List of Monday Night Football results (1970–89)


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.

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

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, the Saints and Patriots and the Broncos and Bills.
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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 21New York Jets21–31Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondaySeptember 28Kansas City Chiefs44–24Baltimore ColtsMemorial Stadium
MondayOctober 5Chicago Bears14–28Detroit LionsTiger Stadium
MondayOctober 12Green Bay Packers22–20San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium
MondayOctober 19Washington Redskins20–34Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayOctober 26Los Angeles Rams3–13Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondayNovember 2Cincinnati Bengals10–21Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayNovember 9Baltimore Colts13–10Green Bay PackersMilwaukee County Stadium
MondayNovember 16St. Louis Cardinals38–0Dallas CowboysCotton Bowl
MondayNovember 23New York Giants20–23Philadelphia EaglesFranklin Field
MondayNovember 30Miami Dolphins20–7Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Stadium
MondayDecember 7Cleveland Browns21–10Houston OilersAstrodome
MondayDecember 14Detroit Lions28–23Los Angeles RamsLos 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. 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 20Minnesota Vikings16–13Detroit LionsTiger Stadium
MondaySeptember 27New York Jets10–17St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 4Oakland Raiders34–20Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 11New York Giants13–20Dallas CowboysCotton Bowl
MondayOctober 18Pittsburgh Steelers16–38Kansas City ChiefsMunicipal Stadium
MondayOctober 25Baltimore Colts3–10Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondayNovember 1Detroit Lions14–14Green Bay PackersMilwaukee County Stadium
MondayNovember 8Los Angeles Rams17–24Baltimore ColtsMemorial Stadium
MondayNovember 15St. Louis Cardinals17–20San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium
MondayNovember 22Green Bay Packers21–28Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Stadium
MondayNovember 29Chicago Bears3–34Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 6Kansas City Chiefs26–17San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 13Washington Redskins38–24Los Angeles RamsLos 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 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 18Washington Redskins24–21Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondaySeptember 25Kansas City Chiefs20–17New Orleans SaintsTulane Stadium
MondayOctober 2New York Giants27–12Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayOctober 9Oakland Raiders34–0Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayOctober 16Green Bay Packers24–23Detroit LionsTiger Stadium
MondayOctober 23Minnesota Vikings10–13Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 30Detroit Lions24–28Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 6Baltimore Colts24–17New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondayNovember 13Cleveland Browns21–17San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium
MondayNovember 20Atlanta Falcons13–24Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 27St. Louis Cardinals10–31Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 4Los Angeles Rams26–16San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 11New York Jets16–24Oakland RaidersOakland–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", 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 1969-72, and again in 1976 and '77.
Only one home team lost out of the 13 games: Cleveland to Miami 17–9 on October 15.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 17New York Jets7–23Green Bay PackersMilwaukee County Stadium
MondaySeptember 24New Orleans Saints3–40Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayOctober 1Atlanta Falcons6–31Detroit LionsTiger Stadium
MondayOctober 8Dallas Cowboys7–14Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 15Miami Dolphins17–9Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 22Oakland Raiders23–23Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 29Kansas City Chiefs14–23Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondayNovember 5Washington Redskins16–21Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayNovember 12Chicago Bears7–19Kansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
MondayNovember 19Minnesota Vikings14–20Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Stadium
MondayNovember 26Green Bay Packers6–20San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 3Pittsburgh Steelers26–30Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 10New York Giants6–40Los Angeles RamsLos 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 16Oakland Raiders20–21Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondaySeptember 23Dallas Cowboys10–13Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondaySeptember 30Denver Broncos3–30Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 7New York Jets17–21Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayOctober 14San Francisco 49ers13–17Detroit LionsTiger Stadium
MondayOctober 21Green Bay Packers9–10Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 28Atlanta Falcons17–24Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayNovember 4Los Angeles Rams15–13San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayNovember 11Minnesota Vikings28–24St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 18Kansas City Chiefs42–34Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayNovember 25Pittsburgh Steelers28–7New Orleans SaintsTulane Stadium
MondayDecember 2Cincinnati Bengals3–24Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 9Washington Redskins23–17Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SaturdayDecember 14Dallas Cowboys23–27Oakland RaidersOakland–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 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 22Oakland Raiders31–21Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondaySeptember 29Green Bay Packers13–23Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 6Dallas Cowboys36–10Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayOctober 13St. Louis Cardinals17–27Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 20New York Giants17–14Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondayOctober 27Minnesota Vikings13–9Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayNovember 3Los Angeles Rams42–3Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayNovember 10Kansas City Chiefs34–31Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 17Buffalo Bills24–33Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayNovember 24Pittsburgh Steelers32–9Houston OilersAstrodome
MondayDecember 1New England Patriots7–20Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 8Denver Broncos10–17Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayDecember 15New York Jets16–24San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SaturdayDecember 20Pittsburgh Steelers3–10Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum

