Why there are two ‘Monday Night Football’ games today, and how to catch them

(NEXSTAR) — What’s better than one Monday Night Football game? Two Monday Night Football games – at least that’s what the NFL thinks.

Unlike the first two weeks, the third week of the NFL season will conclude with the first Monday night doubleheader of the season. It will start with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking on the Buffalo Bills, then the Washington Commanders will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Why do football fans get to enjoy two games on a night traditionally reserved for a single prime-time matchup?

It all traces back to a 2021 deal between the NFL and ESPN, which brings more games to ESPN and its fellow Disney-owned network, ABC. This season marks the third in which ESPN and ABC have carried two games on Mondays.

Last year, strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists brought more Monday Night Football games to ABC than originally planned.

Before this agreement, NFL fans would

two games on a Monday if it was the first of the season.

For now, there are four weeks in which fans will get a Monday Night Football doubleheaders: this week, next week, Week 7, and Week 15.

The Week 3 matchups will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET with Jacksonville at Buffalo on ESPN followed by Washington at Cincinnati at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN+.

Next week, the Tennessee Titans at the Miami Dolphins will be the first Monday Night Football game, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by the Seattle Seahawks at the Detroit Lions at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN+.