So, you're sitting on the couch, remote in hand, wondering what tv channel is monday night football on tonight? It's a fair question. Usually, your Monday night belongs to the NFL. You expect to see Joe Buck and Troy Aikman breaking down a screen pass while you try to ignore the looming Tuesday morning emails.
But tonight—Thursday, January 15, 2026—things are a bit different.
If you flip through the channels looking for a kickoff, you're going to find a lot of sitcom reruns and reality TV. There is no Monday Night Football game tonight. Honestly, the "Monday" part of the name is the biggest giveaway. We are currently in the weird, quiet lull between the explosive Wild Card round and the upcoming Divisional playoffs.
Why isn't Monday Night Football on tonight?
The NFL schedule is a beast, but it’s a predictable one. The regular season wrapped up on January 4. We just finished the first round of the playoffs, and the final "Monday" game of the year actually happened three nights ago.
On Monday, January 12, the Houston Texans went into Pittsburgh and absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6. That game was the official "Monday Night Football" finale for the 2025-2026 cycle. It aired on ESPN and ABC, and if you missed it, you missed Aaron Rodgers' final game in a Steelers uniform before Mike Tomlin announced he was stepping down.
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Since tonight is Thursday, the league is essentially in a "dark period." Teams like the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are game-planning in their facilities, but they won't take the field until the weekend.
Where the playoffs go from here
Even though you're asking what tv channel is monday night football on tonight, what you probably really want to know is: when do I get more football? The divisional round is right around the corner.
- Saturday, Jan 17: The Buffalo Bills travel to Denver to face the No. 1 seed Broncos at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. Later that night, the 49ers head to Seattle for an 8:00 PM ET kickoff on FOX.
- Sunday, Jan 18: The Texans are back in action against the Patriots at 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN. Then, the Rams take on the Bears at 6:30 PM ET on NBC.
Notice that Sunday ABC/ESPN slot? That’s the closest thing you’re going to get to the MNF crew for the rest of the season.
Understanding the ESPN/ABC rotation
If you were looking for the game because you’re used to the "Monday Night" branding, it's worth noting how much the TV landscape has shifted. This year, Disney (which owns both ESPN and ABC) had a massive 23-game slate.
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They’ve been doing this thing where they simulcast the biggest games. If you have a digital antenna, you could catch about half the Monday games on ABC for free. For the others, you needed the cable "mothership" or a streaming sub like Fubo or YouTube TV.
The Texans-Steelers game on the 12th was actually the last game in a five-year deal for that specific Monday playoff slot. There’s a lot of chatter in the industry right now about whether ESPN will keep that Monday night Wild Card game or if another streamer like Amazon or Netflix might try to snatch it up for next year.
How to watch the remaining games without cable
Since there isn’t a game tonight, you have exactly two days to get your streaming setup in order before the Divisional round kicks off. If you're a cord-cutter, the "where is the game on" struggle is real.
For the upcoming weekend, you'll need:
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- Paramount+ for the CBS games (Bills vs. Broncos).
- Peacock for the NBC games (Rams vs. Bears).
- Hulu + Live TV or Fubo to cover the FOX and ABC/ESPN broadcasts.
Basically, the era of "one channel fits all" is dead and buried. You sort of have to be a digital detective to find the right app.
Actionable Next Steps
Since you can't watch football tonight, here is how you can prepare for the big games this weekend:
- Check your local listings for ABC: The Texans vs. Patriots game on Sunday is a Disney production, meaning you can likely catch it with a simple $20 digital antenna if you're in a good signal area.
- Update your apps: If you haven't used Paramount+ or Peacock since the regular season, log in now to make sure you aren't hit with a "forgot password" or update screen five minutes before kickoff on Saturday.
- Sync your calendar: Set a reminder for Saturday at 4:30 PM ET. That’s the real start of the next football wave.
The Monday Night Football itch is real, but tonight, the TV is taking a breather. Get your snacks ready for Saturday instead.