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In the current NFL season, a notable trend has been the scheduling of multiple Monday night games simultaneously, a strategy that has been increasingly visible since 2022. This change stems from a comprehensive media rights agreement solidified by the NFL in early 2021, which expanded the league’s broadcast schedule, including partnerships with long-standing networks and new digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video. This agreement enhanced Disney’s content offerings by increasing the number of games broadcasted on ESPN and ABC to 23, up from the previous 17.
The inception of multiple games on Monday nights began with a doubleheader in the second week of the 2022 season. The trend continued into 2023, which included a trio of games on the Christmas Day lineup in Week 16. This year, the pattern persists with four weeks designated for these doubleheaders.
The sequence of games includes matchups such as the Jacksonville Jaguars versus the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders against the Cincinnati Bengals, both aligning on the same evening. Other noteworthy games include the Tennessee Titans facing the Miami Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks playing the Detroit Lions, both scheduled for September 30.
As the season progresses, additional doubleheaders are planned, such as the Baltimore Ravens against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a subsequent game featuring the Los Angeles Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals. The latter half of the season will culminate with the Chicago Bears meeting the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the Atlanta Falcons in mid-December.
Broadcast logistics for these games are meticulously planned, with different games airing on ABC, ESPN, and exclusively on ESPN+ for certain matches like the Chargers-Cardinals game in Week 7.
This strategic scheduling approach not only maximizes viewer engagement by offering more content but also leverages the extensive media network partnerships to enhance the viewership experience, ensuring fans have access to more live football than ever before.
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