List of Monday night National Football League games prior to 1970
Listed below are all professional American football regular season games played on Monday before the start of ABC's weekly Monday Night Football series in 1970.
These include games televised by CBS and NBC on an experimental basis in the late 1960s. The pre-1960s games were on Mondays either as special promotions or due to schedule conflicts. The primary reason that Monday games were much more rare before the 1960s was mainly because artificial lighting was not yet widespread or good enough to provide an acceptable view of the field for a night game, along with being before the advent of color television (hence, for the first few years of night games, a specially painted white football was used), thus requiring that all games be played during the day, when most potential spectators were at work.
1930s[edit]
1934
- October 22: at Detroit Lions 28, Brooklyn Dodgers 0 [1][2]
1936
- September 28: at Detroit Lions 39, Chicago Cardinals 0 [4][5]
- This game was scheduled for Sunday, postponed due to weather.[5]
1937
- October 4: Chicago Bears 7, at Pittsburgh Pirates 0 [6][7][8]
1938
- October 3: Pittsburgh Pirates 13, at New York Giants 10 [9]
1939
- October 2: Chicago Bears 32, at Pittsburgh Pirates 0 [10]
- November 6: at Brooklyn Dodgers 17, Pittsburgh Pirates 13 [11]
1940s[edit]
1946
- September 30: at Chicago Cardinals 34, Detroit Lions 14 [14]
- November 11: Chicago Rockets 20, at Miami Seahawks 7 (AAFC) [15]
- November 18: at Miami Seahawks 21, Buffalo Bisons 14 (AAFC) [16]
- November 25: Los Angeles Dons 34, at Miami Seahawks 21 (AAFC) [17]
- December 9: New York Yankees 31, at Miami Seahawks 0 (AAFC) [18]
1947
- September 29: New York Giants 7, at Boston Yanks 7 (Tie)[19]
- September 29: Los Angeles Rams 48, at Pittsburgh Steelers 7 [20]
1948
- October 4: Chicago Bears 28, at Chicago Cardinals 17 [21][22]
1949
- September 26: at Chicago Cardinals 38, Washington Redskins 7 [23][24]
- October 3: Philadelphia Eagles 22, at Detroit Lions 14 [25]
- October 3: Washington Redskins 27, at Pittsburgh Steelers 14 [26][27]
1950s[edit]
1950
- October 2: at Chicago Cardinals 55, Baltimore Colts 13 [28]
1951
- October 1: New York Giants 13, at Pittsburgh Steelers 13 (Tie)[29][30][31]
- October 8: at Detroit Lions 37, New York Yanks 10 [32][33]
1952
- September 29: Washington Redskins 23, at Chicago Cardinals 7 [34]
1955
- September 26: at Pittsburgh Steelers 14, Chicago Cardinals 7 [35]
1960s[edit]
During the early 1960s, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle envisioned the possibility of playing at least one game weekly during prime time that could be viewed by a greater television audience (while the NFL had scheduled Saturday night games on the DuMont Television Network in 1953 and 1954, poor ratings and the dissolution of DuMont led to those games being eliminated by the time CBS took over the rights in 1956). An early bid by the league in 1964 to play on Friday nights was soundly defeated, with critics charging that such telecasts would damage the attendance at high school football games. Undaunted, Rozelle decided to experiment with the concept of playing on Monday night, scheduling the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions for a game on September 28, 1964[36]. While the game was not televised, it drew a sellout crowd of 59,203 spectators to Tiger Stadium, the largest crowd ever to watch a professional football game in Detroit up to that point.
Two years later, Rozelle would build on this success as the NFL began a four-year experiment of playing on Monday night, scheduling one game in prime time on CBS during the 1966 and 1967 seasons, and two contests during each of the next two years[37][38][39][40][41][42] The first prime-time telecast on CBS was on Saturday night, September 10, 1966, with the Baltimore Colts opening the season against the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee.[43]. NBC followed suit in 1968 and 1969[44] with games involving American Football League teams.
1964
- September 28: Green Bay Packers 14, at Detroit Lions 10 [45][46]
- October 12: at Baltimore Colts 47, St. Louis Cardinals 27 [47]
1965
- October 4: at St. Louis Cardinals 20, Dallas Cowboys 13 [48]
1966
- October 31: at St. Louis Cardinals[49] 24, Chicago Bears[50] 17 (CBS-TV)[51][52]
The Chicago-St. Louis game from 1966 was a national Monday night telecast (except in St. Louis). Jack Drees and Frank Gifford called the first half with Lindsey Nelson and Gifford doing the second half. This was almost certainly the first NFL prime time game ever televised in color.
