# List of Monday Night Football results (1970–2005)

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 2005.
| Overtime Result | Non-Monday regular season games covered by MNF team | Playoffs/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 – St. Louis Cardinals - Arizona Cardinals

## 1970s
### 1970 NFL season

The first ever MNF game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns on September 21 ended with a 31–21 Browns win. Key highlights include Browns' 2 1st-quarter touchdowns by Gary Collins and Bo Scott; Emerson Boozer of the Jets scoring 2 rushing touchdowns, each scored in 2nd & 3rd quarters; Homer Jones became the first player in MNF history to score a touchdown on a kickoff/punt return when he sprinted 94 yards to the end zone to begin the 2nd half, and Billy Andrews also became the 1st defensive player in MNF history when he score a touchdown on an intercepted pass from Joe Namath in the final closing minutes to seal the win.
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. 13 years later, the Redskins and the Raiders (this time playing in Los Angeles) would meet in the Super Bowl, with the Raiders winning the game and the title 38–9.
The October 26 game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings was notable when for the 1st time in MNF history, a team (Rams) didn't score a touchdown in the entire game. The result was a 13–3 Vikings win. Also on that same day, the 1st fight between Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry ended on a 3rd-round technical knockout. This boxing match is significant because it marked the return of Ali to boxing since his suspension that would ultimately led to his confrontational match against Joe Frazier in the Fight of the Century. Howard Cosell (a noted boxing commentator himself) would provide updates on that fight. The Ali-Quarry fight would later be highlighted on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Following their humiliating shutout in the November 16 game (which is also the 1st shutout in MNF history), 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. As for the Cowboys, they would not be shutout for 15 years until the future Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears beat them 44–0.
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 Browns became the first team in MNF history to win 2 games in 2 appearances, while the Rams became the first team to lose 2 games in 2 appearances. 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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 21 | New York Jets | 21–31 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | First MNF game |
| 2 | September 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | 44–24 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | |
| 3 | October 5 | Chicago Bears | 14–28 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| 4 | October 12 | Green Bay Packers | 22–20 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| 5 | October 19 | Washington Redskins | 20–34 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| 6 | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | 3–13 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | Rams–Vikings rivalry 1969 NFL Western Conf. playoff rematch |
| 7 | November 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | 10–21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 8 | November 9 | Baltimore Colts | 13–10 | Green Bay Packers | Milwaukee County Stadium | |
| 9 | November 16 | St. Louis Cardinals | 38–0 | Dallas Cowboys | Cotton Bowl | |
| 10 | November 23 | New York Giants | 20–23 | Philadelphia Eagles | Franklin Field | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 11 | November 30 | Miami Dolphins | 20–7 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium | |
| 12 | December 7 | Cleveland Browns | 21–10 | Houston Oilers | Astrodome | |
| 13 | 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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 20 | Minnesota Vikings | 16–13 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Lions–Vikings rivalry Frank Gifford's debut game |
| 2 | September 27 | New York Jets | 10–17 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 3 | October 4 | Oakland Raiders | 34–20 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 4 | October 11 | New York Giants | 13–20 | Dallas Cowboys | Cotton Bowl | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 5 | October 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16–38 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium | |
| 6 | October 25 | Baltimore Colts | 3–10 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| 7 | November 1 | Detroit Lions | 14–14 | Green Bay Packers | Milwaukee County Stadium | Lions–Packers rivalry |
| 8 | November 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–24 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | |
| 9 | November 15 | St. Louis Cardinals | 17–20 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| 10 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | 21–28 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium | |
| 11 | November 29 | Chicago Bears | 3–34 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 11 | December 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | 26–17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 13 | 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; 33 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. After this game, the Oilers went the rest of the season winless, ending with a 1–13 record and again with a 1–13 record in the next season.
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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 18 | Washington Redskins | 24–21 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| 2 | September 25 | Kansas City Chiefs | 20–17 | New Orleans Saints | Tulane Stadium | |
| 3 | October 2 | New York Giants | 27–12 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 4 | October 9 | Oakland Raiders | 34–0 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 5 | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | 24–23 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | Lions–Packers rivalry |
| 6 | October 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 10–13 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 7 | October 30 | Detroit Lions | 24–28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 8 | November 6 | Baltimore Colts | 24–17 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Colts–Patriots rivalry |
| 9 | November 13 | Cleveland Browns | 21–17 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| 10 | November 20 | Atlanta Falcons | 13–24 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 11 | November 27 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10–31 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 12 | December 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 26–16 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 13 | 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.
The December 3 game between the Steelers and the Dolphins began with a 30–3 halftime lead for the Dolphins, highlighted by Dick Anderson's 4 interceptions, including two that resulted in touchdown scores. Pittsburgh added 3 touchdowns in the 2nd half. However, luck ran out in the closing minutes, as the Dolphins won the game 30–26, aided with a Bob Griese safety.
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).
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 17 | New York Jets | 7–23 | Green Bay Packers | Milwaukee County Stadium | |
| 2 | September 24 | New Orleans Saints | 3–40 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 3 | October 1 | Atlanta Falcons | 6–31 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | |
| 4 | October 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 7–14 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry 1972 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 5 | October 15 | Miami Dolphins | 17–9 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1972 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 6 | October 22 | Oakland Raiders | 23–23 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 7 | October 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | 14–23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Chiefs rivalry |
| 8 | November 5 | Washington Redskins | 16–21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 9 | November 12 | Chicago Bears | 7–19 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 10 | November 19 | Minnesota Vikings | 14–20 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Stadium | |
| 11 | November 26 | Green Bay Packers | 6–20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Packers rivalry |
| 12 | December 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 26–30 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1972 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 13 | 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 to 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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 16 | Oakland Raiders | 20–21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 2 | September 23 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 3 | September 30 | Denver Broncos | 3–30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 4 | October 7 | New York Jets | 17–21 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 5 | October 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 13–17 | Detroit Lions | Tiger Stadium | |
| 6 | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 9–10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 7 | October 28 | Atlanta Falcons | 17–24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 8 | November 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 15–13 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 9 | November 11 | Minnesota Vikings | 28–24 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 10 | November 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | 42–34 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| 11 | November 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 28–7 | New Orleans Saints | Tulane Stadium | |
| 12 | December 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3–24 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1973 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 13 | December 9 | Washington Redskins | 23–17 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 14 | December 14 | Dallas Cowboys | 23–27 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Saturday game. |
| 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.
The October 27 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears, marked Bears Running Back Walter Payton's Monday Night Football debut.
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. This season marks the first time that Johnny Pearson's Heavy Action was used for their opening theme.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 22 | Oakland Raiders | 31–21 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1974 AFC Divisional playoff rematch (The Sea of Hands) |
| 2 | September 29 | Green Bay Packers | 13–23 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 3 | October 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 36–10 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 4 | October 13 | St. Louis Cardinals | 17–27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 5 | October 20 | New York Giants | 17–14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 6 | October 27 | Minnesota Vikings | 13–9 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 7 | November 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 42–3 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | |
| 8 | November 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | 34–31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 9 | November 17 | Buffalo Bills | 24–33 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 10 | November 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 32–9 | Houston Oilers | Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| 11 | December 1 | New England Patriots | 7–20 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| 12 | December 8 | Denver Broncos | 10–17 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 13 | December 15 | New York Jets | 16–24 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| 14 | December 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 3–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | LAR Win: No 1 Seed Loss With MIN LAR Loss: No 2 Seed Saturday game. |
| 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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 13 | Miami Dolphins | 30–21 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 2 | September 20 | Oakland Raiders | 24–21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 3 | September 27 | Washington Redskins | 20–17 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Redskins rivalry |
| 4 | October 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| 5 | October 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 16–0 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 6 | October 18 | New York Jets | 7–41 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 7 | October 25 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10–20 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 8 | November 1 | Houston Oilers | 14–38 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | Colts–Titans rivalry |
| 9 | November 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 12–20 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 10 | November 15 | Buffalo Bills | 10–17 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 11 | November 22 | Baltimore Colts | 17–16 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 12 | November 29 | Minnesota Vikings | 16–20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 13 | December 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | 20–35 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| 14 | December 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 20–17 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Saturday game. |
| 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.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 19 | San Francisco 49ers | 0–27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 2 | September 26 | New England Patriots | 27–30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 3 | October 3 | Oakland Raiders | 37–28 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 4 | October 10 | Los Angeles Rams | 23–24 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 5 | October 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 6 | October 24 | Minnesota Vikings | 3–35 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Rams–Vikings rivalry 1976 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 7 | October 31 | New York Giants | 0–28 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 8 | November 7 | Washington Redskins | 3–10 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | |
| 9 | November 14 | St. Louis Cardinals | 24–17 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 10 | November 21 | Green Bay Packers | 9–10 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 11 | November 28 | Buffalo Bills | 13–34 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| 12 | December 5 | Baltimore Colts | 6–17 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 13 | December 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 42–35 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Cowboys rivalry |
| 14 | December 17 | Minnesota Vikings | 30–21 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Lions–Vikings rivalry MIN Win: NFC Central Champions with CHI Loss, MIN Loss: CHI wins the NFC Central Saturday game. |
| 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.
