The original vision for MNF was to air one game a week during prime time for a national audience.
The NFL had sought to have Friday night games in 1964, but the conflict with high school football attendance brought enough criticism to squelch that idea.
The league did schedule a Monday game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions on September 28, 1964 – without television. Tiger Stadium drew 59,203 spectators, the biggest crowd ever to see a pro football game in Detroit at that time.
The league added one Monday-night game in 1966 and again in 1967, and the AFL had two Monday-night games in the 1968 and 1969 seasons. ABC came back into NFL broadcasting in the 1970 season with Monday Night Football.
The prime-time experience was a novelty for decades; nowadays, though, the league has added a second Monday-night game on some weeks.
With the addition of Thursday night games, the point seems to be less about getting national exposure for one game and more about saturating the audience with exposure.
Let’s look at the Monday Night Football matchups set for this season and discuss some NFL betting insights.
NFL Betting Rundown on the 2024 Monday Night Football Games | All games at 8:15 pm ET on ESPN unless otherwise noted
N.Y. Jets (+5.5) at San Francisco 49ers (O/U 45) Week 1
Aaron Rodgers returns! However, his season debut will come against a San Francisco 49ers team that is smarting after giving up the lead in Super Bowl LVIII and watching the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate an overtime victory.
Brandon Aiyuk’s contract bombast seems to have been a tempest in a teapot as he has said he wants to return to the 49ers.
Yes, the Jets have Breece Hall to carry the ball, but the 49ers still have better skill players at tailback (Christian McCaffrey), wide receiver (Aiyuk) and tight end (George Kittle). 49ers to win and cover.
^Atlanta Falcons (+3.5) at Philadelphia Eagles Week 2
Honestly, this spread seems a little low as the Eagles are basically getting the three points for hosting this game.
Kirk Cousins has a hard time winning big prime-time games, and he will just be in his second week after returning from a torn Achilles tendon.
Jalen Hurts has Saquon Barkley to carry the ball, which is a fair matchup for Bijan Robinson on the other side, and the Eagles have a stronger defense on all three levels. Eagles to win and cover.
^Jacksonville Jaguars (+5) at Buffalo Bills (O/U 48.5) Week 3
(7:30 pm ET, ESPN) The Bills just saw Gabe Davis leave via free agency and traded Stefon Diggs to Houston for, basically, nothing.
That means that Josh Allen has to get the offense up and running with new receivers.
The Jaguars collapsed in the second half of 2023 but still inked Trevor Lawrence to a huge extension in the off-season.
So we have one offense (Buffalo) that will still be figuring itself out and another (Jacksonville) that will have to deal with a Bills defense that is still salty. Take the under.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Washington Commanders (+7) at Cincinnati Bengals (O/U 47.5)
(8:15 pm ET, ABC) Let’s just say that there are more exciting matchups than this one.
The Commanders have a new head coach (Dan Quinn) and are likely to have a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) running things.
The Bengals should have a healthy Joe Burrow back under center and have also revamped their O-line. Bengals to win and cover.
^Tennessee Titans (+6.5) at Miami Dolphins (O/U 46) Week 4
(7:30 pm ET, ESPN) The Dolphins have a high-flying offense, and the absence of Mike Vrabel on the Titans’ sideline will raise questions about how tough the Tennessee defense will be.
The Tennessee offense is now in the hands of Will Levis, who has a lot of upside but struggled after a four-touchdown starting debut.
Instead of Derrick Henry, the comparatively undersized Tony Pollard is now the starting tailback. Dolphins to win and cover.
^Seattle Seahawks (+6) at Detroit Lions (O/U 49)
(8:15 pm ET, ABC) Detroit brought in upgrades in the secondary after seeing themselves get torched in key moments, such as late losses to Dallas near the end of the regular season and in San Francisco in the NFC Championship.
The Seahawks still have Geno Smith at quarterback, who had a decent first half to 2022 and a second half to 2023 but still needs to put together a solid complete season. Lions to win and cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
New Orleans Saints (+8) at Kansas City Chiefs (O/U 45) Week 5
Playing in prime time after a trip to face the Chargers and then heading into a bye week could make this a trap game for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Saints have a decent defense, which could gum up the works for the Chiefs, and Derek Carr has played big games against the Chiefs in the past when wearing the black and silver of the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders. Saints to cover.
^Buffalo Bills (+1.5) at N.Y. Jets (O/U 46.5) Week 6
A prime-time battle between Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers makes this must-watch television.
This is the sort of game that seems like it will go to the last team with the ball as both Allen and Rodgers have led thrilling comebacks late in games.
Which team has the better defense? The Jets’ defense was basically what kept the team close to playoff contention last year as the offense cycled through a variety of quarterbacks in Rodgers’ absence.
With that defensive edge, seeing the Jets favored makes sense. Jets to win and cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Baltimore Ravens (-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (O/U 44.5) Week 7
A duel between Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield makes for intriguing prime-time watching (especially when you compare this to the other Monday night game this week).
The Ravens added Derrick Henry at tailback and will really have a balanced, scary offense.