1967
- October 30: Green Bay Packers 31, at St. Louis Cardinals 23 (CBS-TV)[53]
The Green-St. Louis game from 1967 was a prime time "coast to coast" telecast. Jack Drees did play-by-play for the first half while Ray Scott did play-by-play for the second half. Gifford was the analyst the for full game.
1968
- September 9: Kansas City Chiefs 26, at Houston Oilers 21 (AFL) (NBC-TV)[54]
Curt Gowdy (play-by-play) and Kyle Rote (analysis) were the commentators for the Kansas City-Houston Game from 1968.
- September 16: Los Angeles Rams 24, at St. Louis Cardinals 13 (CBS-TV)[55]
Jack Buck, Pat Summerall, and Gil Stratton were the commentators for the Los Angeles-St. Louis game from 1968.
- October 28: Green Bay Packers 28, at Dallas Cowboys 17 (CBS-TV)[56]
Ray Scott, Paul Christman, and Gil Stratton were the commentators for the Green Bay-Dallas game in 1968.
1969
- October 13: at Baltimore Colts 24, Philadelphia Eagles 20 [57]
The Baltimore-Philadelphia game from 1969 was as broadcast locally by WPHL-Philadelphia with Al Meltzer (play-by-play) and Tom Brookshier (analysis) on commentary.
- October 20: at New York Jets 26, Houston Oilers 17 (AFL)[58]
- October 27: at Dallas Cowboys 25, New York Giants 3 (CBS-TV)[59]
Jack Whitaker (play-by-play) and Frank Gifford (analysis) did commentary for the Dallas-New York Giants game from 1969.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Detroit Lions win". Pittsburgh Press. October 23, 1934. p. 25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lions easily down Brooklyn Dodgers". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). Associated Press. October 23, 1934. p. 2.
- ↑ "Game postponed". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 22, 1934. p. 4, part 2.
- ↑ "Lions devour Cards, 39 to 0". Milwaukee Journal. September 29, 1936. p. 8, part 2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Detroit Lions win 39 to 0 victory". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). Associated Press. September 29, 1936. p. 8.
- ↑ Burcky, Claire M. (October 4, 1937). "Pirates, Bears battle tonight". Pittsburgh Press. p. 26.
- ↑ Burcky, Claire M. (October 5, 1937). "Bears get aid in win". Pittsburgh Press. p. 28.
- ↑ "Bears defeat Pirates, 7 to 0". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 5, 1937. p. 3, part 2.
- ↑ "Dodgers next for revived Bucs". Pittsburgh Press. October 4, 1938. p. 23.
- ↑ Burcky, Claire M. (October 3, 1939). "Blood resigns as Pirate pro coach". Pittsburgh Press. p. 25.
- ↑ "Parker jinx again routs pro Pirates". Pittsburgh Press. November 7, 1939. p. 25.
- ↑ "Bucs-Brooklyn to play tonight". Pittsburgh Press. November 6, 1939. p. 22.
- ↑ "Lions stage an upset by defeating Giants". Owosso Argus-Press. (Michigan). Associated Press. November 6, 1939. p. 6.
- ↑ "Chicago Cardinals beat Detroit, 34-14". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 1, 1946. p. 9, part 2.
- ↑ "Rockets top Hawks, 20-7". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. November 12, 1946. p. 14.
- ↑ "Seahawks top Bisons again". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). United Press. November 19, 1946. p. 10.
- ↑ "Dons beat Hawks 34-21". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. November 26, 1946. p. 9.
- ↑ "Yanks swamp 'Hawks, 31-0". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. December 10, 1946. p. 10.
- ↑ "Boston Yanks, Giants battle to 7-7 deadlock". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. September 30, 1947. p. 15.
- ↑ Les Biederman, Les (September 30, 1947). "Steelers set 'record' in 48-7 defeat". Pittsburgh Press. p. 25.
- ↑ Kuechele, Oliver E. (October 5, 1948). "Chicago Bears roll over Cards before turnout of 52,765 fans". Milwaukee Journal. p. 9, part 2.
- ↑ "Chicago Bears trip Cardinal team". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. October 5, 1948. p. 18.