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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 4 | Baltimore Colts | 0–38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 2 | Monday | September 11 | Denver Broncos | 9–12 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 18 | Baltimore Colts | 34–27 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Colts–Patriots rivalry |
| 4 | Sunday | September 24 | New England Patriots | 21–14 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | |
| 4 | Monday | September 25 | Minnesota Vikings | 24–20 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 2 | Dallas Cowboys | 5–9 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0–21 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 7 | Monday | October 16 | Chicago Bears | 7–16 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 23 | Houston Oilers | 24–17 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| 9 | Thursday | October 26 | Minnesota Vikings | 21–10 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Vikings rivalry 1977 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 9 | Monday | October 30 | Los Angeles Rams | 7–15 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 6 | Washington Redskins | 17–21 | Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | Final MNF game for Baltimore Colts before relocation to Indianapolis in 1984. |
| 11 | Sunday | November 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 11 | Monday | November 13 | Oakland Raiders | 34–21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 12 | Monday | November 20 | Miami Dolphins | 30–35 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 13 | Monday | November 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–7 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | Night of the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. |
| 14 | Sunday | December 3 | Denver Broncos | 21–6 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry 1977 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 14 | Monday | December 4 | Chicago Bears | 7–40 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | |
| 15 | Monday | December 11 | Cincinnati Bengals | 20–19 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 1979 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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. The loss ended up costing the Saints their first winning season, as they finished 8-8; New Orleans would not finish above .500 until 1987.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16–13 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Patriots–Steelers rivalry |
| 2 | Thursday | September 6 | Los Angeles Rams | 13–9 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 2 | Monday | September 10 | Atlanta Falcons | 14–10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Falcons rivalry 1978 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 3 | Monday | September 17 | New York Giants | 0–27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 24 | Dallas Cowboys | 7–26 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 5 | Monday | October 1 | New England Patriots | 14–27 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 6 | Monday | October 8 | Miami Dolphins | 3–13 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Dolphins–Raiders rivalry |
| 7 | Sunday | October 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 6–30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry 1978 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 7 | Monday | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | 7–17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 22 | Denver Broncos | 7–42 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Broncos–Steelers rivalry 1978 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 9 | Thursday | October 25 | San Diego Chargers | 22–45 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | October 29 | Seattle Seahawks | 31–28 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 5 | Houston Oilers | 9–6 | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl | 1978 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 11 | Monday | November 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | 31–21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 12 | Monday | November 19 | Atlanta Falcons | 14–20 | Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 13 | Monday | November 26 | New York Jets | 7–30 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| 14 | Thursday | November 29 | New England Patriots | 24–39 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| 14 | Monday | December 3 | Oakland Raiders | 42–35 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 15 | Monday | December 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–20 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry 1978 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 16 | Monday | December 17 | Denver Broncos | 7–17 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium | Broncos–Chargers rivalry DEN Win: Clinch AFC Wild Card with losses by SEA, OAK, NE, & CLE |
| 1980 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–3 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 2 | Thursday | September 11 | Los Angeles Rams | 9–10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | 1979 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | Monday | September 15 | Houston Oilers | 16–7 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 22 | New York Giants | 3–35 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 29 | Denver Broncos | 14–23 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | Broncos–Patriots rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0–23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 6 | Monday | October 13 | Washington Redskins | 17–20 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 7 | Monday | October 20 | Oakland Raiders | 45–34 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Raiders–Steelers rivalry |
| 8 | Sunday | October 26 | San Diego Chargers | 31–42 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 27 | Miami Dolphins | 14–17 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 3 | Chicago Bears | 21–27 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 10 | New England Patriots | 34–38 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 11 | Monday | November 17 | Oakland Raiders | 19–17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Raiders–Seahawks rivalry |
| 12 | Thursday | November 20 | San Diego Chargers | 27–24 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 12 | Monday | November 24 | Los Angeles Rams | 27–7 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | Rams–Saints rivalry Saints fans in attendance began wearing paper bags over their heads as the team had lost 12 consecutive games. |
| 13 | Monday | December 1 | Denver Broncos | 3–9 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 14 | Thursday | December 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 0–6 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Oilers–Steelers rivalry 1979 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 14 | Monday | December 8 | New England Patriots | 13–16 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 15 | Dallas Cowboys | 14–38 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry 1979 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 16 | Monday | December 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–26 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | SD Win: Clinch No. 1 Seed With CLE Loss SD Loss: No. 2 Seed with CLE win takes the No. 1 Seed |
| 1981 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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.
The 2 teams that didn't participate this season were the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers and the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams later participated in the Super Bowl, where the 49ers won the game and the title 26–21. This was also the 1st time that the 2 eventual Super Bowl contenders didn't play in a Monday Night Football game.
Home teams won every game ABC aired after the month of September, a total of 14 contests.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 7 | San Diego Chargers | 44–14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 2 | Thursday | September 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10–30 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 2 | Monday | September 14 | Oakland Raiders | 36–10 | Minnesota Vikings | Metropolitan Stadium | |
| 3 | Thursday | September 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20–14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 35–21 | New England Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | |
| 4 | Monday | September 28 | Los Angeles Rams | 24–7 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 5 | Monday | October 5 | Atlanta Falcons | 13–16 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Falcons rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 12 | Miami Dolphins | 21–31 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 7 | Sunday | October 18 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–29 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry 1980 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 7 | Monday | October 19 | Chicago Bears | 17–48 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| 8 | Monday | October 26 | Houston Oilers | 13–26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 17–19 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 9 | Buffalo Bills | 14–27 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 11 | Monday | November 16 | San Diego Chargers | 23–44 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| 12 | Monday | November 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 30–31 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 13 | Monday | November 30 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10–13 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 14 | Thursday | December 3 | Cleveland Browns | 13–17 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 14 | Monday | December 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 27–30 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Raiders–Steelers rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 14 | Atlanta Falcons | 16–21 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | |
| 16 | Monday | December 21 | Oakland Raiders | 10–23 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry 1980 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 1982 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 36–28 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Steelers rivalry |
| 2 | Thursday | September 16 | Minnesota Vikings | 22–23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 2 | Monday | September 20 | Green Bay Packers | 27–19 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Packers rivalry |
| 3 | Thursday | September 23 | Atlanta Falcons | DNP$^*$ | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 27 | Cincinnati Bengals | DNP$^*$ | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | October 4 | San Francisco 49ers | DNP$^*$ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | |
| 5 | Monday | October 11 | Philadelphia Eagles | DNP$^*$ | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Eagles–Steelers rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 18 | Buffalo Bills | DNP$^*$ | New York Jets | Shea Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry 1981 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 7 | Sunday | October 24 | Dallas Cowboys | DNP$^*$ | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 7 | Monday | October 25 | New York Giants | DNP$^*$ | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry 1981 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 8 | Monday | November 1 | Detroit Lions | DNP$^*$ | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 8 | San Diego Chargers | DNP$^*$ | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | 1981 AFC Divisional playoff rematch (Epic in Miami) |
| 10 | Monday | November 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | DNP$^*$ | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | Eagles–Falcons rivalry |
| 11 | Monday | November 22 | San Diego Chargers | 24–28 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 12 | Monday | November 29 | Miami Dolphins | 17–23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry |
| 13 | Thursday | December 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 30–24 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 13 | Monday | December 6 | New York Jets | 28–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 14 | Monday | December 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 37–7 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | Governor's Cup rivalry |
| 15 | Sunday | December 19 | Atlanta Falcons | 17–7 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 15 | Monday | December 20 | Cincinnati Bengals | 34–50 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | 1981 AFC Championship Game rematch Freezer Bowl |
| 16 | Monday | December 27 | Buffalo Bills | 10–27 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 17 | Monday | January 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 27–31 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Cowboys–Vikings rivalry |
| 1983 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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.
The December 19 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, marked 49ers Quarterback Joe Montana's Monday Night Football debut.
From 1983-84 to 1986-87 in addition to some Thursday and Sunday night games, ABC would also televise a Friday night game in week 16.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 5 | Dallas Cowboys | 31–30 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry 1982 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | Thursday | September 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 48–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 2 | Monday | September 12 | San Diego Chargers | 17–14 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chargers–Chiefs rivalry |
| 3 | Thursday | September 15 | Cincinnati Bengals | 7–17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 3 | Monday | September 19 | Miami Dolphins | 14–27 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Dolphins–Raiders rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 26 | Green Bay Packers | 3–27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Packers rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 3 | New York Jets | 34–10 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–14 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 17 | Washington Redskins | 47–48 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 8 | Sunday | October 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 40–38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 24 | New York Giants | 20–20 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 9 | Monday | October 31 | Washington Redskins | 27–24 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 7 | New York Giants | 9–15 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 11 | Monday | November 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 36–13 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 12 | Monday | November 21 | New York Jets | 31–28 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 13 | Monday | November 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | 14–38 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 14 | Thursday | December 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 42–10 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 14 | Monday | December 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 2–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Lions–Vikings rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 12 | Green Bay Packers | 12–9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | Buccaneers–Packers rivalry |
