Caleb Harris
NFL fans will have several meaningful matchups this year on “Monday Night Football.” The schedule begins with the Jets traveling to San Francisco to face the 49ers in Week 1 and ends with a doubleheader in Week 18.
This year’s slate also features several matchups between title contending teams, including the Bengals facing the Cowboys in Dallas in Week 14 and a rematch of last year’s NFC title game when the Lions face the 49ers in Week 17. There are Several doubleheaders available as well, starting in Week 3.
Here’s a full rundown of Monday night’s lineup. Every game can be seen on ESPN (unless otherwise noted), with select matchups also being shown on “ManningCast,” which airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+. We’ve also included a ranking of the entire “Monday Night Football” schedule.
Week 1: Jets at 49ers
Week 2: Falcons at Eagles
Week 3: Jaguars at Bills/Commanders at Bengals (ABC exclusive)
Week 4: Titans at Dolphins/Seahawks at Lions (ABC exclusive)
Week 5: Santos at Chiefs
Week 6: Bills at Jets
Week 7: Ravens at Buccaneers/Chargers at Cardinals (ESPN+)
Week 8: Giants at Steelers
Week 9: Buccaneers at Chiefs
Week 10: Dolphins at Rams
Week 11: Texans at Cowboys
Week 12: Ravens at Chargers
Week 13: Browns at Broncos
Week 14: Bengals vs. Cowboys
Week 15: Bears at Vikings (ABC exclusive)/Falcons at Raiders
Week 16: Saints at Packers
Week 17: Lions at 49ers
Week 18: Double Game TBD
Ranking every ‘Monday Night Football’ game
21. Browns at Broncos, Week 13
In historical terms, this is a great matchup between two teams that faced each other back-to-back for the AFC title in the late 1980s. Unfortunately, this matchup doesn’t offer much in 2024. That said, it will be fun to see Bo Nix face one of the NFL best pass rushers in Myles Garrett.
20. Falcons at Raiders, Week 15
I’ll be honest, there’s not much that excites me about this game other than the fact that we get to watch Atlanta’s offensive weapons shine in prime time, especially second-year running back Bijan Robinson.
19. Giants at Steelers, Week 8
This should be an easy win for the Steelers, who enjoyed a near-perfect record Monday night during Mike Tomlin’s nearly two-decade long tenure as head coach.
18. Chargers at Cardinals, Week 7
Okay, neither team had a winning record last year and it will be difficult for either team to get one in 2024. But this is a matchup between two exciting passers in Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray. Murray, in particular, has flown under the radar after injuries severely limited his availability over the past two years. This game could be your chance to reintroduce yourself to the masses.
17. Saints at Packers, Week 16
Jordan Love capped off his excellent first year as Green Bay’s starter with two excellent playoff performances. He will have a chance to showcase his talent in primetime in Week 16 against one of the NFL best defenses, led by veteran Pro Bowl linebacker Demario Davis.
16. Saints at Chiefs, Week 5
The Saints might have been the most boring 9-8 team ever. NFL story last season. Despite their softness, New Orleans finished in the top 10 in scoring offense and defense last year. Given these numbers, New Orleans should put up a good fight against the two-time defending champions.
15. Titans on Dolphins, Week 4
Every Miami fan remembers last year when then-rookie quarterback Will Levis rallied the Titans to a surprising last-minute victory in Miami in prime time. It will be interesting to see if Levis can duplicate that magic in South Beach in Week 4.
14. Ravens at Buccaneers, Week 7
Lamar Jackson tests his mettle in prime time against All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and the rest of Tampa’s stingy defense. If you like defensive matchups that offer the possibility of late-game fireworks, this is the game for you.
13. Seahawks at Lions, Week 4
Lions fans were probably excited to see this game on the schedule. The Detroit faithful showed their fierce loyalty to their team by packing Ford Field during last year’s playoffs. Expect them to give Seattle a similar reception on September 30th.
Setting aside, this should be a physical throwback game between two teams who pride themselves on their toughness. This matchup features three solid running backs: Detroit’s David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs and Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III.
12. Jaguars in Bills, Week 3
We have a lot of good quarterback matchups on Monday night, but this one is truly unique as it pits two of the best NFL the most versatile quarterbacks against each other, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence. These are also two teams expected to compete for playoff spots (and possibly more) in 2024.
11. Falcons at Eagles, Week 2
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons are looking to climb the NFC ladder in 2024, while Jalen Hurts and the Eagles want to show they still belong among the best teams in the conference. These narratives should make for a compelling game.
10. Commanders on Bengals, Week 3
This should be a good sneaky game. The Bengals aren’t closing in on anyone, but the Commanders might, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and new head coach Dan Quinn. Who knows, this could very well be Daniels’ NFL exit party.
9. Bills on Jets, Week 6
It is no coincidence that NFL made this a Monday night matchup, a year after Aaron Rodgers’ season ended abruptly against Buffalo in primetime Week 1. Rodgers’ counterpart Josh Allen wants to prove he can still play at an MVP level despite the off-season departure of wideout Stefon Diggs to Houston.
8. Buccaneers at Chiefs, Week 9
A rematch of Tampa’s 31-9 offense from Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. Tom Brady is no longer in uniform, but Baker Mayfield adds excitement to any game he plays. This should be a fun game between two teams in the upper echelon of the NFL.
7. Bears at Vikings, Week 15
There’s a reason this game made the top 10: It’s the possibility of a rookie quarterback matchup between Chicago’s Caleb Williams and Minnesota’s JJ McCarthy. The fact that both quarterbacks have top-notch receiving bodies doesn’t hurt either.
6. Ravens at Chargers, Week 12
Once again, we have an epic quarterback showdown here with Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. While both quarterbacks have enjoyed prolific careers thus far, both are looking for more playoff success as their careers progress. A win tonight could help one of these quarterbacks achieve that goal in 2024.
5. Texans at Cowboys, Week 11
You don’t really need to say much about it other than the fact that this is the Battle of Texas. CJ Stroud and new Texan Stefon Diggs will try to light up Micah Parsons and the rest of the Cowboys defense in prime time.
4. Dolphins at Rams, Week 10
Similar to our game #3, this one features two top-tier quarterbacks in Tua Tagovailoa and Matthew Stafford. Both quarterbacks are flanked by elite receiving duos. Miami has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the Rams have Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. This game has all the trimmings of a scoring fest.
3. Bengals at Cowboys, Week 14
Joe Burrow vs. Dak Prescott in primetime? Sign me up. This should be a highly entertaining, high-scoring game between two of the NFL better quarterbacks against each other. This game isn’t lacking in firepower, with Prescott, Burrow and wideouts Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins and Brandin Cooks slated to take center stage.
2. Lions at 49ers, Week 17
That’s right, the 49ers are included in each of my top two Monday night games. Four months after facing the Jets, the 49ers will host the Lions in a rematch of what was one of the wildest conference title games in recent memory. This game should be just as fun, as Detroit and San Francisco’s lineups have been kept intact this offseason.
1. Jets at 49ers, Week 1
I’m not going to overthink it. This is a great game to start Monday night as Rodgers returns to the Bay Area to face his boyhood team. Rest assured that both teams will be highly motivated to play well in front of a nationally televised audience.
