ABC carries selected Monday Night Football games, not necessarily every game played on Monday night. The exact matchups depend on the NFL season and the broadcast schedule, so a season or date is needed to name them.
To find the right game, check the official NFL schedule and your local ABC listings. This guide explains how ABC’s games are chosen, how to tell an ABC broadcast from an ESPN-only telecast, and where to watch if ABC is not available in your area.
what monday night football games will be on abc?
ABC airs selected Monday Night Football games. The NFL and its broadcast partners decide which matchups appear on ABC for each season. Some Monday night games are shown on both ABC and ESPN, while others may be available on ESPN without an ABC broadcast.
There is no fixed list that applies every year. The matchups, dates, kickoff times, and channel assignments can change from season to season. Since no season or date is specified here, the reliable answer is to check the schedule for the year you mean rather than assume that every Monday night game will appear on ABC.
ABC’s schedule is often announced as part of the NFL’s full season schedule release. Later changes can also affect a game’s date or time. For a specific matchup, confirm the listing close to game day with an official schedule or your local TV guide.
Why ABC does not show every Monday night game
Monday Night Football is a broadcast package, not a promise that every Monday game will air on the same channel. ESPN holds the main Monday night rights, and ABC carries selected games as part of the NFL’s television agreements. Depending on the season, ABC may simulcast an ESPN broadcast, meaning both networks show the same game at the same time.
A simulcast is not a second game or a different feed of the matchup. It is the same event and usually the same primary commentary, carried on two channels so more viewers can watch through an over-the-air ABC station. Other Monday night games may be scheduled for ESPN only, or be available through an additional streaming option tied to that season’s rights.
Some seasons also include a Monday night doubleheader, with two games in separate time slots. A doubleheader does not automatically mean both games air on ABC. Check the channel beside each matchup; the network assignment matters as much as the day of the week.
How to find the ABC matchup for a particular week
- Choose the season and week. A search result without a year can show an old schedule. Start with the season you care about and the correct week or date.
- Look up the matchup on the NFL schedule. Check the listed date, kickoff time, and network. The network field is the key detail; a Monday date alone does not confirm an ABC broadcast.
- Cross-check ESPN’s schedule. ESPN’s listings identify games carried on its channels and can clarify whether a Monday game is shared with ABC.
- Check your local ABC station’s guide. Station listings confirm what is scheduled in your area. This is especially helpful when a national schedule page shows several networks or a game has been updated.
- Recheck close to kickoff. A schedule can change, and listings may take time to update. Use a current guide on game day rather than relying on an old screenshot or an undated article.
For a quick search, enter the season, week, and matchup along with “ABC” or “TV schedule.” Include the date if you already know it. That helps separate the current listing from past seasons and preseason coverage.
Where to watch Monday Night Football
If the game is listed on ABC, you may be able to watch it with an antenna, through a pay-TV package that includes your local ABC station, or through a live TV streaming service that carries that station in your area. Availability varies by location and provider. An antenna can receive ABC only if the station’s signal reaches your home clearly.
If the game is ESPN-only, you generally need a service that carries ESPN or an authorized streaming option for that game. A regular ABC antenna will not show an ESPN-only broadcast. Streaming rights and included games vary, so confirm that the specific matchup is included before subscribing or signing in.
ABC’s website or app may offer a live stream in some circumstances, but access can depend on location, account, and provider. Do not assume that having internet access alone provides a free live feed of every game. Check the app’s current game listing and sign-in requirements.
| Viewing option | What it can show | Best for | Check before kickoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-air antenna | Your local ABC broadcast, if the station’s signal reaches you | Watching an ABC game without a cable subscription | Signal strength and the local station’s listing |
| Cable or satellite TV | ABC and, if included, ESPN | Viewers who already have a package with the needed channels | Channel lineup and the game’s assigned network |
| Live TV streaming service | ABC and/or ESPN, depending on local coverage and the package | Watching through a compatible internet-connected device | Local ABC availability, ESPN inclusion, and current plan terms |
| Network or league streaming option | Games authorized for that app or service | Viewers who prefer a phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV | Whether that exact game is included and whether sign-in is required |
These options are not interchangeable. A service may carry ESPN but not your local ABC station, or carry ABC without ESPN. Match the channel listed for the game to the channels included in your plan.