- ↑ "Tripp, Harder run wild as Cards win". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. September 27, 1949. p. 29.
- ↑ Kuechele, Oliver E. (September 27, 1949). "Cardinals roll over Redskins with display of power, 38-7". Milwaukee Journal. p. 9, part 2.
- ↑ "'Van Buren sets record, Eagles win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. October 4, 1949. p. 14.
- ↑ Sell, Jack (October 4, 1949). "'Skins rally beats Steelers, 27 to 14". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 14.
- ↑ Biederman, Les (October 4, 1949). "Baugh's aerials defeat Steelers, 27-14". Pittsburgh Press. p. 27.
- ↑ "Chicago Cards trounce Baltimore Colts, 55-13". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 3, 1950. p. 8, part 2.
- ↑ Sell, Jack (October 2, 1951). "Steelers, Giants tie, 13-13, in NL opener". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
- ↑ "Steelers battle Giants to 13-13 tied in opener". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 2, 1951. p. 6, part 2.
- ↑ Livingston, Pat (October 2, 1951). "Rought, tough Steelers please fans in 13-13 tie". Pittsburgh Press. p. 33.
- ↑ "Lions crush grid Yanks, 37-10". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. October 9, 1951. p. 18.
- ↑ "Lions take lead in NFL's National loop". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. October 9, 1951. p. 34.
- ↑ "Baugh put out of game; Redskins win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. September 30, 1952. p. 16.
- ↑ Sell, Jack (September 27, 1955). "Steelers beat Cardinals in last minute, 14-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
- ↑ Professional Sports Antitrust Bill - 1964: Hearings...88-2...Jan 30, 31; Feb. p. 341. Search this book on
- ↑ Rushin, Steve. The Caddie Was a Reindeer: And Other Tales of Extreme Recreation. Open Road + Grove/Atlantic. Search this book on
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
- ↑ Deninger, Dennis. Sports on Television: The How and Why Behind What You See. Routledge. p. 53. Search this book on
- ↑ Lea, Bud (September 28, 1964). "54,000 to see Pack, Lions". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3, part 2.
- ↑ Lea, Bud (September 29, 1964). "Packers whip stubborn Lions". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2, part 2.
- ↑ "Colts pin 47-27 loss on Cards grab lead". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. October 13, 1964. p. 2, part 2.
- ↑ "Cards beat Dallas for 4 way tie". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. October 5, 1965. p. 2, part 2.
- ↑ Troup, T.J. This Day in Football: A Day-By-Day Record of the Events That Shaped the Game. p. 26. Search this book on
- ↑ Cacchiotti, Ace. Gridiron Gumshoe: My Life in and out of the Nfl Films’ Vault. Taylor Trade Publications. p. 83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Roland stars as Cards shackle Bears, 24-17". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. November 1, 1966. p. 1, part 2.
- ↑ Amazing Mets Fan eBook Gift Set. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 26. Search this book on
- ↑ Lea, Bud (October 31, 1967). "Rookie sparks 31-23 Packer win". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ↑ "Chiefs hold off Oilers, win, 26-21". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 10, 1968. p. 1, part 2.
- ↑ "Smith's long run helps Rams win". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 17, 1968. p. 1, part 2.
- ↑ Lea, Bud (October 29, 1968). "Packers win, 28-17, tie for 1st". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ↑ "Colts unimpressive in 24-20 triumph". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 14, 1969. p. 3C.
- ↑ "No. 13 bad omen to Jet opponents". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 21, 1969. p. 2B.
- ↑ Freeman, Denne H. (October 28, 1969). "Dallas' Doomsday Defense decks, dejects N.Y." Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 26.
External links[edit]
- First Monday Night more football than flash
- The Halloween Connection – the NFL, Electric Football, and Monday Night Football
- From The PFW Archives – A Look at CBS’ 50th Anniversary of NFL Coverage
- Monday Night Football Was Born in Detroit in 1964
- October 21, 1934 : Detroit Lions Play First Night Game
- The forgotten history of Lions-Packers games on Monday night
- First Monday Night more football than flash
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- 1934 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1936 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1937 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1938 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1939 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1946 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1947 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1948 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1949 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1950 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1951 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1952 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1955 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1964 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1965 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1966 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1967 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1968 NFL Weekly League Schedule
- 1969 NFL Weekly League Schedule
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