell's announcement of the murder of John Lennon with three seconds left in 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 | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–3 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| Thursday | September 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 9–10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | 1979 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | September 15 | Houston Oilers | 16–7 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| Monday | September 22 | New York Giants | 3–35 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | September 29 | Denver Broncos | 14–23 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Broncos–Patriots rivalry |
| 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 | Raiders–Steelers rivalry |
| Sunday | October 26 | San Diego Chargers | 31–42 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| Monday | October 27 | Miami Dolphins | 14–17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 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 | |
| Thursday | November 20 | San Diego Chargers | 27–24 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 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 | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| Thursday | December 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 0–6 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry 1979 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | December 8 | New England Patriots | 13–16 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| Monday | December 15 | Dallas Cowboys | 14–38 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 1979 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | December 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–26 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 1981 Pro Bowl | February 1 | AFC | 7–13 | NFC | Aloha Stadium |
1981 NFL season[]
The December 7 game between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers would mark the final Monday night game played in Oakland prior to the Raiders' move to Los Angeles. The next Monday night game played in Oakland would be held in 1996; one year after the Raiders' return to Oakland in 1995.
Home teams won every game ABC aired after the month of September, a total of 14 contests.
| width=8%Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 7 | San Diego Chargers | 44–14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| Thursday | September 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10–30 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| Monday | September 14 | Oakland Raiders | 36–10 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| Thursday | September 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20–14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich 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 | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| Sunday | October 18 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–29 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | 1980 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Monday | October 19 | Chicago Bears | 17–48 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| Monday | October 26 | Houston Oilers | 13–26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| 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 | Orange Bowl | |
| Thursday | December 3 | Cleveland Browns | 13–17 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| Monday | December 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 27–30 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Raiders–Steelers rivalry |
| 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 | Chargers–Raiders rivalry 1980 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 1982 Pro Bowl | January 31 | NFC | 13–16 | AFC | Aloha Stadium |
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.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted their first Monday night game November 29 versus the in-state rival Miami Dolphins, the first regular season meeting between the teams since the Buccaneers' inaugural year of 1976. In 1980, the Buccaneers hosted the Los Angeles Rams in a Thursday night game on ABC.
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, as fullback Ron Springs did not get onto the playing field in time after Minnesota kicked off to Dallas in the third quarter.
The Cowboys-Vikings game originally was scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 26 (Week 3), but was canceled due to the players’ strike, and then was among 14 canceled games rescheduled to a newly added Week 17 when the strike was settled. This resulted in the Cowboys playing three of their nine regular season games on MNF; the only other teams with two MNF games in the shortened season were the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins (incidentally, the November 8 game pitting the Chargers against the Dolphins in a rematch of "The Epic in Miami" was one of the games canceled as a result of the strike).
The San Francisco 49ers became the first reigning Super Bowl champion not to play a Monday night game, although they were featured in ABC games on other nights (one Thursday, one Sunday). Their scheduled Monday game (week 4 at Tampa Bay) fell victim to the strike.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 36–28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Steelers rivalry |
| Thursday | September 16 | Minnesota Vikings | 22–23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| Monday | September 20 | Green Bay Packers | 27–19 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | |
| Thursday | September 23 | Atlanta Falcons | DNP* | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| Monday | September 27 | Cincinnati Bengals | DNP* | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| Monday | October 4 | San Francisco 49ers | DNP* | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | |
| Monday | October 11 | Philadelphia Eagles | DNP* | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Eagles–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | October 18 | Buffalo Bills | DNP* | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry 1981 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Sunday | October 24 | Dallas Cowboys | DNP* | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | |
| Monday | October 25 | New York Giants | DNP* | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry 1981 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Monday | November 1 | Detroit Lions | DNP* | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| Monday | November 8 | San Diego Chargers | DNP* | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1981 AFC Divisional playoff rematch (Epic in Miami) |
| Monday | November 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | DNP* | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| Monday | November 22 | San Diego Chargers | 24–28 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | November 29 | Miami Dolphins | 17–23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry |
| Thursday | December 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 30–24 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Monday | December 6 | New York Jets | 28–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| Monday | December 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 37–7 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Governor's Cup rivalry |
| Sunday | December 19 | Atlanta Falcons | 17–7 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| Monday | December 20 | Cincinnati Bengals | 34–50 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | 1981 AFC Championship Game rematch Freezer Bowl |
| Monday | December 27 | Buffalo Bills | 10–27 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| Monday | January 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 27–31 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 1983 Pro Bowl | February 6 | NFC | 19–20 | NFC | Aloha Stadium |
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, and his final NFL game on ABC on Friday night, December 16, between the Jets and Dolphins at Miami. Cosell did not make the trip to the west coast for the last game of the season between the Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino made his NFL debut in the September 19 game between the Raiders and the Dolphins.
