Monday Night Football Schedule 2025: Times, Dates, and Doubleheaders
Monday nights during the NFL season have become a ritual for millions of fans, but with doubleheaders now a regular feature, figuring out kickoff times and which teams are playing can get confusing. This guide breaks down the 2025 Monday Night Football slate, explains the doubleheader format, and answers the most common questions about when and where to watch.
Notable game date: December 1, 2025 ·
Final score: New England Patriots 33, New York Giants 15 ·
Broadcast network: ESPN
Quick snapshot
- Doubleheader weeks exist in the 2025 schedule (ESPN Press Room)
- Dec 1, 2025: Patriots 33, Giants 15 (final score) (ESPN Press Room)
- All 25 games stream on ESPN+ (ESPN Press Room) (ESPN Press Room)
- Whether a Monday Night Football game will air on January 12, 2026
- The exact date of future doubleheader weeks beyond 2025
- Which specific teams will play in the wild-card Monday Night Football game
- 2020: First doubleheader week introduced (ESPN Press Room)
- Dec 1, 2025: Patriots vs Giants
- Jan 12, 2026: possible playoff MNF game (TBD)
- Check the official NFL schedule for playoff game announcements
- Stream games on ESPN+ or watch on ESPN/ABC
Four key facts from the schedule that every fan should know:
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 game result | Patriots 33, Giants 15 |
| Regular season MNF games | 17 per season |
| First MNF broadcast | 1970 |
| Current broadcaster | ESPN |
What time is Monday Night Football?
Monday Night Football start times for the 2025 season
- Most Monday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN Press Room)
- During doubleheader weeks, the early game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and the late game at 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN Press Room)
How time zones affect kickoff
- For viewers on the West Coast, 8:15 p.m. ET means 5:15 p.m. PT.
- Mountain time: 6:15 p.m. MT; Central time: 7:15 p.m. CT.
The implication: viewers need to check each week to avoid missing kickoff.
Who is playing Monday Night Football?
Monday Night Football December 1, 2025: Patriots vs Giants
The New England Patriots defeated the New York Giants 33-15 on December 1, 2025, in a Week 13 matchup. The game aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+ (ESPN Press Room).
Monday Night Football January 12, 2026: opponent TBD
Uncertainty exists for January 12 game as the postseason schedule is not yet released. The NFL typically announces playoff times in early January.
Who plays tonight?
If it is a Monday during the regular season, there is usually a Monday Night Football game. Check the CBS Fall Lineup 2025: Schedule, New Shows, Premieres for the most current matchup.
What this means: planning beyond December requires waiting for the NFL’s playoff announcement.
Are there two Monday Night Football games?
Which weeks have doubleheaders?
- ESPN has scheduled four weeks in 2025 with multiple games on the same Monday (ESPN Press Room).
- Weeks 2 and 7 are the traditional 7 p.m. / 10 p.m. ET doubleheaders (ESPN Press Room).
- In Week 4, ESPN scheduled Jets-Dolphins at 7:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) and Bengals-Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC) (ESPN Press Room).
- In Week 6, Bills-Falcons at 7:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) and Bears-Commanders at 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC) (ESPN Press Room).
How doubleheaders work
Doubleheaders give the NFL two prime-time windows on the same night, allowing more teams to be showcased. The early game typically finishes before the late game starts, but the format has evolved to include overlapping start times on occasion.
Doubleheaders mean more Monday Night Football for fans, but they also demand careful scheduling—viewers need to check whether the game is on ESPN, ABC, or streaming.
The pattern: Monday nights now offer two distinct viewing windows, requiring fans to plan accordingly.
Why are there two NFL games on Monday night?
TV ratings and revenue
Doubleheaders were introduced to maximize prime-time viewership and advertising revenue. According to an NFL spokesperson, the format allows the league to put more high-profile matchups in front of a national audience (ESPN Press Room).
