Monday. We all go back to our regular lives every Monday, when the stress of the daily grind shatters our fun-filled weekends. It’s one of the dullest and most uneventful days of the week. However, when the NFL season finally hits us on September 7, our yawns and moans will turn into ecstatic cheers as Monday Night Football returns.
Read on for our breakdown of this year’s schedule and download your own printable version below.
If you want to get in on the rest of the football action, check out five teams to watch in the 2014-2015 NFL Season, and our complete breakdown of the AFC East.
NFL Monday Night Football Picks and Predictions
Monday Night Football Schedule
[sc:NFL240banner ]Monday night will see some of the best teams in the league compete, with Super Bowl contenders Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots to name a few. We’ll also be treated to plenty of scrappy contests throughout the season as all the teams are coming in with their own set of new tricks and recent additions to their rosters. Find your team in this schedule, and back them up with your bets on our NFL lines.
| Week | Game |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | New York Giants at Detroit Lions |
| San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals | |
| Week 2 | Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts |
| Week 3 | Chicago Bears at New York Jets |
| Week 4 | New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs |
| Week 5 | Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins |
| Week 6 | San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams |
| Week 7 | Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Week 8 | Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys |
| Week 9 | Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants |
| Week 10 | Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Week 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans |
| Week 12 | Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints |
| Week 13 | Miami Dolphins at New York Jets |
| Week 14 | Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers |
| Week 15 | New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears |
| Week 16 | Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals |
Monday Night Football Picks and Predictions
Week 1 – New York Giants @ Detroit Lions (September 8, 7:10 PM ET, ESPN)
Line: New York Giants (+4) at Detroit Lions (-4); total 45.5 – view all NFL lines
The New York Giants have their hands full in their season opener against the Detroit Lions. Starting quarterback Eli Manning is still in the process of fully adopting new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s strategies.
The Giants QB will be up against a tough Detroit defense. The Lions have a new defensive coordinator in Teryl Austin, who has a talented cast to work with. Detroit’s defense will be further strengthened with the signing of strong safety James Ihedigbo, who had 101 combined tackles last season.
Writer’s prediction: The Giants stumble as the Lions (-4) start their season on a good note.
Week 4 – New England Patriots @ Kansas City Chiefs (September 29, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Line: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs – view all NFL lines
QB Tom Brady will once again be leading the Pats in the 2014 NFL regular season after putting up 4,343 yards for 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last year – an off season by his standards. The Pats will also have the benefit of a much improved defense, especially with the signings of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
The Pats’ Week 4 opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs, will be sure to test their new-look defense. The Chiefs will be rushing the ball with running back Jamaal Charles fresh off ranking third among NFL RBs with the most rushing yards at 1,287.
Writer’s prediction: Tom Brady and the Patriots blow out the Chiefs.
Week 6 – San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams (October 13, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Line: San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams – view all NFL lines
The San Francisco 49ers could not ask for an easier opponent when it’s their turn for Monday Night Football, than the St. Louis Rams, especially with QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Frank Gore taking care of the offense. Kaepernick had a stellar game becoming just the 12th QB to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for 500 in a single season in 2013. On the other hand, Gore was an ageless wonder running the ball for 1,128 yards with nine touchdowns.
Alex Carrington and Aaron Donald will suit up for the Rams, who hope to improve a defense that was already ninth in the league at defending against the run last year.
Writer’s prediction: The Rams prove to be a tougher challenge than usual, but the 49ers eventually come up with the win.
Week 10 – Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles (November 10, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Line: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles – view all NFL lines
The Carolina Panthers will be missing contributions from the top four wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr., Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell who collectively pulled in 156 catches for 1,983 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, they signed former Steeler Jerricho Cotchery to plug in the hole.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles have their own problems in the receiving department with the departure of DeSean Jackson in the offseason. Nevertheless, the Eagles still have Riley Cooper, who posted career-high numbers catching 47 for 835 yards with eight TDs last season. Philadelphia is 3-1 SU against Carolina in their last four meetings.
Writer’s prediction: Philadelphia has a breakout season, and the Panthers won’t be the ones to stop them in Week 10.
Week 16 – Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (December 22, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Line: Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals – view all NFL lines
The Denver Broncos are dead-set on winning this season’s Super Bowl after their humiliating loss to Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII. The Broncos were humble in defeat and made some noise in the offseason after they brought their defense up to the standard of their excellent attack. QB Peyton Manning (5,477 passing yards with 55 passing TDs) will be spearheading Denver’s Super Bowl XLIX run.
However, the ever-improving Cincinnati Bengals will be looking to play spoilers to the Broncos’ plans. The Bengals were fifth in the league at defending both the pass and the run last season to limit opponents to just 305.5 total yards per game. Cincinnati was 8-0 SU at home last year.
Writer’s prediction: The Cincinnati Bengals continue impressing at home as they give the Denver Broncos a key late season loss.
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