For the better part of a decade, Monday Night Football meant one thing in Kansas City: another chance to watch the Chiefs remind the rest of the league who runs the AFC West (and beyond). But 2025 had other plans. A disastrous six-win season that saw Patrick Mahomes suffer a torn ACL left Arrowhead quiet and K.C. on the outside looking in of the postseason for the first time in over a decade.
The good news is that the NFL still believes in the Chiefs, judging by its broadcasting spotlight. K.C. opens the entire MNF slate in Week 1 with a primetime grudge match against the Denver Broncos, and they’re back in Week 15 with a high-profile clash with the reigning AFC champs, the New England Patriots. Two spotlight games, which means two chances to prove the down year was a blip and nothing more.
The good news for football fans is that the rest of the Monday Night Football schedule looks great, too. Beyond K.C., there are tons of great matchups with must-see debuts, Super Bowl hopefuls, and last year’s Super Bowl winners.
The complete Monday Night Football schedule for the 2026 season is below:
Week 1 - Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
The MNF season kicks off with an AFC West showdown between the team that spent the last decade dominating its rivals and the newly-crowned winners who finally toppled them in 2025. Bo Nix and the Broncos are hoping to make a loud statement on the road for those who think Denver's ready for some regression in '26. Meanwhile, K.C. is going to try to put the stench of a foul season behind them in an early, important game in primetime.
Week 2 - New York Giants @ L.A. Rams
John Harbaugh makes his primetime debut as head coach of the Giants in an exciting visit to face the Rams and their completely remade secondary. Trent McDuffie was the big offseason prize, but people also forget that L.A. also lured cornerback Jaylen Watson away from K.C. as well as part of wholesale changes intended to go all-in on defense.
Week 3 - Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears
A very exciting NFC matchup of teams with serious Super Bowl aspirations. Ben Johnson's second season will be exciting to follow after a deep postseason run a year ago. Meanwhile, the Eagles are always a tough out and should benefit from defensive additions of Jonathan Greenard and Riq Woolen. Could be an important game for postseason positioning down the road.
Week 4 - Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
How real is Tyler Shough as a franchise quarterback? How will the Falcons' offense look under Kevin Stefanski's leadership? The NFC South battle could shape the division early if one of these two teams figure out a way forward in this primetime exhibition.
Week 5 - Buffalo Bills @ L.A. Rams
Josh Allen. Matthew Stafford. It should be an epic showdown between contending teams with household names. Beyond the ratings bonanza, the NFL is showing that they're buying the Rams' efforts to make a Super Bowl run late in Stafford's career with another early-season MNF appearance. A statement against the Bills could put them at the front of the pack.
Week 6 - Washington Commanders @ San Francisco 49ers
Jayden Daniels coming back should work wonders for the Commanders' fortunes after a frustrating '25 season. Still, fans will also anticipate watching new investments like Odafe Oweh and Sonny Styles on the defensive side. Meanwhile, the Niners look stronger on both sides of the ball with the acquisitions of WR Mike Evans and DE Osa Odighizuwa.
Week 7 - Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
A big NFC East showdown like the Cowboys versus the Eagles is always an easy sell for fans. There's plenty of big names involved, and the rivalry itself fuels interest. Plenty of offensive firepower involved here, but Dallas has to be hoping that myriad moves to bolster the defense might finally change the narrative (e.g., Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, Caleb Downs).
Week 8 - Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks
Caleb Williams and company are getting plenty of primetime love as one of the league's most exciting young teams (with some thrilling offensive weapons on display). However, they face the biggest giant of all in a midseason primetime matchup against the defending champs. Can Seattle stay dominant in the NFC? There's no reason to doubt Mike Macdonald's efforts until proven otherwise.
Week 9 - Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings
So far, the Monday Night Football slate has been an exciting one with plenty of competitive matchups. Week 9, however, looks like it could be the first truly lopsided affair as the Bills travel to Minnesota to take on a Vikings team that is hoping to squeeze some juice out of Kyler Murray and stay relevant in a loaded NFC North. The Vikes aren't horrible, but they're likely going to finish with a losing record, and the Bills should be favored heavily here.
Week 10 - L.A. Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens
Jim Harbaugh facing Jesse Minter is going to be a big storyline here, but nothing beats Justin Herbert versus Lamar Jackson. Can the Chargers make the leap forward with Mike McDaniel leading the offense? How much will Baltimore miss Tyler Linderbaum in the middle? Both teams will want this win for AFC playoff positioning, which should make for a great game.
Week 11- Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Commanders
If you expected to see the Bengals showcased far before Week 11, you're not alone in those thoughts. Any team with so many marquee names on offense is typically front and center on primetime broadcasts, but fans will have to wait until the second half of the season to see Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow on MNF. Washington can only hope Daniels stays healthy enough to live up to their primetime demands.
Week 12- Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is a sneaky good matchup between two teams that continue to get overlooked for myriad reasons. That's not to say either team is destined for a Super Bowl appearance, but they finished tied atop the NFC South a year ago and made significant roster moves. Jaelan Phillips was the Panthers big signing, while the Bucs drafted Rueben Bain Jr. Should be a close game.
Week 13 - Dallas Cowboys @ Seattle Seahawks
The Cowboys are always an epic draw for Monday Night Football. The Seahawks are the reigning champs. If Dak Prescott and company are going to be taken seriously as contenders, this game sits as an obvious statement to be made if they can find a way to frustrate Mike Macdonald's defense.
Week 14- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Steelers and Jaguars are both hoping to make some noise in an AFC that looks up for grabs in 2026. It's hard to picture either team making the leap to elite status, but this should be an important contest all the same. Have the Steelers done enough to help Aaron Rodgers up front and in the passing game? Can Liam Coen build on last year's shocking 13-win season?
Week 15- New England Patriots @ Kansas City Chiefs
Drake Maye's visit to Arrowhead is going to bring plenty of attention in Week 15. Last year at this time, Patrick Mahomes was injured and the Chiefs were plummeting in the standings. They can only hope that this primetime game against the AFC's reigning champ holds a lot more meaning. Could be a perfect game to showcase how a young roster has grown together over the course of a season.
Week 16- New York Giants @ Detroit Lions
Harbaugh gets another MNF game at season's end to show just how far his team has progressed in his first season. Will this be a meaningful game for Jaxson Dart and company? Are the Lions going to be back in the thick of the hunt? It's easy to see this game going any which way—from an uninspired contest between losing franchises, a lopsided tilt that will bleed viewers, or an exhibition of young talent making unexpected waves.
Week 17- Houston Texans @ Green Bay Packers
Depending on what you believe about Green Bay's ability to replace a lot of important offseason help (and in Micah Parson's ability to return healthy and dominant), this game could be a barnburner of a finale for Monday Night Football (or not). This is an important season for C.J. Stroud in Houston, but that tremendous defense will keep them competitive all season long. A very intriguing last entry.
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