The "Monday Night Football" doubleheader had been an opening-week staple on the schedule since 2006, as the late game (typically starting at 10:15 p.m. ET), featured West Coast teams. The Week 1 doubleheader was eliminated last year to feature a Week 18 doubleheader on the final Saturday of the regular season that included any team still fighting for a playoff spot or division title (both were flex games). That Saturday doubleheader will still be played in Week 18 under the new television contract.
In the new ESPN/ABC contract with the league, the annual "Monday Night Football" doubleheader was expected to make its return this season with a twist. ESPN will up its slate of games from 17 to 23 and will have three games exclusively on ABC in addition to games being played on ESPN -- so there will be three weeks of "Monday Night Football" doubleheaders in 2022 and each season after. ESPN will also have the right to flex a "Monday Night Football" matchup from Week 12 through Week 18. ESPN+ will also have an exclusive game, which will be one of the international games on the calendar.
