The impending end of the NFL regular season means we have precious few Monday Night Football games left to enjoy. While ESPN will get to air a doubleheader on Saturday of Week 18, there are only two actual Monday games left in the regular season along with one to wrap up Super Wild Card weekend in mid-January.
Week 15's doubleheader was a mixed bag as Minnesota blew out Chicago 30-13 to pull into a tie with Detroit for the NFC North lead while Atlanta survived a late scare against the Las Vegas Raiders to snap a four-game losing skid. Which NFL teams are set to play on the Monday night right before Christmas?
Which NFL teams are playing on Monday night in Week 16?
- New Orleans Saints (5-9) at Green Bay Packers (10-4)
- Date: Dec. 23
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- How To Watch: ESPN/ABC
- Venue: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Not all Monday night games can be winners and Week 16 is certainly no exception. The NFL's decision to flex Broncos-Chargers into Thursday night essentially eliminated any chance to get a potential mismatch out of primetime, especially since the Saints could be eliminated from postseason contention by kickoff while Green Bay could be locked into a playoff spot.
The Saints fought hard in Washington in Week 16, losing 20-19 to the Commanders in a game where Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener both took snaps. Derek Carr missed the game with a hand injury and will likely stay on the sidelines if New Orleans has nothing to play for.
The Packers moved one step closer to wrapping up a playoff berth with a blowout win over Seattle on Sunday night in Week 15 to improve to 10-4 on the year. There is a chance other results could secure Green Bay's postseason spot before they take the field but at worst they will be in a win-and-in situation on Monday night.
There will not be a Manningcast this week as Peyton and Eli are off until the postseason. Perhaps football fans will get lucky with the weather and get a snow game at Lambeau Field, which is always a blast.