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.
1976 also marked the program using a new theme song for the introduction.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 13Miami Dolphins30–21Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondaySeptember 20Oakland Raiders24–21Kansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
MondaySeptember 27Washington Redskins20–17Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayOctober 4Pittsburgh Steelers6–17Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondayOctober 11San Francisco 49ers16–0Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayOctober 18New York Jets7–41New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondayOctober 25St. Louis Cardinals10–20Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 1Houston Oilers14–38Baltimore ColtsMemorial Stadium
MondayNovember 8Los Angeles Rams12–20Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayNovember 15Buffalo Bills10–17Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 22Baltimore Colts17–16Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayNovember 29Minnesota Vikings16–20San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 6Cincinnati Bengals20–35Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SaturdayDecember 11Los Angeles Rams20–17Detroit LionsPontiac 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.
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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 19San Francisco 49ers0–27Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondaySeptember 26New England Patriots27–30Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 3Oakland Raiders37–28Kansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
MondayOctober 10Los Angeles Rams23–24Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 17Cincinnati Bengals14–20Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 24Minnesota Vikings3–35Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayOctober 31New York Giants0–28St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 7Washington Redskins3–10Baltimore ColtsMemorial Stadium
MondayNovember 14St. Louis Cardinals24–17Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 21Green Bay Packers9–10Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 28Buffalo Bills13–34Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayDecember 5Baltimore Colts6–17Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 12Dallas Cowboys42–35San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SaturdayDecember 17Minnesota Vikings30–21Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome

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.
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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 4Baltimore Colts0–38Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondaySeptember 11Denver Broncos9–12Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondaySeptember 18Baltimore Colts34–27New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondaySeptember 25Minnesota Vikings24–20Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 2Dallas Cowboys5–9Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 9Cincinnati Bengals0–21Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayOctober 16Chicago Bears7–16Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 23Houston Oilers24–17Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 30Los Angeles Rams7–15Atlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayNovember 6Washington Redskins17–21Baltimore ColtsMemorial Stadium
MondayNovember 13Oakland Raiders34–21Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayNovember 20Miami Dolphins30–35Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayNovember 27Pittsburgh Steelers24–7San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 4Chicago Bears7–40San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium
MondayDecember 11Cincinnati Bengals20–19Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayDecember 18New England Patriots3–23Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SundaySeptember 24New England Patriots21–14Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
ThursdayOctober 26Minnesota Vikings21–10Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
SundayNovember 12Pittsburgh Steelers7–10Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
SundayDecember 3Denver Broncos21–6Oakland RaidersOakland–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. 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 3Pittsburgh Steelers16–13New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondaySeptember 10Atlanta Falcons14–10Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondaySeptember 17New York Giants0–27Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondaySeptember 24Dallas Cowboys7–26Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 1New England Patriots14–27Green Bay PackersLambeau Field
MondayOctober 8Miami Dolphins3–13Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayOctober 15Minnesota Vikings7–17New York JetsShea Stadium
MondayOctober 22Denver Broncos7–42Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 29Seattle Seahawks31–28Atlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayNovember 5Houston Oilers9–6Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayNovember 12Philadelphia Eagles31–21Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 19Atlanta Falcons14–20Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayNovember 26New York Jets7–30Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayDecember 3Oakland Raiders42–35New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayDecember 10Pittsburgh Steelers17–20Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayDecember 17Denver Broncos7–17San Diego ChargersSan Diego Stadium

