The 2026 NFL draft is here, and as usual, there’s a good slate of primetime matchups. It doesn’t get more “prime time” than “Monday Night Football,” which has closed every week of the regular season (except the last) since 1970. ABC had the broadcast rights until 2006, when it switched to ESPN — both are part of the Disney company — and as you will see, both channels this year, many games on the air.
In a welcome change in the eyes of many fans, there won’t be “Monday Night Football” twice in 2026. The “MNF” slate begins with a bitter AFC West rivalry as the Broncos visit the Chiefs. It would be the first game back after major injuries to both quarterbacks; Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in December, and Bo Nix broke his ankle in the playoffs a month later.
Here is a list of every Monday night game for the 2026 season. Each contest will begin at 8:15 pm ET:
Ranking of 2026 ‘Monday Night Football’ fixtures
17. Falcons at Saints (Week 4)
In a loaded year, someone has to finish last. This time, the Falcons visit the Saints. Atlanta features a tough offseason quarterback battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. Even if one of those two could improve in the tough 2025 seasons, neither looks like a long-term answer yet. The Saints hope they have a long-term answer for Tyler Shough, but that is also TBD. Like the NFC South as a whole, this matchup doesn’t match up well with its rivals.
16. Giants in the flesh (Week 16)
The Giants are getting a lot of love with Jaxson Dart entering Year 2, John Harbaugh entering and two top 10 picks (Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa). But Harbaugh will be the first to tell you that building a contender doesn’t happen overnight. The Giants should be better than last year, but in Week 16, they may not be in the playoff picture. Lions should be. Jahmyr Gibbs will be licking his lips considering what he did against the Giants last year.
15. Panthers at Buccaneers (Week 12)
The Panthers have made major changes at edge rusher (Jaelan Phillips) and linebacker (Devin Lloyd), and if Bryce Young can take a step or step forward, they will make a push to repeat as NFC South champions. The Buccaneers may be their toughest competition yet. But this combination ranks 15th, mostly because it’s at the end of a completely packed week: one game on Thanksgiving Eve, three on Thanksgiving, one on Black Friday and 10 on Sunday. I will never be out of football, but this will push me even to my limits.
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14. 49ers (Week 6)
The Commanders were a likable team going into 2025. Now, they are some of the most talked about. That’s what an injury-riddled 5-12 season will do. The 49ers, meanwhile, will be a playoff favorite, and for good reason, especially if they’re healthy. Also, the Commanders will be on a brutal travel schedule: against the Colts in London in Week 4, home to the Giants in Week 5, and then to the West Coast. After the Week 1 game in Australia, the 49ers don’t leave the West Coast until Week 7.
13. Giants at Rams (Week 2)
Like I said, the Giants have to improve. And I already said it doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen in 2 weeks. The Rams are the Super Bowl favorites, and this is going to be a really long career for New York. Also, the Rams play in Australia on Thursday in Week 1, so they will have a chance to rest against New York, which opens its season on Sunday Night Football.
12. Steelers at Jaguars (Week 14)
There is nothing “wrong” per se about this game. Both teams qualified for the play-offs. It’s not as exciting as the next games at these levels. We still don’t know what’s going on with Aaron Rodgers, but even if we do, the Steelers are like an outfit with a low ceiling. The Jaguars will hope that their good second half of 2025 ends after a mild season.
11. Bills at Vikings (Week 9)
There are many chances that this game can be resurrected. But “maybe” is a dangerous word when it comes to the talented-but-steady, injury-prone Kyler Murray. There’s a chance that the relationship between him, ace play caller Kevin O’Connell and star receiver Justin Jefferson went well. There’s also a chance it could go wrong, even if Murray can’t stay healthy. He did not play in Week 9 in 2021, 2023 or 2025. Perhaps this is the best game, with Murray getting a chance to shine and Josh Allen facing defensive genius Brian Flores. But there are more certain things elsewhere on this list.