How kickoff times and local listings can differ
NFL schedules usually publish kickoff times in Eastern Time. If you live in another time zone, convert the listed start time before making plans. For example, a game shown at 8:15 p.m. Eastern starts at 7:15 p.m. Central, 6:15 p.m. Mountain, and 5:15 p.m. Pacific, subject to the local date and applicable daylight-saving time.
TV guides may display the time in your device’s local time zone, while articles or league pages may use Eastern Time. If two listings appear to disagree, check the time zone label before deciding that one is wrong. Also distinguish the pregame show from kickoff: coverage often begins before the scheduled start of play.
Local ABC affiliates normally carry the ABC network’s scheduled program, but regional programming or a local listing error can make a guide look different. Search by ZIP code or check the station that serves your area. A national schedule tells you the intended network; a local guide tells you what your station plans to air.
What can change after the schedule is announced?
Most regular-season dates and network assignments are published before the season begins, but the schedule should not be treated as unchangeable. The league can adjust some games under its scheduling rules, and a broadcast listing can be corrected as the season approaches. Weather, venue issues, and other unusual circumstances may also affect a game’s timing or broadcast plan.
For that reason, an old preview is not a dependable source for a game that is still weeks away. The schedule shown by the NFL, the network, and the local station is more useful than a social post or a copied schedule image with no publication date. Rechecking is particularly smart if you are arranging travel, recording the broadcast, or planning to watch with a group.
One useful detail many viewers miss is that the game date and the broadcast channel are separate pieces of information. A listing that says “Monday Night Football” may identify the program but omit whether the game is on ABC, ESPN, or more than one network. Look for the network logo or a clearly stated channel, not just the event name.
ABC versus ESPN: what viewers should expect
ABC and ESPN are related broadcast outlets, but they are different channels. A game shared by both networks can reach viewers who receive ABC over the air as well as viewers whose TV package includes ESPN. A game carried only by ESPN requires access to ESPN or an authorized platform that streams that particular broadcast.
The game itself is not necessarily different between the two channels. When ABC and ESPN simulcast a matchup, viewers generally see the same contest and main telecast. Separate studio coverage or alternate presentations may be offered through other channels or services, but those options depend on the season and the provider.
Do not infer that an ESPN listing means ABC will also carry the game. Look for an explicit ABC designation in the official schedule or local guide. The reverse is also true: if ABC is listed, that does not guarantee ESPN is part of every provider’s package or available through every streaming plan.
Common mistakes when checking the schedule
- Using last season’s schedule. The day of the week may look familiar, but the opponents and channel assignments change every season.
- Assuming every Monday game is on ABC. ABC carries selected games, not automatically the full Monday slate.
- Confusing a national listing with local availability. A service’s ABC coverage can vary by ZIP code, and local station schedules may differ.
- Ignoring the time zone. A kickoff time copied without its time zone can lead to a missed start.
- Assuming a streaming subscription includes the game. Rights differ by channel, service, location, and season. Confirm the specific matchup in the service’s guide.
- Trusting an undated search snippet. Search results can keep old schedule details after a new season begins. Open the source and check its date.
If you are deciding how to watch, first establish whether the matchup is on ABC, ESPN, or both. Then compare that channel with your antenna reception or current TV package. This simple order prevents paying for a service that does not carry the broadcast you need.
When the complete list becomes available
The full regular-season schedule is released before the season starts, with each game’s date and broadcast network listed. That is when viewers can identify the planned ABC games for the season. Before the full schedule is published, announcements may reveal individual matchups or broadcast plans, but they do not necessarily provide a complete list.
Use an official NFL schedule or the network’s schedule page for the season you mean. Then verify the local listing nearer to game day. If you want a definite list rather than general guidance, specify the season or the Monday date; those details determine which games belong in the answer.
ABC carries selected Monday Night Football games, and the specific matchups vary by season. Check the network listed beside each game rather than assuming that every Monday matchup will be on ABC.
For the game you want, look up the correct season and week on the NFL schedule, then confirm the channel and kickoff time with your local TV guide. If the listing says ESPN only, make sure your viewing service carries ESPN before game day.