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 6Los Angeles Rams13–9Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
SundayOctober 14Los Angeles Rams6–30Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
ThursdayOctober 25San Diego Chargers22–45Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
ThursdayNovember 29New England Patriots24–39Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl

1980s

1980 NFL 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 8Dallas Cowboys17–3Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondaySeptember 15Houston Oilers16–7Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondaySeptember 22New York Giants3–35Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondaySeptember 29Denver Broncos14–23New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondayOctober 6Tampa Bay Buccaneers0–23Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 13Washington Redskins17–20Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 20Oakland Raiders45–34Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 27Miami Dolphins14–17New York JetsShea Stadium
MondayNovember 3Chicago Bears21–27Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayNovember 10New England Patriots34–38Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayNovember 17Oakland Raiders19–17Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayNovember 24Los Angeles Rams27–7New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayDecember 1Denver Broncos3–9Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayDecember 8New England Patriots13–16Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 15Dallas Cowboys14–38Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondayDecember 22Pittsburgh Steelers17–26San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 11Los Angeles Rams9–10Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Stadium
SundayOctober 26San Diego Chargers31–42Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
ThursdayNovember 20San Diego Chargers27–24Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
ThursdayDecember 4Pittsburgh Steelers0–6Houston OilersThe Astrodome

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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 7San Diego Chargers44–14Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondaySeptember 14Oakland Raiders36–10Minnesota VikingsMetropolitan Stadium
MondaySeptember 21Dallas Cowboys35–21New England PatriotsSchaefer Stadium
MondaySeptember 28Los Angeles Rams24–7Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 5Atlanta Falcons13–16Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayOctober 12Miami Dolphins21–31Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondayOctober 19Chicago Bears17–48Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayOctober 26Houston Oilers13–26Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayNovember 2Minnesota Vikings17–19Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayNovember 9Buffalo Bills14–27Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 16San Diego Chargers23–44Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayNovember 23Minnesota Vikings30–31Atlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayNovember 30Philadelphia Eagles10–13Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 7Pittsburgh Steelers27–30Oakland RaidersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
MondayDecember 14Atlanta Falcons16–21Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondayDecember 21Oakland Raiders10–23San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 10Pittsburgh Steelers10–30Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
ThursdaySeptember 17Philadelphia Eagles20–14Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
SundayOctober 18Los Angeles Rams17–29Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
ThursdayDecember 3Cleveland Browns13–17Houston OilersThe 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.
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, 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.
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. Their scheduled Monday game fell victim to the strike.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 13Pittsburgh Steelers36–28Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondaySeptember 20Green Bay Packers27–19New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondaySeptember 27Cincinnati BengalsCanceled due to strikeCleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 4San Francisco 49ersCanceled due to strikeTampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Stadium
MondayOctober 11Philadelphia EaglesCanceled due to strikePittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 18Buffalo BillsCanceled due to strikeNew York JetsShea Stadium
MondayOctober 25New York GiantsCanceled due to strikePhiladelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayNovember 1Detroit LionsCanceled due to strikeMinnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
MondayNovember 8San Diego ChargersCanceled due to strikeMiami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayNovember 15Philadelphia EaglesCanceled due to strikeAtlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayNovember 22San Diego Chargers24–28Los Angeles RaidersLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayNovember 29Miami Dolphins17–23Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Stadium
MondayDecember 6New York Jets28–13Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayDecember 13Dallas Cowboys37–7Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayDecember 20Cincinnati Bengals34–50San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
MondayDecember 27Buffalo Bills10–27Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayJanuary 3Dallas Cowboys27–31Minnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 16Minnesota Vikings22–23Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
ThursdaySeptember 23Atlanta FalconsCancelled due to strikeKansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
SundayOctober 24Dallas CowboysCancelled due to strikeCincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
ThursdayDecember 2San Francisco 49ers30–24Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
SundayDecember 19Atlanta Falcons17–7San Francisco 49ersCandlestick 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, 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 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 5Dallas Cowboys31–30Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondaySeptember 12San Diego Chargers17–14Kansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
MondaySeptember 19Miami Dolphins14–27Los Angeles RaidersLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondaySeptember 26Green Bay Packers3–27New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 3New York Jets34–10Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondayOctober 10Pittsburgh Steelers24–14Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayOctober 17Washington Redskins47–48Green Bay PackersLambeau Field
MondayOctober 24New York Giants20–20St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 31Washington Redskins27–24San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
MondayNovember 7New York Giants9–15Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayNovember 14Los Angeles Rams36–13Atlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayNovember 21New York Jets31–28New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayNovember 28Cincinnati Bengals14–38Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 5Minnesota Vikings2–13Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayDecember 12Green Bay Packers12–9Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Stadium
MondayDecember 19Dallas Cowboys17–42San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 8San Francisco 49ers48–17Minnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
ThursdaySeptember 15Cincinnati Bengals7–17Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
SundayOctober 23Los Angeles Raiders40–38Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
ThursdayDecember 1Los Angeles Raiders42–10San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
FridayDecember 16New York Jets14–34Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl

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.
The October 21 Sunday special game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys started at 9:45 EDT 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 3Dallas Cowboys20–13Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondaySeptember 10Washington Redskins31–37San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondaySeptember 17Miami Dolphins21–17Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondaySeptember 24San Diego Chargers30–33Los Angeles RaidersLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayOctober 1Cincinnati Bengals17–38Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 8San Francisco 49ers31–10New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 15Green Bay Packers14–17Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 22Los Angeles Rams24–10Atlanta FalconsAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
MondayOctober 29Seattle Seahawks24–0San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
MondayNovember 5Atlanta Falcons14–27Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 12Los Angeles Raiders14–17Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayNovember 19Pittsburgh Steelers24–27New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayNovember 26New York Jets17–28Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 3Chicago Bears7–20San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
MondayDecember 10Los Angeles Raiders24–3Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayDecember 17Dallas Cowboys21–28Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 6Pittsburgh Steelers23–17New York JetsGiants Stadium
SundaySeptember 16Denver Broncos24–14Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
SundayOctober 21New Orleans Saints27–30Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
ThursdayNovember 29Washington Redskins31–17Minnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
FridayDecember 14Los Angeles Rams16–19San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park

Postseason games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SundayJanuary 20Miami Dolphins16–38San Francisco 49ersStanford 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 tackle that ended Joe Theismann's career; as Theismann ended up breaking his leg on the play.
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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 9Washington Redskins14–44Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondaySeptember 16Pittsburgh Steelers7–17Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondaySeptember 23Los Angeles Rams35–24Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondaySeptember 30Cincinnati Bengals37–24Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondayOctober 7St. Louis Cardinals10–27Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 14Miami Dolphins7–23New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 21Green Bay Packers7–23Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 28San Diego Chargers21–34Los Angeles RaidersLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
MondayNovember 4Dallas Cowboys10–21St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 11San Francisco 49ers16–17Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayNovember 18New York Giants21–23Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 25Seattle Seahawks6–19San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 2Chicago Bears24–38Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 9Los Angeles Rams27–20San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 16New England Patriots27–30Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 23Los Angeles Raiders16–6Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 12Los Angeles Raiders20–36Kansas City ChiefsArrowhead Stadium
ThursdaySeptember 19Chicago Bears33–24Minnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
SundayOctober 6Dallas Cowboys30–29New York GiantsGiants Stadium
SundayDecember 8Pittsburgh Steelers44–54San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
FridayDecember 20Denver Broncos27–24Seattle SeahawksKingdome

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 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 8New York Giants28–31Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondaySeptember 15Denver Broncos21–10Pittsburgh SteelersThree Rivers Stadium
MondaySeptember 22Chicago Bears25–12Green Bay PackersLambeau Field
MondaySeptember 29Dallas Cowboys31–7St. Louis CardinalsBusch Memorial Stadium
MondayOctober 6San Diego Chargers7–33Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayOctober 13Pittsburgh Steelers22–24Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayOctober 20Denver Broncos10–22New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 27Washington Redskins20–27New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondayNovember 3Los Angeles Rams20–17Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayNovember 10Miami Dolphins16–26Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayNovember 17San Francisco 49ers6–14Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 24New York Jets3–45Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl
MondayDecember 1New York Giants21–17San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 8Los Angeles Raiders0–37Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayDecember 15Chicago Bears16–13Detroit LionsPontiac Silverdome
MondayDecember 22New England Patriots34–27Miami DolphinsMiami Orange Bowl