10. Bengals at Commander (Week 10)
Let’s take a look at “Monday Football” from Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow in 2024.
More of that, please. (Though both teams, after making big defensive investments this offseason, will hope for better defenses.)
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9. Texans at Packers (Week 17)
OK, here we go. From here on out, all teams featured are play-off teams, and we’re stoked to see each team.
CJ Stroud faces a very important year ahead, as the Texans look like a serious Super Bowl contender almost everywhere. The defense is ridiculously good. Houston made improvements at running back (David Montgomery) and offensive line. The Packers should have their best linebacker, Micah Parsons, back with several games under his belt. How did Jordan Love do against Houston’s defense? Is the weather a factor? Green Bay winters can be … unpleasant.
8. Eagle in the Bears (Week 3)
Last year, the Bears entered their Black Friday game against the Eagles with an 8-3 record, but the perception was that they were not as good as their record. They then outgained the Eagles with 281 yards on the ground and a 28-14 advantage in a 24-15 win. Now, the reigning two-division champions meet again in an independent match. What will Jalen Hurts look like in the new case? How will Caleb Williams look in his second season under Ben Johnson?
7. Bears at Seahawks (Week 8)
The Seahawks feel like one of the most talked about Super Bowl champions in recent memory. Give them credit. This was a very good team: third in goalscoring, first in goalkeeping. That is a strange spirit. This game will feature one of the NFL’s offensive minds (Ben Johnson) against one of the NFL’s premier defensive minds (Mike Macdonald), two former USC star quarterbacks (Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold) and two teams looking to prove last year was not a mistake.
6. Cowboys at Seahawks (Week 13)
The Seahawks turned their muscle down last season, winning their final seven games of the regular season before winning the Super Bowl. If all goes according to plan, this will be a classic offense vs.-defense showdown; there aren’t many passing triumvirate than Dak Prescott, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Will the Cowboys defense improve enough to matter?
5. Chargers at Ravens (Week 10)
We get mentor vs. coach here, as Jim Harbaugh faces off against his longtime defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter. Minter did a great job with Harbaugh at Michigan (2022-23) and the Chargers (2024-25) before taking over in Baltimore this offseason. Lamar Jackson is looking for a bounce-back year. Justin Herbert has a new offensive coordinator (Mike McDaniel) and hopefully a very healthy offensive line. The other time Jackson and Herbert met in “MNF,” Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 30-23 comeback.
4. Broncos at Chiefs (Week 1)
This would be a few spots higher if both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix weren’t coming off major injuries. While both are expected to play, we won’t be 100% sure until it arrives, and even if they do, both will be knocking off a lot of rust. Anyway, this is a bad opening segment for “MNF.” The AFC West should be very competitive as well.
3. Chiefs Patriots (Week 15)
This is the last game of the annual “MNF” conference, which has the effect of qualifying for both teams. Mahomes will be more than a year removed from his ACL tear and should be back in the swing of things. Kenneth Walker III, who led the Patriots to the tune of 161 yards in the Super Bowl, will look to make a comeback in his new home. The Patriots, on the other hand, will look to not only limit Walker but also take advantage of the Chiefs’ second chance. Drake Maye vs. Patrick Mahomes? We are here for you.
2. Cowboys at Eagles (Week 7)
Whenever the two meet, sparks fly and tempers flare. Remember Jalen Carter expulsion due to spitting Dak Prescott before the season opener last year? Jalen Hurts is undefeated at home against Dallas. By the time we get to this season, we’ll know exactly how Hurts adjusts to the new offense and whether the Cowboys’ defensive improvements are enough.
1. Bills at Rams (Week 5)
When two such good teams meet, it doesn’t matter that it’s not a conference game and it’s not even late in the season; it should be at or near any level. Two years ago, they produced a high-flying 44-42 Rams victory that included more than 900 yards of combined offense. Matthew Stafford. Josh Allen. Puka Nacua. DJ Moore. Davante Adams. James Cook. Let’s sit back and enjoy this one.
