Monday night used to be the only time the NFL felt truly special. Now, with games on Thursdays, Saturdays, and even Christmas mornings, it’s easy to think the magic is gone. But looking at the monday night nfl schedule for this past season, something shifted. We didn't just get better games; we got a glimpse into how the league is trying to save its most iconic brand.
If you’re like me, you probably spent your Monday nights chasing down which game was on ESPN versus which one was hiding on ABC or ESPN+. Honestly, it’s been a bit of a mess.
But the 2025-2026 season was a wild ride. From the Vikings and Bears kicking things off in Week 1 to that bizarre Week 17 matchup between the Falcons and Rams, the schedule felt... different. More intentional. Less like a collection of leftovers and more like a curated primetime event.
The Chaos of the Doubleheader
One thing the NFL leaned into hard this year was the "Monday Night Doubleheader."
We saw this in Week 2, Week 4, Week 6, and Week 7. It’s a lot of football for a school night. Take Week 2, for example. You had the Buccaneers edging out the Texans 20-19 in a game that started at 7:00 PM ET. Then, before you could even process Baker Mayfield’s late-game heroics, the Chargers and Raiders were kicking off at 10:00 PM ET.
It’s an endurance test. You've got two different broadcasts, two different crews, and about six hours of total game time. Some people hate it because you can't see everything. Others love it because it feels like a mini-NFL Sunday tucked into the start of the week.
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The Breakdown of the 2025-2026 Monday Night NFL Schedule
Here is how the meat of the season actually shook out. No fluff, just the games that defined the year.
September: The Kickoff
Week 1 started with a classic NFC North slugfest. The Vikings beat the Bears 27-24. It was the first time we saw Caleb Williams in a truly high-stakes primetime spot, and he almost pulled it off. Week 3 gave us a high-scoring masterclass where the Lions put up 38 points against a very confused Ravens defense.
October: The Mahomes Factor
The Chiefs didn't dominate the Monday night nfl schedule as much as some expected, but their Week 5 loss to the Jaguars (31-28) was arguably the game of the year. Watching Trevor Lawrence go blow-for-blow with Mahomes in Jacksonville was the kind of television the league dreams of. By the time we hit the Week 7 doubleheader—where the Lions crushed the Bucs and the Seahawks took care of the Texans—it was clear that the NFC was the more entertaining conference to watch on Monday nights.
November: The Rivalries
November felt like a throwback. We had the Cardinals shocking the Cowboys in Week 9 (27-17) and the Eagles winning a 10-7 defensive grind against the Packers in Week 10. These weren't always "pretty" games. They were ugly, physical, and exactly what November football should be.
Where to Watch: The Network shell game
Trying to find where these games are playing is basically a part-time job now.
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Most games live on ESPN, but a huge chunk were simulcast on ABC. If you were looking for the ManningCast, that was usually on ESPN2. Oh, and let's not forget the Week 7 game between the Texans and Seahawks—that was an ESPN+ exclusive.
Basically, if you didn't have a streaming login and a cable box, you were probably staring at a black screen for at least a few weeks this year. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are still the gold standard for the main booth, but there's a growing crowd of people who prefer Peyton and Eli’s chaos on the secondary feed.
The ManningCast was available for 11 games this season, including the Wild Card round. It’s less about the play-by-play and more about watching two brothers make fun of quarterback footwork while a celebrity guest tries to talk over them.
The Flex Scheduling Gamble
The NFL really started using its "Flex" powers this year. Starting in Week 12, the league has the right to move games into the Monday night slot if the original matchup looks like a total dud.
They used it sparingly, but it’s always a threat hanging over the schedule. It sucks for fans who bought tickets and booked flights to see their team on a Sunday, only to find out they have to stay an extra night in a city they don't live in. But for the millions watching at home? It ensures we don't get stuck watching two four-win teams play for nothing in December.
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Why Week 18 Is Different
Week 18 is the one part of the monday night nfl schedule that isn't actually on a Monday.
The league calls them "Monday Night Football" branded games, but they take place on Saturday, January 3, 2026. These games are TBD until the very last minute. The league picks the two matchups with the most playoff implications. Usually, it's a "win and you're in" scenario. This year, the stakes were sky-high, as the AFC seeding wasn't settled until those final Saturday whistles blew.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you're planning your life around the next wave of games, here’s how to handle it:
- Download the ESPN App early: Don't wait until 8:14 PM to realize you aren't logged in. The "exclusive" games on ESPN+ are becoming more common, not less.
- Check the Flex Window: If you’re buying tickets for a December game, check if it’s "Flex eligible." The league usually gives about 12 days' notice, so keep your travel plans flexible.
- Watch the ManningCast for blowouts: If a game is 21-0 by halftime, flip over to ESPN2. The guest interviews are usually better when the game on the field doesn't matter.
- Keep an eye on the Saturday doubleheaders: Remember that the "Monday Night" brand now extends into the final Saturday of the season.
The 2025-2026 season proved that despite all the new streaming platforms and different nights of the week, there is still a hierarchy in the NFL. Monday night remains the finish line for the weekly narrative. It's where stars are made, and in the case of some teams this year, where seasons go to die in front of a national audience.