The Buccaneers do excel at run defense, but they don’t often face a team with a bruising quarterback and tailback carrying the ball. Ravens to win and cover.
^L.A. Chargers (+1) at Arizona Cardinals (O/U 46.5)
(9:00 pm ET, ESPN+) Report says Jim Harbaugh aims to change Chargers’ offense to run-first, possibly why Mike Williams, Keenan Allen weren’t replaced.
The Cardinals might get back to their dominant form from the Kliff Kingsbury days with a healthy Kyler Murray.
But will they? Neither team has a terrific defense here. Take the over.
^N.Y. Giants (+4.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (O/U 41.5) Week 8
Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock make up the depth chart at quarterback for the Giants, and their top tailback is the veteran Devin Singletary.
That’s not a dynamic offense. They head west to take the field against a promising tailback (Najee Harris) and an intriguing enigma at quarterback (Russell Wilson).
Wilson looked anywhere between washed up and decent during his time in Denver.
Is he really an improvement over Kenny Pickett? Either way, the Steelers’ defense should have this game in hand. Steelers to win and cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (O/U 47) Week 9
Two Monday night home games for the Chiefs against NFC South teams?
Yes indeed. This is a rematch of Super Bowl LV, which the Bucs won in a rout, but those Bucs had Tom Brady at quarterback, not Baker Mayfield, and they had a fast, dangerous defense.
That defense has faded a bit, and the Chiefs should be picking up momentum toward the postseason at this point. Chiefs to win and cover.
^Miami Dolphins (+1) at L.A. Rams (O/U 47.5) Week 10
I might like the Rams here if the Dolphins had to travel three time zones west and play on Sunday afternoon.
However, the prime-time slot makes that travel less onerous. The Dolphins won’t have to stop Aaron Donald from getting to Tua Tagovailoa, and Matthew Stafford is one season older. Dolphins to cover.
^Houston Texans (+3) at Dallas Cowboys (O/U 50.5) Week 11
Since the Houston Texans entered the NFL, they have won more playoff games than the Dallas Cowboys have.
This fact has to gall Dallas owner Jerry Jones, but not as much as the smackdown that the Texans will deliver in Week 11 will.
They have a better wide receiver group, a more disciplined defense, and all the confidence in the world. Texans to cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at L.A. Chargers (O/U 47) Week 12
Is Jim Harbaugh really a defensive guru? We’ll know by this point in the season.
Has his remodel of the Chargers’ offense worked? We’ll know that by this point as well.
He took the 49ers to a Super Bowl (and lost to these same Ravens). Chargers to cover.
^Cleveland Browns (-3) at Denver Broncos (O/U 43) Week 13
The Browns have an outstanding defense. Will their quarterback be Deshaun Watson or Jameis Winston?
Either way, the defense should be able to control the game as it looks like Bo Nix will be the Broncos’ starting quarterback at this point. Browns to win and cover.
^Cincinnati Bengals (+1.5) at Dallas Cowboys (O/U 49.5) Week 14
This game could turn into a shootout. Both Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow have shown they can put up big numbers.
The Cowboys beat the Bengals the last time Cincinnati was in Dallas, but that was a Week 2 showdown – and Burrow has been a slow starter in each of his NFL seasons.
By Week 14, he should be ready to lead a comeback win. Take the over; Bengals to cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Chicago Bears (-1) at Minnesota Vikings (O/U 46.5) Week 15
(8:00 pm ET, ABC) Will we see Caleb Williams tangling with J.J. McCarthy in this game?
Or will the Vikings still be starting Sam Darnold? On paper, the Bears should win this game, but rookie quarterbacks are not reliable.
At this point, I’m not betting on this game, but if you are insistent on putting in an early bet, go with history and see the Bears imploding. Vikings to cover.
^Atlanta Falcons (-1) at Las Vegas Raiders (O/U 45.5)
(8:30 pm ET, ESPN) The Raiders are likely to have Gardner Minshew starting at quarterback at this point, and he played decently enough last year to get Indianapolis to the doorstep of the playoffs.
However, the Raiders don’t have the running game or the defense that Minshew had on his side with the Colts.
I think the Falcons come in and run right over the Raiders. Falcons to win and cover.
^New Orleans Saints (+5.5) at Green Bay Packers (O/U 44) Week 16
A domed team playing at night at Lambeau Field two days before Christmas.
Even in this era of global warming, the conditions should be frigid, which will not bode well for the Saints.
Also, remember that Jordan Love has emerged as a legit franchise quarterback. Packers to win and cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Guide NFL Lines to Win
Detroit Lions (+5.5) at San Francisco 49ers (O/U 49.5) Week 17
A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship, and possibly a preview of the same game a few weeks into the playoffs.
Does Jared Goff have another elite season (in terms of ball security) in him? Will the upgraded Lions secondary actually be better?
Will the defense have an answer for Christian McCaffrey in the fourth quarter? We say yes. Lions to cover.
^Monday Night Football Betting Week 18
all games on Saturday or Sunday
^The @HoustonTexans offense put up a historic performance in Week 9 last season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TUebRFLRNV
— NFL (@NFL) July 8, 2024
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