The October 10 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals is remembered for the Steelers' Keith Gary grabbing the facemask of Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson on a first-quarter sack and twisting his head 180 degrees. Anderson was knocked out of the game and backup Turk Schonert threw three interceptions, two of which the Steelers returned for touchdowns in a 24–14 Steelers win.
The October 24 game between the Cardinals and the Giants is the only overtime tie in MNF history, as the Cardinals' Neil O'Donoghue blew 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.
Both of the Redskins' regular season losses during the 1983 season came on Monday night (Week 1 at home to Dallas; Week 7 to the Packers in Green Bay) by a margin of 1 point in each game.
Following their December 12 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not play another game on ABC until 1998.
From 1983 to 1986 in addition to some Thursday and Sunday night games, ABC would also televise a Friday night game in week 16.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 5 | Dallas Cowboys | 31–30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry 1982 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Thursday | September 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 48–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| Monday | September 12 | San Diego Chargers | 17–14 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chargers–Chiefs rivalry |
| Thursday | September 15 | Cincinnati Bengals | 7–17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 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 | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| Monday | October 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–14 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | October 17 | Washington Redskins | 47–48 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| Sunday | October 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 40–38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 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 | Orange Bowl | |
| Thursday | December 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 42–10 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | December 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 2–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| Monday | December 12 | Green Bay Packers | 12–9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | |
| Friday | December 16 | New York Jets | 14–34 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry 1982 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–42 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Cowboys rivalry |
| 1984 Pro Bowl | January 29 | NFC | 45–3 | AFC | Aloha Stadium |
1984 NFL season[]
The September 6 Thursday special game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets was the first primetime game hosted by the Jets in New Jersey, after relocating from Shea Stadium to Giants Stadium. The Jets previously played a September 1977 game in New Jersey after a scheduling conflict with the New York Mets at Shea.
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. However, the 5-1 Broncos' offense could only muster an additional field goal as the 1-5 Packers scored two touchdowns in the second half and very nearly pulled an upset.
The October 21 Sunday special game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys started at 9:45 EDT (8:45 CDT) 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 on ESPN would air two games in week 1, the second kicking off after 10:00 pm EDT. The 1984 Saints-Cowboys game remains the latest NFL kickoff on a broadcast network.
1984 marked the third straight year in which the Cowboys played in both the MNF season opener and season finale. The Cowboys would open the MNF season again in 1985 and 1986 to complete a run of seven Monday night openers in nine seasons. However, they would not close the season on MNF again until 1995, a Christmas night game at Arizona.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 20–13 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 1983 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Thursday | September 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 23–17 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| Monday | September 10 | Washington Redskins | 31–37 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 1983 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Sunday | September 16 | Denver Broncos | 24–14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| Monday | September 17 | Miami Dolphins | 21–17 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| Monday | September 24 | San Diego Chargers | 30–33 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | October 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | 17–38 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | October 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 31–10 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | October 15 | Green Bay Packers | 14–17 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| Sunday | October 21 | New Orleans Saints | 27–30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas 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 | 1983 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | November 19 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–27 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| Monday | November 26 | New York Jets | 17–28 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| Thursday | November 29 | Washington Redskins | 31–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 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 | |
| Friday | December 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 16–19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Monday | December 17 | Dallas Cowboys | 21–28 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| Super Bowl XIX | January 20 | Miami Dolphins | 16–38 | San Francisco 49ers | Stanford Stadium | AFC No. 1 vs NFC No. 1 matchup |
| 1985 Pro Bowl | January 27 | AFC | 22–14 | NFC | Aloha Stadium |
1985 NFL season[]
The September 19 Thursday night game is memorable for Bears quarterback 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 touchdown pass 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 touchdown. Then, on the very next series, McMahon completed 3 of 5 passes and another touchdown to McKinnon. For the third quarter, McMahon had taken seven snaps and completed five passes for three touchdowns.
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, as well as the final Monday night game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2018.
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 sack that left Joe Theismann with a broken leg, ending 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 | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 9 | Washington Redskins | 14–44 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| Thursday | September 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 20–36 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | September 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7–17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Browns–Steelers rivalry |
| Thursday | September 19 | Chicago Bears | 33–24 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| Monday | September 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 35–24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| Monday | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | 37–24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| Sunday | October 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 30–29 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 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 | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| Monday | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 7–23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| Monday | October 28 | San Diego Chargers | 21–34 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 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 | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| Monday | November 25 | Seattle Seahawks | 6–19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| Monday | December 2 | Chicago Bears | 24–38 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| Sunday | December 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 44–54 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| Monday | December 9 | Los Angeles Rams | 27–20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Monday | December 16 | New England Patriots | 27–30 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| Friday | December 20 | Denver Broncos | 27–24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| Monday | December 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 16–6 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | |
| 1986 Pro Bowl | February 2 | NFC | 28–24 | AFC | Aloha Stadium |
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 7 of the 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium in nearby Flushing, New York (the World Series finale was scheduled for the previous night, but was rained out).