| 16 | Friday | December 16 | New York Jets | 14–34 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry 1982 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 16 | Monday | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–42 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Cowboys rivalry |
| 1984 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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 and also that game marked quarterback John Elway's Monday Night Football debut.
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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 20–13 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry 1983 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 2 | Thursday | September 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 23–17 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 2 | Monday | September 10 | Washington Redskins | 31–37 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 1983 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 3 | Sunday | September 16 | Denver Broncos | 24–14 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 17 | Miami Dolphins | 21–17 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 24 | San Diego Chargers | 30–33 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | 17–38 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 31–10 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 15 | Green Bay Packers | 14–17 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 8 | Sunday | October 21 | New Orleans Saints | 27–30 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 22 | Los Angeles Rams | 24–10 | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 9 | Monday | October 29 | Seattle Seahawks | 24–0 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 5 | Atlanta Falcons | 14–27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 11 | Monday | November 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14–17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Raiders–Seahawks rivalry 1983 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 12 | Monday | November 19 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–27 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 13 | Monday | November 26 | New York Jets | 17–28 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 14 | Thursday | November 29 | Washington Redskins | 31–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 14 | Monday | December 3 | Chicago Bears | 7–20 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 15 | Monday | December 10 | Los Angeles Raiders | 24–3 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 16 | Friday | December 14 | Los Angeles Rams | 16–19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 16 | Monday | December 17 | Dallas Cowboys | 21–28 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | MIA Win: Clinch No. 1 Seed With DEN Loss |
| Super Bowl XIX | Sunday | January 20 | Miami Dolphins | 16–38 | San Francisco 49ers | Stanford Stadium | AFC No. 1 vs NFC No. 1 matchup |
| 1985 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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 and also that game marked Wide Receiver Jerry Rice's Monday Night Football debut.
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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 9 | Washington Redskins | 14–44 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 2 | Thursday | September 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 20–36 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 2 | Monday | September 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7–17 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Browns–Steelers rivalry |
| 3 | Thursday | September 19 | Chicago Bears | 33–24 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 3 | Monday | September 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 35–24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Rams–Seahawks rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | 37–24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 5 | Sunday | October 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 30–29 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10–27 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 6 | Monday | October 14 | Miami Dolphins | 7–23 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | 7–23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 8 | Monday | October 28 | San Diego Chargers | 21–34 | Los Angeles Raiders | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 4 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–21 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 16–17 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 11 | Monday | November 18 | New York Giants | 21–23 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| 12 | Monday | November 25 | Seattle Seahawks | 6–19 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Seahawks rivalry |
| 13 | Monday | December 2 | Chicago Bears | 24–38 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 14 | Sunday | December 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 44–54 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 14 | Monday | December 9 | Los Angeles Rams | 27–20 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 16 | New England Patriots | 27–30 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| 16 | Friday | December 20 | Denver Broncos | 27–24 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Broncos–Seahawks rivalry |
| 16 | Monday | December 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | 16–6 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | LA Win: Clinch No.1 Seed With MIA Loss |
| 1986 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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 between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants 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.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 8 | New York Giants | 28–31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 2 | Thursday | September 11 | New England Patriots | 20–6 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry 1985 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 2 | Monday | September 15 | Denver Broncos | 21–10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Broncos–Steelers rivalry |
| 3 | Thursday | September 18 | Cincinnati Bengals | 30–13 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 3 | Monday | September 22 | Chicago Bears | 25–12 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | September 29 | Dallas Cowboys | 31–7 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| 5 | Monday | October 6 | San Diego Chargers | 7–33 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| 6 | Monday | October 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 22–24 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 20 | Denver Broncos | 10–22 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 27 | Washington Redskins | 20–27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 20–17 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1985 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 10 | Monday | November 10 | Miami Dolphins | 16–26 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1985 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 11 | Monday | November 17 | San Francisco 49ers | 6–14 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 12 | Thursday | November 20 | Los Angeles Raiders | 37–31 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 12 | Monday | November 24 | New York Jets | 3–45 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 13 | Monday | December 1 | New York Giants | 21–17 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Giants rivalry 1985 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 14 | Sunday | December 7 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–29 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry 1985 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 14 | Monday | December 8 | Los Angeles Raiders | 0–37 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Raiders–Seahawks rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 15 | Chicago Bears | 16–13 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| 16 | Friday | December 19 | Los Angeles Rams | 14–24 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Rams rivalry Winner: Clinch No. 3 Seed Loser: Wild Card No. 5 Seed |
| 16 | Monday | December 22 | New England Patriots | 34–27 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry 1985 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 1987 Pro Bowl | Sunday | 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 areas as part of ABC's Monday Night Football package. Meanwhile, 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. Before that, he ran over Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth for another score.
The December 14 game between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, marked Bears running back Walter Payton's final appearance on Monday Night Football.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 14 | New York Giants | 19–34 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Giants rivalry Last two Super Bowl Champions |
| 2 | Monday | September 21 | New England Patriots | 24–43 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 3 | Monday | September 28 | Denver Broncos | DNP$^*$ | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1986 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 4 | Monday | October 5 | San Francisco 49ers | 41–21 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 49ers–Giants rivalry 1986 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 5 | Monday | October 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14–30 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 6 | Monday | October 19 | Washington Redskins | 13–7 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–30 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 7 | Monday | October 26 | Denver Broncos | 27–34 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 8 | Monday | November 2 | New York Giants | 24–33 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 9 | Monday | November 9 | Seattle Seahawks | 14–30 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 10 | Monday | November 16 | Chicago Bears | 29–31 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | |
| 11 | Monday | November 23 | Los Angeles Rams | 30–26 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 12 | Monday | November 30 | Los Angeles Raiders | 37–14 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Raiders–Seahawks rivalry |
| 13 | Monday | December 7 | New York Jets | 28–37 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 14 | Monday | December 14 | Chicago Bears | 0–41 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 15 | Monday | December 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 29–21 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | Cowboys–Rams rivalry |
| 16 | Monday | December 28 | New England Patriots | 24–10 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry NE and MIA Win: Clinch AFC East With IND Loss |
| Super Bowl XXII | Sunday | 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.
The October 17 game between the Bills and the Jets would be the last game for Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau prior to Gastineau's sudden retirement; stated as being due to wanting to care for his mistress, actress Brigette Nielsen, following a uterine cancer diagnosis. Also marked the first appearance of Bills quarterback Jim Kelly makes his MNF Debut.
The Halloween game between the Broncos and the Colts was the first game the Colts played in Indianapolis after relocating from Baltimore.
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 5 | Washington Redskins | 20–27 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry Last two Super Bowl Champions |
| 2 | Monday | September 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–14 | Phoenix Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 19 | Indianapolis Colts | 17–23 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | 1987 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 4 | Monday | September 26 | Los Angeles Raiders | 30–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 5 | Monday | October 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 6 | Monday | October 10 | New York Giants | 13–24 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 7 | Monday | October 17 | Buffalo Bills | 37–14 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| 8 | Monday | October 24 | San Francisco 49ers | 9–10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 9 | Monday | October 31 | Denver Broncos | 23–55 | Indianapolis Colts | Hoosier Dome | First MNF game in Indianapolis since relocation from Baltimore |
| 10 | Monday | November 7 | Cleveland Browns | 17–24 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 11 | Monday | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | 31–6 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 12 | Monday | November 21 | Washington Redskins | 21–37 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 13 | Monday | November 28 | Los Angeles Raiders | 27–35 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Raiders–Seahawks rivalry |
| 14 | Monday | December 5 | Chicago Bears | 3–23 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | |
| 15 | Monday | December 12 | Cleveland Browns | 31–38 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 16 | 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 and Dallas Cowboys did not appear on Monday Night Football. The Dolphins appeared on ABC's Monday Night Football every year except for this year and the 2005 season, while the Cowboys did not return to MNF until 1991.
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".
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | Monday | September 11 | New York Giants | 27–24 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Giants–Redskins rivalry |
| 2 | Monday | September 18 | Denver Broncos | 28–14 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 3 | Monday | September 25 | Cleveland Browns | 14–21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 4 | Monday | October 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13–27 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1988 NFC Divisional playoff rematch (Fog Bowl) |
| 5 | Monday | October 9 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14–7 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 6 | Monday | October 16 | Los Angeles Rams | 20–23 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 7 | Monday | October 23 | Chicago Bears | 7–27 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 8 | Monday | October 30 | Minnesota Vikings | 14–24 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | |
| 9 | Monday | November 6 | New Orleans Saints | 13–31 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 10 | Monday | November 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | 24–26 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 11 | Monday | November 20 | Denver Broncos | 14–10 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | |
| 12 | Monday | November 27 | New York Giants | 24–34 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| 13 | Monday | December 4 | Buffalo Bills | 16–17 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| 14 | Monday | December 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 30–27 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 15 | Monday | December 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20–30 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 16 | Monday | December 25 | Cincinnati Bengals | 21–29 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | MIN Win: NFC Central Champions, PIT clinches AFC Wild Card & #5 Seed, CIN & GB eliminated CIN Win: Clinch AFC Wild Card & #4 Seed, GB NFC Central Champions, PIT & MIN eliminated |