Player safety and scheduling flexibility
Spread across Monday nights, the doubleheader reduces the need for short-week Thursday games and gives teams more rest. The NFL schedules doubleheaders only in specific weeks to avoid conflict with other sporting events.
The implication: the NFL prioritizes revenue and player rest, reshaping the traditional Monday night slot.
Is there an NFL game tonight? When is ‘Monday Night Football’?
How to check tonight’s Monday Night Football game
- If it is a Monday during the regular season (September through early January), there is usually a game.
- Check the official NFL schedule or ESPN’s listings for the most up-to-date information.
- During doubleheader weeks, two games air.
Typical Monday Night Football schedule pattern
The game time is 8:15 p.m. ET unless it is a doubleheader week, in which case the first game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and the second at 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN Press Room).
Don’t assume a single game. On doubleheader nights, fans expecting one game could miss the early kickoff. Always confirm the number of games before tuning in.
The catch: confirming the week’s format is essential to avoid missing the early window.
Timeline
- 1970: First Monday Night Football broadcast on ABC
- 2006: ESPN acquires Monday Night Football rights
- 2020: NFL introduces Monday Night Football doubleheaders (ESPN Press Room)
- December 1, 2025: Patriots 33-15 Giants (Week 13 MNF)
- January 12, 2026: Possible playoff MNF game (TBD)
What’s clear and what’s not
- December 1, 2025 game: Patriots vs Giants (score 33-15)
- Doubleheader weeks exist in the 2025 schedule (ESPN Press Room)
- All 25 games stream on ESPN+
- Whether a Monday Night Football game will air on January 12, 2026
- The exact date of future doubleheader weeks beyond 2025
- Which specific teams will play in the wild-card Monday Night Football game
“Monday Night Football doubleheaders were introduced to maximize prime-time viewership and give fans more access to top matchups across the league.”
— NFL spokesperson, as reported by ESPN Press Room
“ESPN’s 2025 Monday Night Football schedule includes four weeks with multiple games on the same night.”
— ESPN Press Room
The 2025 Monday Night Football schedule reflects a league that has fully embraced the doubleheader format. For fans, that means more prime-time football—but also more complexity in planning game nights. The confirmed doubleheader weeks (2, 4, 6, and 7) already offer a taste of how the league is reshaping its Monday slate. For the NFL, the choice is clear: more Monday games equal more revenue, more exposure, and a stronger national presence.
For fans who want to catch every prime-time matchup, the Thursday Night Football schedule provides a complete guide to Amazon Prime Video’s 2025 slate.
Frequently asked questions
How can I stream Monday Night Football?
You can stream every game on ESPN+ (ESPN Press Room). Cable and satellite subscribers can also watch on ESPN or ABC on select weeks.
What channel is Monday Night Football on?
Most games air on ESPN. Some games, especially during doubleheader weeks, also air on ABC. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on ESPN Deportes (ESPN Press Room).
When does the Monday Night Football season start?
The regular season typically begins in early September. For 2025, the first Monday Night Football game is scheduled for Week 1.
How many Monday Night Football games are there per season?
ESPN’s 2025 schedule features 25 games across the regular season and postseason (ESPN Press Room).
Is there Monday Night Football during the playoffs?
Yes, the NFL schedules a Monday Night Football game for the wild-card round. January 12, 2026 is a possible date, but the opponent is not yet determined.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on NFL Network?
No. Monday Night Football is broadcast exclusively on ESPN, with additional simulcasts on ABC in select weeks.
What time does Monday Night Football start in my time zone?
All start times are based on Eastern Time. Use a time zone converter: 8:15 p.m. ET = 7:15 p.m. CT = 6:15 p.m. MT = 5:15 p.m. PT. Doubleheader early games start at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. MT, 4:00 p.m. PT).
Are there any Monday Night Football games on Saturday?
No. Monday Night Football always plays on Monday. Saturday games are part of the NFL’s Saturday schedule in December.
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