The Sunday, December 7 game between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys is remembered for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry being escorted off the field before the start of the 4th quarter due to Anaheim police learning of a threat on Landry's life. Landry would return after being fitted with a bulletproof vest.[2]
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 8 | New York Giants | 28–31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| Thursday | September 11 | New England Patriots | 20–6 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry 1985 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Monday | September 15 | Denver Broncos | 21–10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| Thursday | September 18 | Cincinnati Bengals | 30–13 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| Monday | September 22 | Chicago Bears | 25–12 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 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 | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| Monday | October 20 | Denver Broncos | 10–22 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| Monday | October 27 | Washington Redskins | 20–27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| Monday | November 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 20–17 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1985 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | November 10 | Miami Dolphins | 16–26 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1985 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | November 17 | San Francisco 49ers | 6–14 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| Thursday | November 20 | Los Angeles Raiders | 37–31 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | November 24 | New York Jets | 3–45 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| Monday | December 1 | New York Giants | 21–17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Giants rivalry 1985 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| Sunday | December 7 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–29 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 1985 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | December 8 | Los Angeles Raiders | 0–37 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| Monday | December 15 | Chicago Bears | 16–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| Friday | December 19 | Los Angeles Rams | 14–24 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Monday | December 22 | New England Patriots | 34–27 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry 1985 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 1987 Pro Bowl | February 1 | AFC | 10–6 | NFC | Aloha Stadium |
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 broadcast 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 Broncos-Vikings game, originally to be shown on NBC, was broadcast only in Colorado and Minnesota as part of ABC's ''Monday Night Football.'' The rest of the country saw the previously scheduled game: Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland, which turned out to be Eric Dickerson's last with the Rams.
The November 30 Raiders/Seahawks game marked the memorable Monday Night Football debut of Bo Jackson, with his 91-yard touchdown run. Prior to that, he ran over Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth for another score.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 14 | New York Giants | 19–34 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Last two Super Bowl Champions |
| Monday | September 21 | New England Patriots | 24–43 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| Monday | September 28 | Denver Broncos | DNP* | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1986 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| Monday | October 5 | San Francisco 49ers | 41–21 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 49ers–Giants rivalry 1986 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | October 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14–30 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | October 19 | Washington Redskins | 13–7 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| Monday | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| Denver Broncos | 27–34 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |||
| Monday | November 2 | New York Giants | 24–33 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 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 | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 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 | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| Super Bowl XXII | January 31 | Washington Redskins | 42–10 | Denver Broncos | Jack Murphy Stadium | NFC No. 3 vs AFC No. 1 matchup |
* Did not play due to 1987 NFL strike.
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 Cardinals did not return to MNF until the 1995 finale on Christmas Day, also against the Cowboys.
The October 3 game between the Cowboys and the Saints would be the final MNF game coached by Tom Landry, as well as for the Cowboys team as a whole until 1991.
| Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 5 | Washington Redskins | 20–27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry Last two Super Bowl Champions |
| Monday | September 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–14 | Phoenix Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium | |
| Monday | September 19 | Indianapolis Colts | 17–23 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1987 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Monday | September 26 | Los Angeles Raiders | 30–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| Monday | October 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| Monday | October 10 | New York Giants | 13–24 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | October 17 | Buffalo Bills | 37–14 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| 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 | 17–24 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| Monday | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | 31–6 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 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 | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
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 (Shell had been named interim head coach following the firing of Mike Shanahan).
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 Day since the 1971 divisional playoffs. (The Vikings also hosted one of the two Christmas Day 1971 playoff games, losing to the eventual Super Bowl VI champion Cowboys.)
1989 marked the first year in which the Miami Dolphins did not appear on Monday Night Football. The Miami Dolphins appeared on ABC's Monday Night Football every year except for this year and the 2005 season.
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 | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 11 | New York Giants | 27–24 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| Monday | September 18 | Denver Broncos | 28–14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| Monday | September 25 | Cleveland Browns | 14–21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| Monday | October 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13–27 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1988 NFC Divisional playoff rematch (Fog Bowl) |
| 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 | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| Monday | December 4 | Buffalo Bills | 16–17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| Monday | December 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 30–27 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 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[]
- ^ "How Howard Cosell helped bring nachos to the world". November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
- ,, Edited by Bob Carroll, Michael Gershman, David Neft and John Thorn, Harper Collins Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-06-270174-6.
- National Football League lists
- Monday Night Football
- National Football League on television results
- ABC Sports