## 1990s
### 1990 NFL season

The November 12 game between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles is known as the infamous Body Bag Game, in which Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan promised a beating so severe, that the Redskins would have to be "hauled off in body bags." The Redskins had the last laugh, however, as these two teams met in the same stadium on the same network in the Wild Card playoffs – the first ever such game aired on ABC. The Redskins won 20–6.
With the 1990 season, a new practice featured the defending Super Bowl champions playing the first Monday Night game of the season. The practice was maintained through 2003 (except for 1994, 1995, and 2001). In the 1990 MNF opener, the San Francisco 49ers took on the New Orleans Saints on September 10 roughly seven months after defeating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV in the same stadium, the Superdome.
The December 31 game started at 8 PM EST rather than 9 PM EST to allow New Year's Rockin' Eve to air as normal. The Superdome became the first and remains the only, stadium to host both the MNF opener and finale in the same season. Besides the New Orleans Saints, the only other teams to have played in both the MNF opener and finale in the same season have been the San Francisco 49ers in 1977, 1991, and 1994; the San Diego Chargers in 1981; the Dallas Cowboys in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1995; and the Green Bay Packers in 2008. However, at least one of the games played by each of those other teams was on the road.
Super Bowl XXV is best remembered for its signature play – Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills missed what would have been the game-winning field goal, as it sailed wide right.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 10 | San Francisco 49ers | 13–12 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 2 | September 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | 23–24 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| 3 | September 24 | Buffalo Bills | 30–7 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| 4 | October 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16–31 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | |
| 5 | October 8 | Cleveland Browns | 30–29 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | 1989 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 6 | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | 24–32 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | |
| 7 | October 22 | Cincinnati Bengals | 34–13 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | Bengals–Browns rivalry |
| 8 | October 29 | Los Angeles Rams | 10–41 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 9 | November 5 | New York Giants | 24–7 | Indianapolis Colts | Hoosier Dome | |
| 10 | November 12 | Washington Redskins | 14–28 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Redskins rivalry Body Bag Game |
| 11 | November 19 | Los Angeles Raiders | 13–10 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Dolphins–Raiders rivalry |
| 12 | November 26 | Buffalo Bills | 24–27 | Houston Oilers | Astrodome | Bills–Oilers rivalry |
| 13 | December 3 | New York Giants | 3–7 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| 14 | December 10 | Los Angeles Raiders | 38–31 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 15 | December 17 | San Francisco 49ers | 26–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry 1989 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 16 | December 22 | Washington Redskins | 28–35 | Indianapolis Colts | Hoosier Dome | Saturday game. |
| 17 | December 31 | Los Angeles Rams | 17–20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | Rams–Saints rivalry NO win: NFC No. 6 seeded Wild Card NO loss: DAL NFC No. 6 seeded Wild Card, NO eliminated |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 5 | Washington Redskins | 20–6 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Redskins rivalry NFC No. 5 vs. NFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 16–17 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Super Bowl XXV | January 27 | Buffalo Bills | 19–20 | New York Giants | Tampa Stadium | Wide Right |

### 1991 NFL season

The September 9 game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys was the first Monday Night Football game for the Cowboys since the 1988 season, which was Tom Landry's final season, also this game marked Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin debut on Monday Night Football.
The November 25 game was the last MNF game played in the Los Angeles area (until 2018), the last appearance for the Los Angeles Rams before moving to St. Louis in 1995, and the last MNF game played in Anaheim, California. The Rams dropped to 0–4 in home MNF games against the arch-rival San Francisco 49ers, with previous defeats coming in 1976, 1989, and 1990; they also lost a Thursday night home game to the 49ers in 1982.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 14–16 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 49ers–Giants rivalry 1990 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | September 9 | Washington Redskins | 33–31 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 3 | September 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | 7–17 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 4 | September 23 | New York Jets | 13–19 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 5 | September 30 | Philadelphia Eagles | 0–23 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Eagles–Redskins rivalry 1990 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 6 | October 7 | Buffalo Bills | 6–33 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Bills–Chiefs rivalry |
| 7 | October 14 | New York Giants | 23–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 8 | October 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16–35 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 9 | October 28 | Los Angeles Raiders | 21–24 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 10 | November 4 | New York Giants | 7–30 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 11 | November 11 | Chicago Bears | 34–17 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 12 | November 18 | Buffalo Bills | 41–27 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry 1990 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 13 | November 25 | San Francisco 49ers | 33–10 | Los Angeles Rams | Anaheim Stadium | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| 14 | December 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13–6 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 15 | December 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 13–37 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 16 | December 16 | Los Angeles Raiders | 0–27 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 17 | December 23 | Chicago Bears | 14–52 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | CHI win: CHI NFC Central Champions, first-round bye & NFC No. 2 seed CHI loss: NFC No. 4 seeded Wild Card, DET NFC Central Champions, first-round bye & NFC No. 2 seed |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 28 | Los Angeles Raiders | 6–10 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 28 | Atlanta Falcons | 27–20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | Falcons–Saints rivalry NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |

### 1992 NFL season

Monday Night Football celebrated the 100th anniversary of nighttime football on September 28, 1992, with a game between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The first recorded night football game was the 1892 Wyoming Seminary vs. Mansfield State Normal football game and ended at halftime with a 0–0 tie.
The season opener on September 7 featured the defending champion facing off against the current season's champion. In this case it was the Washington Redskins (winner of Super Bowl XXVI) versus the eventual Super Bowl XXVII winner Dallas Cowboys.
The November 30 game between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks marked the final Monday Night Football game at the Kingdome, which was the last MNF game in Seattle until 2002.
The December 28 game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers marked running back Barry Sanders's debut on Monday Night Football and the final appearance of quarterback Joe Montana's with the 49ers.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 7 | Washington Redskins | 10–23 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 2 | September 14 | Miami Dolphins | 27–23 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 3 | September 21 | New York Giants | 27–14 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Giants rivalry |
| 4 | September 28 | Los Angeles Raiders | 7–27 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry 1991 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 5 | October 5 | Dallas Cowboys | 7–31 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 6 | October 12 | Denver Broncos | 3–34 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Super Bowl XXII rematch |
| 7 | October 19 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Bengals–Steelers rivalry |
| 8 | October 26 | Buffalo Bills | 24–20 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Bills–Jets rivalry |
| 9 | November 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 38–10 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 10 | November 9 | San Francisco 49ers | 41–3 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 11 | November 16 | Buffalo Bills | 26–20 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 12 | November 23 | Washington Redskins | 3–20 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 13 | November 30 | Denver Broncos | 13–16 | Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | Broncos–Seahawks rivalry Last MNF game in Kingdome |
| 14 | December 7 | Chicago Bears | 7–24 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 15 | December 14 | Los Angeles Raiders | 7–20 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Dolphins–Raiders rivalry |
| 16 | December 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 41–17 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 17 | December 28 | Detroit Lions | 6–24 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | Joe Montana's last MNF game. |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 2 | Washington Redskins | 24–7 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 0–17 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Chiefs rivalry AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |

### 1993 NFL season

The September 6 game marked the first time in 10 years that the Washington Redskins hosted the Dallas Cowboys on MNF rather than visiting them. At the time, it was the most frequently seen match-up on the series, and it would be the last time these two teams played each other on MNF at RFK Stadium.
The September 13 game was the last win for the Cleveland Browns (who had won the very first MNF game in 1970) on the ABC program, and last win overall until 2008.
The September 20 game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs marks the debut of quarterback Joe Montana's as the Chiefs makes his MNF Debut.
The October 18 game marked the first of nine meetings between the Los Angeles Raiders and Denver Broncos on MNF over an 11-year span, seven of these games being played in Denver.
The November 8 game between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs, marked Packers quarterback Brett Favre's Monday Night Football debut.
During the January 3 game, the Philadelphia Eagles missed a game-winning field goal as the overtime period expired, which would have left the game a tie. However, a penalty against the San Francisco 49ers allowed a re-kick, and the Eagles were granted one untimed down. On the second attempt, the field goal was good and the deadlock was barely averted, preserving the fourth of what would eventually be seven consecutive tie-free seasons.
Both Wild Card playoff games featured a thrilling comeback victories by Green Bay and Kansas City after both being down 17–7 in the third quarter in their respective games.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 16–35 | Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 2 | September 13 | San Francisco 49ers | 13–23 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 3 | September 20 | Denver Broncos | 7–15 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| 4 | September 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 45–17 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 5 | October 4 | Washington Redskins | 10–17 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | Super Bowl VII and XVII rematch |
| 6 | October 11 | Houston Oilers | 7–35 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Oilers rivalry 1992 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch (The Comeback) |
| 7 | October 18 | Los Angeles Raiders | 23–20 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 8 | October 25 | Minnesota Vikings | 19–12 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 9 | November 1 | Washington Redskins | 10–24 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Super Bowl XXVI rematch |
| 10 | November 8 | Green Bay Packers | 16–23 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Super Bowl I rematch |
| 11 | November 15 | Buffalo Bills | 0–23 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1992 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 12 | November 22 | New Orleans Saints | 7–42 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| 13 | November 29 | San Diego Chargers | 31–0 | Indianapolis Colts | Hoosier Dome | |
| 14 | December 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | 17–23 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry 1992 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 15 | December 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21–20 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 16 | December 20 | New York Giants | 24–14 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 17 | December 27 | Miami Dolphins | 20–45 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | 1992 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 18 | January 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | 37–34 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | Green Bay Packers | 28–24 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Lions–Packers rivalry NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–27 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |

### 1994 NFL season

ABC was unable to air the opener of the Dallas Cowboys, the previous season's Super Bowl champion, after the NFL guaranteed Fox it would have the Cowboys' game at Pittsburgh for its main doubleheader game. It was Fox's first Sunday of televising NFL games after gaining the NFC package from CBS.
In the September 5 game, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice broke Jim Brown's touchdown record.
The first two-point conversion in MNF history came on September 12, when Chicago Bears quarterback Erik Kramer threw a pass to Curtis Conway.
The October 17 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos featured a quarterback matchup between Joe Montana and John Elway. Montana led the Chiefs to a 75-yard game-winning drive with 8 seconds left.
The October 31 game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears was played in a driving rain with wind gusts up to 36 mph. Coincidentally, it also marked the 11th anniversary of the death of former Bears player, coach and owner George Halas. At halftime, the Bears retired the #51 jersey of legendary linebacker Dick Butkus. The game was played four hours after American Eagle Flight 4184, scheduled to land at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, crashed into a field in Roselawn, Indiana, killing all 64 passengers and four crew members aboard.
The November 7 game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys included a fight between several players from both teams, including safety James Washington grabbing and swinging a cameraman's tripod.
The November 21 game was the first for Jeff Fisher as coach of the Houston Oilers. He would remain with the franchise through the end of the 2010 season, by which point they had become the Tennessee Titans. This was also the last MNF game for the Oilers before their move to Tennessee in 1997 and their name change to the Titans in 1999, and the last one in Houston until 2008.
The December 12 game would be re-matched later that month in the Wild Card playoffs in the same stadium, on the same network, and would be the last NFL appearance for Joe Montana.
The December 19 game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints was the first NFL start for Larry Allen, who replaced Erik Williams after he suffered season-ending injuries from an automobile accident. Allen provided a memorable play early in the game when Saints linebacker Darion Conner intercepted a Troy Aikman pass and looked to be on his way to a breakaway touchdown. However, the 325-pound Allen surprisingly ran Conner down from behind short of the end zone. Larry Allen would play 14 seasons in the NFL and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 49ers became the first, and remain the only, team to win the Super Bowl after losing the MNF season finale. Coincidentally, Super Bowl XXIX was also televised by ABC.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 5 | Los Angeles Raiders | 14–44 | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | 49ers–Raiders rivalry |
| 2 | September 12 | Chicago Bears | 22–30 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | |
| 3 | September 19 | Detroit Lions | 20–17 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 4 | September 26 | Denver Broncos | 20–27 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | |
| 5 | October 3 | Houston Oilers | 14–30 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Oilers–Steelers rivalry |
| 6 | October 10 | Minnesota Vikings | 27–10 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | 1993 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 7 | October 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | 31–28 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| 8 | October 24 | Houston Oilers | 6–21 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | |
| 9 | October 31 | Green Bay Packers | 33–6 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry Halloween |
| 10 | November 7 | New York Giants | 10–38 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 11 | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | 10–23 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 12 | November 21 | New York Giants | 13–10 | Houston Oilers | The Astrodome | |
| 13 | November 28 | San Francisco 49ers | 35–14 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 14 | December 5 | Los Angeles Raiders | 24–17 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 15 | December 12 | Kansas City Chiefs | 28–45 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 16 | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | 24–16 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | |
| 17 | December 26 | San Francisco 49ers | 14–21 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | MIN win: NFC Central Champions MIN loss: GB NFC Central Champions, MIN No. 4 seeded Wild Card |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 31 | Detroit Lions | 12–16 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Lions–Packers rivalry 1993 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch NFC No. 5 vs. NFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 31 | Kansas City Chiefs | 17–27 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |
| Super Bowl XXIX | January 29 | San Diego Chargers | 26–49 | San Francisco 49ers | Joe Robbie Stadium | AFC No. 2 vs. NFC No. 1 matchup |
| 1995 Pro Bowl | February 5 | AFC | 41–13 | NFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 1995 NFL season

In the September 11 game, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Robert Brooks against the Chicago Bears. It was the eighth 99-yard touchdown pass in NFL history. The game also featured a death-defying leap when a fan caught a field goal after leaping off the side of the tunnel at Soldier Field.
In the October 9 game, Kansas City Chiefs kick returner Tamarick Vanover returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown to win the game for the Chiefs against the San Diego Chargers.
The October 23 game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, marked Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe's Monday Night Football debut.
The November 13 game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers was played one week after Browns owner Art Modell announced that he would be moving the team to Baltimore for the 1996 season.
Some portions of the December 25 Dallas Cowboys-Arizona Cardinals game were used in the 1996 film, Jerry Maguire. In that game, Dallas' Emmitt Smith scored his 25th rushing touchdown of this season, an NFL record.
The December 30 wild card game between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles was the highest-scoring playoff game in league history until it was surpassed by a 51–45 overtime win for the Arizona Cardinals over the Green Bay Packers on January 10, 2010.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 4 | Dallas Cowboys | 35–0 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 2 | September 11 | Green Bay Packers | 27–24 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 3 | September 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10–23 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 4 | September 25 | San Francisco 49ers | 24–27 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 5 | October 2 | Buffalo Bills | 22–19 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Stadium | |
| 6 | October 9 | San Diego Chargers | 23–29 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Chargers–Chiefs rivalry |
| 7 | October 16 | Oakland Raiders | 0–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 8 | October 23 | Buffalo Bills | 14–27 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | Bills–Patriots rivalry |
| 9 | October 30 | Chicago Bears | 14–6 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Bears–Vikings rivalry 1994 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 10 | November 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | 12–34 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 11 | November 13 | Cleveland Browns | 3–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | Browns–Steelers rivalry 1994 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 12 | November 20 | San Francisco 49ers | 44–20 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 13 | November 27 | Oakland Raiders | 6–12 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 14 | December 4 | Chicago Bears | 7–27 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | Bears–Lions rivalry |
| 15 | December 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6–13 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | 1994 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 16 | December 18 | Minnesota Vikings | 30–37 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | |
| 17 | December 25 | Dallas Cowboys | 37–13 | Arizona Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium | DAL win: NFC No. 1 seed DAL loss: NFC No. 2 seed, SF NFC No. 1 seed |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 30 | Miami Dolphins | 22–37 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 30 | Detroit Lions | 37–58 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | NFC No. 5 vs. NFC No. 4 matchup |
| 1996 Pro Bowl | February 4 | NFC | 20–13 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 1996 NFL season

Though the Oakland Raiders played two Monday Night games last season as well as one previous game this season, the November 4 game versus Denver marked the Raiders' first home Monday Night game in Oakland since December 7, 1981.
The December 9 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders, marked Chiefs running back Marcus Allen's final appearance at Monday Night Football.
The December 16 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, marked Bills quarterback Jim Kelly's final appearance at Monday Night Football.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 2 | Dallas Cowboys | 6–22 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | |
| 2 | September 9 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13–39 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 3 | September 16 | Buffalo Bills | 6–24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1995 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 4 | September 23 | Miami Dolphins | 6–10 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 5 | September 30 | Dallas Cowboys | 23–19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry 1995 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 6 | October 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–7 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 7 | October 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 20–23 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 49ers–Packers rivalry 1995 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 8 | October 21 | Oakland Raiders | 23–14 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | Chargers–Raiders rivalry |
| 9 | October 28 | Chicago Bears | 15–13 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Bears–Vikings rivalry |
| 10 | November 4 | Denver Broncos | 22–21 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 11 | November 11 | Detroit Lions | 21–27 | San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | |
| 12 | November 18 | Green Bay Packers | 6–21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Packers rivalry 1995 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 13 | November 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–17 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 14 | December 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 34–10 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 15 | December 9 | Kansas City Chiefs | 7–26 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 16 | December 16 | Buffalo Bills | 14–16 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry 1995 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 17 | December 23 | Detroit Lions | 14–24 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | SF Win: Clinch No. 2 Seed With CAR Loss |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 28 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 30–27 | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 28 | Minnesota Vikings | 15–40 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Vikings rivalry NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| 1997 Pro Bowl | February 2 | AFC | 26–23 | NFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 1997 NFL season

The September 22 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars (playing on Monday night for the first time in their short history) had one of the craziest endings in MNF history. The Jaguars were up 2 with almost no time left and the Steelers attempted a game-winning field goal. The Jaguars blocked it and Chris Hudson returned it the other way for a touchdown. During the return, Steelers head coach Bill Cowher cocked his fist back like he was going to throw a punch at Hudson when he was running down the Steelers sideline for the winning score. The extra point was finally kicked about 15 minutes after ABC signed off.
The September 29 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers was the Panthers' first MNF game in franchise history and the first MNF game in Charlotte.
The October 27 game between the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins was rescheduled because Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, which featured the Florida Marlins, had to play at Pro Player Stadium on Sunday night, when the Dolphins originally were slated to host the Bears. Therefore, the game was moved to Monday night and was played simultaneously with the Green Bay Packers-New England Patriots game (a rematch of Super Bowl XXXI, the only time MNF aired a rematch of a Super Bowl from the year before and the last Super Bowl rematch until the Denver Broncos-Seattle Seahawks game in 2014). The Bears-Dolphins game, originally to be shown on Fox, was broadcast only in the Chicago and Miami areas as part of ABC's ''Monday Night Football.'' The rest of the country saw the previously scheduled game: a Super Bowl rematch between the Packers and the Patriots. After the conclusion of the Packers game, viewers were not taken to the conclusion of the close Bears win but instead went to local news. Because the Bears-Dolphins game was intended to be played Sunday on Fox (which aired Super Bowl XXXI, at the time Fox's highest-rated program ever, and would have aired the Packers-Patriots game if it was played on Sunday afternoon as well), this marked a rare time in history where the Dolphins wore their white jerseys in a nighttime home game.
The November 10 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles was the infamous game in which a fan had fired off a flare gun in Veterans Stadium, leading to the introduction of the court in the stadium.
The December 15 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos is remembered for Jerry Rice's return from a torn ACL suffered in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (however he suffer a cracked kneecap on a touchdown catch in the second quarter and missed the remainder of the season) and the jersey retirement ceremony for Joe Montana. The game is also well known for an incident where Broncos linebacker (and former 49er) Bill Romanowski spitting in the face of 49ers wide receiver J.J. Stokes.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 1 | Chicago Bears | 24–38 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 2 | September 8 | Kansas City Chiefs | 28–27 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 3 | September 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | 20–21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 4 | September 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21–30 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | First MNF game in Jacksonville |
| 5 | September 29 | San Francisco 49ers | 34–21 | Carolina Panthers | Ericsson Stadium | First MNF game in Charlotte |
| 6 | October 6 | New England Patriots | 13–34 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Patriots rivalry |
| 7 | October 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 16–21 | Washington Redskins | Jack Kent Cooke Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 8 | October 20 | Buffalo Bills | 9–6 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 9 | October 27 | Green Bay Packers | 28–10 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | Super Bowl XXXI rematch |
| 9 | October 27 | Chicago Bears | 36–33 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 10 | November 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10–13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 11 | November 10 | San Francisco 49ers | 24–12 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | 1996 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 12 | November 17 | Buffalo Bills | 13–30 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry |
| 13 | November 24 | Oakland Raiders | 3–31 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 14 | December 1 | Green Bay Packers | 27–11 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Packers–Vikings rivalry |
| 15 | December 8 | Carolina Panthers | 23–13 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | 1996 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 16 | December 15 | Denver Broncos | 17–34 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | Joe Montana's jersey retirement night, and Jerry Rice's much-anticipated return |
| 17 | December 22 | New England Patriots | 14–12 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry Winner: AFC East Champions, host loser in AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 Wild Card Game. |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 27 | Minnesota Vikings | 23–22 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 27 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 17–42 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | 1996 AFC Divisional playoff rematch AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| 1998 Pro Bowl | February 1 | NFC | 24–29 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 1998 NFL season