Non-Monday games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
ThursdaySeptember 11New England Patriots20–6New York JetsGiants Stadium
ThursdaySeptember 18Cincinnati Bengals30–13Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
ThursdayNovember 20Los Angeles Raiders37–31San Diego ChargersJack Murphy Stadium
SundayDecember 7Dallas Cowboys10–29Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
FridayDecember 19Los Angeles Rams14–24San Francisco 49ersCandlestick 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. 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 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. 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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 14New York Giants19–34Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondaySeptember 21New England Patriots24–43New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondaySeptember 28Denver BroncosCancelled due to strikeCleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 5San Francisco 49ers41–21New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 12Los Angeles Raiders14–30Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 19Washington Redskins13–7Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayOctober 26Los Angeles Rams17–30Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 26Denver Broncos27–34Minnesota VikingsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
MondayNovember 2New York Giants24–33Dallas CowboysTexas Stadium
MondayNovember 9Seattle Seahawks14–30New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondayNovember 16Chicago Bears29–31Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayNovember 23Los Angeles Rams30–26Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 30Los Angeles Raiders37–14Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayDecember 7New York Jets28–37Miami DolphinsJoe Robbie Stadium
MondayDecember 14Chicago Bears0–41San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 21Dallas Cowboys29–21Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondayDecember 28New England Patriots24–10Miami DolphinsJoe Robbie Stadium

Postseason games covered by ABC Monday Night Football team
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHost TeamStadium
SundayJanuary 31Washington Redskins42–10Denver BroncosJack Murphy Stadium

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.
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 5Washington Redskins20–27New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondaySeptember 12Dallas Cowboys17–14Phoenix CardinalsSun Devil Stadium
MondaySeptember 19Indianapolis Colts17–23Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondaySeptember 26Los Angeles Raiders30–27Denver BroncosMile High Stadium
MondayOctober 3Dallas Cowboys17–20New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayOctober 10New York Giants13–24Philadelphia EaglesVeterans Stadium
MondayOctober 17Buffalo Bills37–14New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 24San Francisco 49ers9–10Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 31Denver Broncos23–55Indianapolis ColtsHoosier Dome
MondayNovember 7Cleveland Browns17–24Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayNovember 14Buffalo Bills31–6Miami DolphinsJoe Robbie Stadium
MondayNovember 21Washington Redskins21–37San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayNovember 28Los Angeles Raiders27–35Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayDecember 5Chicago Bears3–23Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondayDecember 12Cleveland Browns31–38Miami DolphinsJoe Robbie Stadium
MondayDecember 19Chicago Bears27–28Minnesota VikingsHubert 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 Day since the 1971 divisional playoffs.
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 Footballs 20th season, and Hank Williams, Jr made his debut to the program with his hit "All My Rowdy Friends".
DayDateVisiting TeamFinal ScoreHome TeamStadium
MondaySeptember 11New York Giants27–24Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondaySeptember 18Denver Broncos28–14Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondaySeptember 25Cleveland Browns14–21Cincinnati BengalsRiverfront Stadium
MondayOctober 2Philadelphia Eagles13–27Chicago BearsSoldier Field
MondayOctober 9Los Angeles Raiders14–7New York JetsGiants Stadium
MondayOctober 16Los Angeles Rams20–23Buffalo BillsRich Stadium
MondayOctober 23Chicago Bears7–27Cleveland BrownsCleveland Stadium
MondayOctober 30Minnesota Vikings14–24New York GiantsGiants Stadium
MondayNovember 6New Orleans Saints13–31San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayNovember 13Cincinnati Bengals24–26Houston OilersThe Astrodome
MondayNovember 20Denver Broncos14–10Washington RedskinsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
MondayNovember 27New York Giants24–34San Francisco 49ersCandlestick Park
MondayDecember 4Buffalo Bills16–17Seattle SeahawksKingdome
MondayDecember 11San Francisco 49ers30–27Los Angeles RamsAnaheim Stadium
MondayDecember 18Philadelphia Eagles20–30New Orleans SaintsLouisiana Superdome
MondayDecember 25Cincinnati Bengals21–29Minnesota Vikings'Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

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