The sixth season of Monday Night Football on ESPN does not appear to feature any blockbuster matchups on paper, but does include a wide variety of teams.
ESPN will begin its coverage of the 2011-12 NFL season with its customary Week 1 doubleheader. This year, the early game pits the Patriots against the Dolphins, while the late matchup features the Raiders and Broncos.
As usual, ESPN features several of the league’s marquee teams only once during the season. The defending champion Packers make their lone appearance on November 14 (vs. MIN), and the AFC Champion Steelers play their only Monday nighter on April 19.
The Cowboys, who figure to remain a strong draw despite their poor performance last season, make their first and only Monday night appearance of the season in a September 26 home game against Washington.
The Dolphins, Bears, Chiefs, Giants, Chargers, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Saints are the only teams to make multiple appearances (two each).
Of note, the Lions play in their first regular season Monday night game since 2001 on October 10, as they host the Bears.
For the second straight year, ESPN concludes its regular season coverage with the Saints facing the Falcons. Last year, the Week 16 matchup between the teams drew an 11.2 U.S. rating and 19.137 million viewers, at the time the third-most viewed cable program ever.
2011-12 NFL Schedule on ESPN
|
Wk #
|
Date | Time | Game | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Mon., 9/12/11 | 7:00 PM | NE (1) at MIA (1) | ESPN |
| 10:15 PM | OAK (1) at DEN (1) | ESPN | ||
|
2
|
Mon., 9/19/11 | 8:30 PM | STL (1) at NYG (1) | ESPN |
|
3
|
Mon., 9/26/11 | 8:30 PM | WSH (1) at DAL (1) | ESPN |
|
4
|
Mon., 10/3/11 | 8:30 PM | IND (1) at TB (1) | ESPN |
|
5
|
Mon., 10/10/11 | 8:30 PM | CHI (1) at DET (1) | ESPN |
|
6
|
Mon., 10/17/11 | 8:30 PM | MIA (2) at NYJ (1) | ESPN |
|
7
|
Mon., 10/24/11 | 8:30 PM | BAL (1) at JAX (1) | ESPN |
|
8
|
Mon., 10/31/11 | 8:30 PM | SD (1) at KC (1) | ESPN |
|
9
|
Mon., 11/7/11 | 8:30 PM | CHI (2) at PHI (1) | ESPN |
|
10
|
Mon., 11/14/11 | 8:30 PM | MIN (1) at GB (1) | ESPN |
|
11
|
Mon., 11/21/11 | 8:30 PM | KC (2) at NE (2) | ESPN |
|
12
|
Mon., 11/28/11 | 8:30 PM | NYG (2) at NO (1) | ESPN |
|
13
|
Mon., 12/5/11 | 8:30 PM | SD (2) at JAX (2) | ESPN |
|
14
|
Mon., 12/12/11 | 8:30 PM | STL (2) at SEA (1) | ESPN |
|
15
|
Mon., 12/19/11 | 8:30 PM | PIT (1) at SF (1) | ESPN |
|
16
|
Mon., 12/26/11 | 8:30 PM | ATL (1) at NO (2) | ESPN |