This season was notable because it featured the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the first time since 1983 when the team lost to the Green Bay Packers on December 12 of that year. The team played two Monday night games in 1998 losing to the Detroit Lions in Week 4 but beating the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. Ironically, the December 1983 game was the second and final Monday night game played at Tampa Stadium though ABC would air Super Bowl XXV played at the stadium. The December 7 game versus the Packers was the first Monday night played at Raymond James Stadium and came just about 5 days shy of 15 years after the previous game hosted in Tampa.
The October 5th game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers proved to be the coming out moment for wide receiver Randy Moss in his MNF debut. He caught 5 passes for 190 yards and 2 scores in the Vikings' victory.
The October 26 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, marked Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas' final appearance on Monday Night Football.
The December 14 game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers, marked Lions running back Barry Sanders' final appearance at Monday Night Football.
The December 21 game between the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins, marked Broncos quarterback John Elway's final appearance at Monday Night Football.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 7 | New England Patriots | 21–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Patriots rivalry |
| 2 | September 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 45–10 | Washington Redskins | Jack Kent Cooke Stadium | |
| 3 | September 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 31–7 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 4 | September 28 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6–27 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | 1997 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 5 | October 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 37–24 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Packers–Vikings rivalry |
| 6 | October 12 | Miami Dolphins | 21–28 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | |
| 7 | October 19 | New York Jets | 24–14 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 8 | October 26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 20–13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 9 | November 2 | Dallas Cowboys | 34–0 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 10 | November 9 | Green Bay Packers | 20–27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 11 | November 16 | Denver Broncos | 30–7 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry 1997 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 12 | November 23 | Miami Dolphins | 23–26 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry 1997 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 13 | November 30 | New York Giants | 7–31 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | 49ers–Giants rivalry |
| 14 | December 7 | Green Bay Packers | 22–24 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | Buccaneers–Packers rivalry 1997 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 15 | December 14 | Detroit Lions | 13–34 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | |
| 16 | December 21 | Denver Broncos | 21–31 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 17 | December 28 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 3–20 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | JAX Win: Clinch No. 2 Seed With NYJ Loss |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 2 | Buffalo Bills | 17–24 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 2 | Arizona Cardinals | 20–7 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| 1999 Pro Bowl | February 7 | NFC | 10–23 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 1999 NFL season

The September 20 game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys, marked Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin's final appearance on Monday Night Football.
The September 27 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals is remembered for Aeneas Williams' knockdown of Steve Young that resulted in a career-ending concussion.
The October 25 game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the last Monday night game played at Three Rivers Stadium.
The December 27 game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, marked Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino's final appearance on Monday Night Football.
The January 3 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons, marked 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice's final appearance at Monday Night Football with the 49ers.
The AFC wild card game on January 8 is remembered for a lateral on a kickoff return that gave the Tennessee Titans the win against the Buffalo Bills. It is called the Music City Miracle.
Super Bowl XXXIV came down to the final play – Kevin Dyson of the Tennessee Titans was stopped just short of the end zone, preserving the victory for the St. Louis Rams.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 13 | Miami Dolphins | 38–21 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | 1998 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 2 | September 20 | Atlanta Falcons | 7–24 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | |
| 3 | September 27 | San Francisco 49ers | 24–10 | Arizona Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium | 49ers–Cardinals rivalry |
| 4 | October 4 | Buffalo Bills | 23–18 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Bills–Dolphins rivalry 1998 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 5 | October 11 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16–6 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | 1998 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 6 | October 18 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–13 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 7 | October 25 | Atlanta Falcons | 9–13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 8 | November 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 27–7 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Packers–Seahawks rivalry |
| 9 | November 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–27 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Cowboys–Vikings rivalry |
| 10 | November 15 | New York Jets | 24–17 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 11 | November 22 | Oakland Raiders | 21–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 12 | November 29 | Green Bay Packers | 20–3 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | 49ers–Packers rivalry 1998 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch (The Catch II) |
| 13 | December 6 | Minnesota Vikings | 17–24 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 14 | December 13 | Denver Broncos | 24–27 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | |
| 15 | December 20 | Green Bay Packers | 20–24 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Packers–Vikings rivalry |
| 16 | December 27 | New York Jets | 38–31 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 17 | January 3 | San Francisco 49ers | 29–34 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | 1998 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | Buffalo Bills | 16–22 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | Bills–Titans rivalry AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup Music City Miracle |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | Detroit Lions | 13–27 | Washington Redskins | Jack Kent Cooke Stadium | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Super Bowl XXXIV | January 30 | St. Louis Rams | 23–16 | Tennessee Titans | Georgia Dome | NFC No. 1 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| 2000 Pro Bowl | February 6 | NFC | 51–31 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

## 2000s
### 2000 NFL season

The September 4 game marked the first MNF appearance for the previous season's Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams since moving from Los Angeles in 1995, and the first MNF game in St. Louis in fourteen years and as well the debut of Rams quarterback Kurt Warner's makes his MNF debut.
The week after that, the New York Jets hosted the New England Patriots – one full year before the September 11 attacks devastated New York City, among other places.
The September 18 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins, marked Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman's final appearance on Monday Night Football.
The September 25 game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts, marked Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's debut on Monday Night Football.
The October 16 game was the first actual Monday night game in Nashville, making the Hank Williams Jr. opening theme even more appropriate as Nashville is a hotbed for country music, which Willams plays. This was also the first MNF game for the Tennessee Titans since their move from Houston to Tennessee in 1997, at which time they were still known as the Oilers (they were renamed as the Titans in 1999).
The October 23 game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets featured "The Monday Night Miracle", when Vinny Testaverde led the Jets to 30 points in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. John Hall kicked the game-winning field goal, finishing the second-biggest comeback in NFL history.
In overtime of the November 6 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman slipped on the wet grass, while Vikings cornerback Cris Dishman deflected the pass at the 20-yard line. The ball bounced off Freeman's shoulder, he rolled over, and it fell into his chest and right hand without touching the ground. While Dishman agonized over what he thought should have been an interception, Freeman stood up and ran for the end zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown. The play was replayed and allowed. Al Michaels was quoted as saying in reaction to the game-winning play: "He did WHAT?"
The November 13 game between the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos was the last Monday Night Football game played at Mile High Stadium.
The December 4 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots at New England was the first Monday Night Football telecast at an outdoor Northern stadium after Thanksgiving. Previously, late-season prime time games were reserved for stadiums in the South or West Coast, or domed stadiums. Cold weather prime-time telecasts became routine in later years and this was the last Monday Night Football game at Foxboro Stadium.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Home Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 4 | Denver Broncos | 36–41 | St. Louis Rams | Trans World Dome | Last two Super Bowl Champions |
| 2 | September 11 | New England Patriots | 19–20 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| 3 | September 18 | Dallas Cowboys | 27–21 | Washington Redskins | FedExField | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 4 | September 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 14–43 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | Colts–Jaguars rivalry |
| 5 | October 2 | Seattle Seahawks | 17–24 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Final MNF game for Seahawks as an AFC before back to the NFC in 2002. |
| 6 | October 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 23–30 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
| 7 | October 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 13–27 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | Jaguars–Titans rivalry 1999 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 8 | October 23 | Miami Dolphins | 37–40 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry Monday Night Miracle |
| 9 | October 30 | Tennessee Titans | 27–21 | Washington Redskins | FedExField | |
| 10 | November 6 | Minnesota Vikings | 20–26 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Packers–Vikings rivalry |
| 11 | November 13 | Oakland Raiders | 24–27 | Denver Broncos | Mile High Stadium | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 12 | November 20 | Washington Redskins | 33–20 | St. Louis Rams | Trans World Dome | |
| 13 | November 27 | Green Bay Packers | 14–31 | Carolina Panthers | Ericsson Stadium | |
| 14 | December 4 | Kansas City Chiefs | 24–30 | New England Patriots | Foxboro Stadium | |
| 15 | December 11 | Buffalo Bills | 20–44 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 16 | December 18 | St. Louis Rams | 35–38 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | 1999 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 17 | December 25 | Dallas Cowboys | 0–31 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | TEN win: AFC Central Champions, clinch AFC No. 1 seed TEN loss: BAL AFC Central Champions, clinch No. 1 seed. TEN AFC No. 4 seeded Wild Card |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 30 | Indianapolis Colts | 17–23 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | December 30 | St. Louis Rams | 28–31 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | Rams–Saints rivalry NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| 2001 Pro Bowl | February 4 | NFC | 17–38 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 2001 NFL season

The September 17 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens (what would have been the Ravens' first appearance on Monday Night Football and the first Monday night game to take place in the city of Baltimore since 1978) was rescheduled to January 7 as the entire slate of week 2 games were postponed after the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.
Coincidentally, the New York Giants played the Denver Broncos in the last game prior to the September 11 attacks, and that game was credited for saving lives since it ended after midnight in New York City. It was also the first game played at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The September 24 game was not only the first Monday Night Football game since the attacks, it was also a rematch of one of the most significant games in the program's history; a game between the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers. 18 years before at Lambeau Field, the Redskins and Packers combined for 95 points, more than any other Monday night game before or since (the Packers won 48–47, on a last second Jan Stenerud field goal).
The October 1 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets was the first Monday night game in the New York City metropolitan area since the attacks. A tribute to the rescue workers at the World Trade Center site was held before the game.
The October 8 game between the St. Louis Rams and the Detroit Lions was the last Monday Night Football game at the Pontiac Silverdome, also the last Monday Night Football game in Detroit until 2011.
The October 15 game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys, marked Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith's final appearance on Monday Night Football.
The October 22 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants marked Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb's Monday Night Football debut.
The October 29 game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the first Monday Night Football game ever played at Heinz Field.
The November 5 between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders, Broncos kicker Jason Elam recorded the 20,000th point scored in Monday Night Football history when he kicked a field goal in the Broncos' 38–28 loss to the Oakland Raiders and also that game marked wide receiver Jerry Rice's Monday Night Football debut with the Raiders and the final Monday Night Football appearance for Broncos running back Terrell Davis.
Due to Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve falling on Mondays in 2001, the NFL did not schedule games for those days. Instead, ABC aired Saturday night games on those weekends. The former weekend also had games on CBS and Fox that Saturday, marking one of the few times (until 2006) that three different over-the-air networks aired NFL games on the same day. In future seasons when Christmas Eve fell on a Monday, the matchup would feature two teams on the west coast.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 10 | New York Giants | 20–31 | Denver Broncos | Invesco Field at Mile High | |
| 3 | September 24 | Washington Redskins | 0–37 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 4 | October 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 19–17 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 5 | October 8 | St. Louis Rams | 35–0 | Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | |
| 6 | October 15 | Washington Redskins | 7–9 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 7 | October 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10–9 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry 2000 NFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 8 | October 29 | Tennessee Titans | 7–34 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | Steelers–Titans rivalry |
| 9 | November 5 | Denver Broncos | 28–38 | Oakland Raiders | Network Associates Coliseum | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 10 | November 12 | Baltimore Ravens | 16–10 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | Ravens–Titans rivalry 2000 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 11 | November 19 | New York Giants | 16–28 | Minnesota Vikings | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 2000 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 12 | November 26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 24–17 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | |
| 13 | December 3 | Green Bay Packers | 28–21 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | |
| 14 | December 10 | Indianapolis Colts | 6–41 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | 2000 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 15 | December 17 | St. Louis Rams | 34–21 | New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | Rams–Saints rivalry 2000 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 16 | December 22 | Tennessee Titans | 13–10 | Oakland Raiders | Network Associates Coliseum | |
| 17 | December 29 | Baltimore Ravens | 10–22 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 18 | January 7 | Minnesota Vikings | 3–19 | Baltimore Ravens | PSINet Stadium | First home MNF for the Ravens since relocation from Cleveland to Baltimore BAL win: AFC No. 5 seeded Wild Card, NYJ AFC No. 6 seeded Wild Card, SEA eliminated BAL loss: NYJ AFC No. 5 seeded Wild Card, SEA AFC No. 6 seeded Wild Card, BAL eliminated |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9–31 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | 2000 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 12 | New York Jets | 24–38 | Oakland Raiders | Network Associates Coliseum | AFC No. 6 vs. AFC No. 3 matchup |
| 2002 Pro Bowl | February 9 | AFC | 38–30 | NFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 2002 NFL season

The September 9 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots, marked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's Monday Night Football debut. It was also the first game played at Gillette Stadium.
During the October 14 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, wide receiver Terrell Owens pulled out a Sharpie following a touchdown and autographed the football. Also it was the first Monday Night Football game at Seahawks Stadium, the first Monday Night Football game in Seattle since 1992, and the first Seahawks game as an NFC team since leaving the AFC.
At halftime of the October 28 game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, the last of the fourteen clues from the ABC television series Push, Nevada was revealed. By taking the appropriate letters (5th, 1st, 9th, 1st, 5th, 7th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 7th, 5th, and 2nd) from twelve of those clues, the world "VONGEYELNAIL" was formed. Replacing the 5th, 6th, and 7th letters in the word would change it to "VONGILNAIL", translating it into the phone number 1 (866) 445–6245. The first person to call that number, Mark Nakamoto, won the grand prize of $1,045,000. It was also the final Monday Night Football game played at Veterans Stadium.
The November 11 game between the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos marked the 500th Monday Night Football game. In commemoration, ABC used various themes and images of varied opens during commercial bumpers.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14–30 | New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | Patriots–Steelers rivalry 2001 AFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | September 16 | Philadelphia Eagles | 37–7 | Washington Redskins | FedExField | Eagles–Redskins rivalry |
| 3 | September 23 | St. Louis Rams | 14–26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 4 | September 30 | Denver Broncos | 23–34 | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | |
| 5 | October 7 | Green Bay Packers | 34–21 | Chicago Bears | Memorial Stadium | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 6 | October 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 28–21 | Seattle Seahawks | Seahawks Stadium | 49ers–Seahawks rivalry First MNF game in Seahawks Stadium |
| 7 | October 21 | Indianapolis Colts | 10–28 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | |
| 8 | October 28 | New York Giants | 3–17 | Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | Eagles–Giants rivalry |
| 9 | November 4 | Miami Dolphins | 10–24 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 10 | November 11 | Oakland Raiders | 34–10 | Denver Broncos | Invesco Field at Mile High | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 11 | November 18 | Chicago Bears | 16–21 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | |
| 12 | November 25 | Philadelphia Eagles | 38–17 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | |
| 13 | December 2 | New York Jets | 20–26 | Oakland Raiders | Network Associates Coliseum | 2001 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 14 | December 9 | Chicago Bears | 9–27 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 15 | December 16 | New England Patriots | 7–24 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | |
| 16 | December 23 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17–7 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 17 | December 30 | San Francisco 49ers | 20–31 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | 49ers–Rams rivalry |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 4 | Indianapolis Colts | 0–41 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 4 | Atlanta Falcons | 27–7 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Super Bowl XXXVII | January 26 | Oakland Raiders | 21–48 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Qualcomm Stadium | AFC No. 1 vs. NFC No. 2 matchup |
| 2003 Pro Bowl | February 2 | NFC | 20–45 | AFC | Aloha Stadium | |

### 2003 NFL season

Under a new NFL policy, the NFL officially adopted a Thursday night game to open the season (something that was done for the first time the previous season), and no Monday night game in Week 17. The change was designed to maximize opportunities for scheduling between Week 17 and the opening week of the playoffs; in this way, no team could be disadvantaged by potentially having only four days between their final regular season game and a playoff game. Also, the ratings for the last game of the regular season were often low, and the game usually had no playoff meaning (the most likely reason for the scheduling move). To compensate for losing the opening night game (which was successful enough to be upgraded from cable to network television after only one year), ESPN got the Week 17 game that used to be on Monday Night, and aired it on Saturday.
The season saw two improbable comebacks occur. The New York Giants led their game with the Dallas Cowboys 32–29 with 10 seconds left. An out-of-bounds kickoff allowed the Cowboys to quickly get into field goal position and force overtime. The Cowboys' Billy Cundiff tied an NFL record with seven field goals as the Cowboys won 35–32. Three weeks later, the Indianapolis Colts trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35–14 with 3:43 remaining. They scored three touchdowns in the closing minutes and won 38–35 in overtime after an unsportsmanlike "leaping" call negated a field goal miss by the Colts. Ironically, Simeon Rice, the player charged with "leaping", would later play for the Colts in 2007.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Philadelphia Eagles game was the very first regular season game at Lincoln Financial Field, the third straight year that Monday Night Football opened with a stadium's first ever regular season game (following Invesco Field at Mile High in 2001 and Gillette Stadium in 2002).
The Green Bay Packers—Chicago Bears game was the first played at newly renovated Soldier Field in 20 months, since a divisional playoff game on January 19, 2002, when the Chicago Bears lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears played their 2002 season in Champaign, Illinois.
The Miami Dolphins–San Diego Chargers game was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona because the Cedar Fire in California forced evacuees to Qualcomm Stadium. Ironically, this was supposed to be the homecoming for former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, who was playing for the Dolphins at the time. It was also marked quarterback Drew Brees as a Chargers Monday Night Football debut.
All AFC West teams appeared on the program in a span of three weeks: the Kansas City Chiefs played at the Oakland Raiders on October 20, the aforementioned Miami Dolphins-San Diego Chargers game, and the New England Patriots-Denver Broncos game on November 3. It was the first time since the realignment that MNF featured all of a division's teams in a 3-week span.
The Green Bay Packers–Oakland Raiders game was played the day after the death of the father of quarterback Brett Favre. In an inspiring performance, Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in the Packers' rout.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 4 | New York Jets | 13–16 | Washington Redskins | FedExField | NFL Kickoff Game, Thursday game. |
| 1 | September 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 17–0 | Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | 2002 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | September 15 | Dallas Cowboys | 35–32 | New York Giants | Giants Stadium | Cowboys–Giants rivalry |
| 3 | September 22 | Oakland Raiders | 10–31 | Denver Broncos | Invesco Field at Mile High | Broncos–Raiders rivalry |
| 4 | September 29 | Green Bay Packers | 38–23 | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Bears–Packers rivalry |
| 5 | October 6 | Indianapolis Colts | 38–35 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 6 | October 13 | Atlanta Falcons | 0–36 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | |
| 7 | October 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | 17–10 | Oakland Raiders | McAfee Coliseum | Chiefs–Raiders rivalry |
| 8 | October 27 | Miami Dolphins | 26–10 | San Diego Chargers | Sun Devil Stadium | |
| 9 | November 3 | New England Patriots | 30–26 | Denver Broncos | Invesco Field at Mile High | Broncos–Patriots rivalry |
| 10 | November 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | 17–14 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 11 | November 17 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14–30 | San Francisco 49ers | 3Com Park | |
| 12 | November 24 | New York Giants | 13–19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 13 | December 1 | Tennessee Titans | 17–24 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | |
| 14 | December 8 | St. Louis Rams | 26–20 | Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Browns Stadium | |
| 15 | December 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | 34–27 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 16 | December 22 | Green Bay Packers | 41–7 | Oakland Raiders | McAfee Coliseum | Favre's Dad Game |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 3 | Tennessee Titans | 20–17 | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | Ravens–Titans rivalry AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–29 | Carolina Panthers | Ericsson Stadium | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |

### 2004 NFL season

The Philadelphia Eagles–Dallas Cowboys game drew controversy when ABC aired a risqué pregame skit featuring Eagles receiver Terrell Owens and Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan. Owens caught three touchdowns in the game.
The Cincinnati Bengals played their first MNF game since 1992.
The December 6 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, marked Seahawks wide receiver Jerry Rice's final appearance at Monday Night Football of his career and the only with the Seahawks.
The Miami Dolphins pulled off a classic upset over the New England Patriots on December 20. Trailing 17–28 with 3:59 left, the Dolphins drove 68 yards to score on Sammy Morris' 1-yard run with 2:07 remaining, and then on a third down play, Tom Brady threw as he was being sacked by Jason Taylor. The ill-advised, off-balance pass sailed directly to linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, giving Miami a first down at the Patriots' 21 with 1:45 to go. Three plays later, A. J. Feeley threw for the game-winning score, a 21-yard pass to Derrius Thompson on fourth-and-10 with 1:23 left. The Dolphins wore orange jerseys for only the second time in team history.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 9 | Indianapolis Colts | 24–27 | New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | Colts–Patriots rivalry Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry 2003 AFC Championship Game rematch, NFL Kickoff Game, Thursday game. |
| 1 | September 13 | Green Bay Packers | 24–14 | Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | |
| 2 | September 20 | Minnesota Vikings | 16–27 | Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | |
| 3 | September 27 | Dallas Cowboys | 21–18 | Washington Redskins | FedExField | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry |
| 4 | October 4 | Kansas City Chiefs | 27–24 | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | |
| 5 | October 11 | Tennessee Titans | 48–27 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 6 | October 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 21–28 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | |
| 7 | October 25 | Denver Broncos | 10–23 | Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium | |
| 8 | November 1 | Miami Dolphins | 14–41 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Dolphins–Jets rivalry |
| 9 | November 8 | Minnesota Vikings | 28–31 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 10 | November 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | 49–21 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 11 | November 22 | New England Patriots | 27–19 | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | |
| 12 | November 29 | St. Louis Rams | 17–45 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | |
| 13 | December 6 | Dallas Cowboys | 43–39 | Seattle Seahawks | Qwest Field | |
| 14 | December 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | 49–38 | Tennessee Titans | Adelphia Coliseum | |
| 15 | December 20 | New England Patriots | 28–29 | Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | Dolphins–Patriots rivalry |
| 16 | December 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | 7–20 | St. Louis Rams | Edward Jones Dome | |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | St. Louis Rams | 27–20 | Seattle Seahawks | Qwest Field | Rams–Seahawks rivalry NFC No. 5 vs. NFC No. 4 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 8 | New York Jets | 20–17 | San Diego Chargers | Qualcomm Stadium | AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |

### 2005 NFL season

This marked the final season for Monday Night Football on ABC. An impromptu doubleheader was scheduled on September 19 when the New Orleans Saints scheduled Sunday home opener with the New York Giants was rescheduled due to Hurricane Katrina's extensive damage to the Louisiana Superdome. The game was moved to the Giants' home field at Giants Stadium for Monday night with a special start time of 7:30 P.M. EDT, though the Giants were still the road team. (Usually, the only time the Giants are the road team in their own stadium is when they play the New York Jets.) ABC held a telethon to raise money for victims of the hurricane during the broadcast. At 9 P.M., ABC viewers outside New York and New Orleans moved to the Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys game, while the Giants-Saints game aired on ESPN (the inverse was true for the New York and New Orleans markets). This could be considered the pilot episode of the ESPN series as well. When the Giants-Saints game was over, the New York and New Orleans markets were switched to the Redskins-Cowboys for the conclusion of that game.
The September 12 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons, marked Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's debut on Monday Night Football.
The September 19 game between the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints, marked Giants quarterback Eli Manning's debut on Monday Night Football.
The October 10 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers, marked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's Monday Night Football debut and the final MNF appearance for Drew Brees with the Chargers before moving to the Saints in the 2006 offseason.
The record for largest Monday night victory was tied and later broken during the season. The Seattle Seahawks' 42–0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles tied the record set in the Miami Dolphins' 45–3 victory over the New York Jets in 1986. Two weeks later, the Baltimore Ravens bested the margin in their win over the Green Bay Packers, crushing them 48–3. The Seahawks' win over Philadelphia was in the midst of a bad season for the Eagles and ended up leading to NBC getting flexible scheduling built into its Sunday Night Football schedules.
The Atlanta Falcons became the first team to win three home games on Monday night, beating the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints. The final Monday Night Football game on ABC saw the New England Patriots beat the Jets 31–21; this was the same score the Jets were defeated by in the very first Monday Night Football telecast, when they played the Cleveland Browns. Also this marked the final Monday Night Football game at Giants Stadium.
ABC's final NFL broadcast until 2016, Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, was plagued by controversial calls made by officials. The calls later reviewed by the NFL were all found to have merit; therefore not changing the outcome of the game. Had the Seahawks won, they would have been one of a handful of teams to beat both Pennsylvania-based NFL teams on ABC in the same season.
| Week | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Significance |
| 1 | September 8 | Oakland Raiders | 20–30 | New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | NFL Kickoff Game, Thursday game |
| 1 | September 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10–14 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | Eagles–Falcons rivalry 2004 NFC Championship Game rematch |
| 2 | September 19 | New York Giants | 27–10 | New Orleans Saints | Giants Stadium | Game aired on ABC in its entirety on WABC-TV in New York and WGNO in New Orleans. |
| 2 | September 19 | Washington Redskins | 14–13 | Dallas Cowboys | Texas Stadium | Cowboys–Redskins rivalry Game aired on ESPN in its entirety in New York and New Orleans. |
| 3 | September 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | 10–30 | Denver Broncos | Invesco Field at Mile High | Broncos–Chiefs rivalry |
| 4 | October 3 | Green Bay Packers | 29–32 | Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | |
| 5 | October 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–22 | San Diego Chargers | Qualcomm Stadium | |
| 6 | October 17 | St. Louis Rams | 28–45 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 7 | October 24 | New York Jets | 14–27 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 8 | October 31 | Baltimore Ravens | 19–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | Ravens–Steelers rivalry |
| 9 | November 7 | Indianapolis Colts | 40–21 | New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | Colts–Patriots rivalry Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry 2004 AFC Divisional playoff rematch |
| 10 | November 14 | Dallas Cowboys | 21–20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | Cowboys–Eagles rivalry |
| 11 | November 21 | Minnesota Vikings | 20–17 | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Packers–Vikings rivalry 2004 NFC Wild Card playoff rematch |
| 12 | November 28 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7–26 | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome | |
| 13 | December 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 42–0 | Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | |
| 14 | December 12 | New Orleans Saints | 17–36 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | Falcons–Saints rivalry |
| 15 | December 19 | Green Bay Packers | 3–48 | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | |
| 16 | December 26 | New England Patriots | 31–21 | New York Jets | Giants Stadium | Jets–Patriots rivalry |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 7 | Washington Redskins | 17–10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | NFC No. 6 vs. NFC No. 3 matchup |
| Wild Card Saturday | January 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 3–28 | New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | AFC No. 5 vs. AFC No. 4 matchup |
| Super Bowl XL | February 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 10–21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ford Field | NFC No. 1 vs. AFC No. 6 matchup |