These days, "Monday Night Football" does not necessarily carry the best matchup of NFL teams in a given week. Yet it doesn't seem to matter who's playing on "Monday Night Football," because based on TV ratings, fans are still seeking and finding the channel on which they can cap a weekend of pro football vieweing.
And in Week 2 of the 2019 season, those fans are being treated to a game between two teams desperate for a win. Both the Browns and the Jets lost last week, and for Cleveland in particular, the dreaded 0-2 hole to start the season would be an embarrassing development for a team that entered the year with such high expectations.
Of course, the numbers say the result of Monday night's Browns-Jets game isn't necessarily a great indicator for either team's playoff outlook this season. Since NFL realignment in 2002, 126 of the 204 playoff teams (61.8 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including 10 teams last season, the most since 2002, and six division champions.
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While Cleveland enters this game at relatively full strength, New York is being forced to play without starting quarterback Sam Darnold, who was ruled out with a mono illness. That's why the point spread jumped to 6 1/2 points in favor of the Browns on Thursday shortly after Darnold's condition was announced.
The Browns-Jets game will feature ESPN's traditional "Monday Night Football" broadcast crew for 2019: Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland in the booth with Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.
Below is everything you need to know about the NFL's "Monday Night Football" game to close Week 2, including the kickoff time, TV channel and more.
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Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight?
The Jets, playing without the aforementioned Darnold, will host the Browns at MetLife Stadium on Monday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
This is something of a homecoming for Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was traded to Cleveland this year after spending his first five NFL seasons in New York playing for the Giants. While Beckham is part of the reason SN picked the Browns to beat the Jets on Monday, anything the receiver does on the field might be overshadowed by the story of his watch.
Though the Browns lead the all-time series against the Jets, 13-12, New York has won five of its last six games against Cleveland. That Browns win, of course, came last season when quarterback Baker Mayfield led a second-half comeback off the bench.
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What channel is Monday Night Football on?
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN app
ESPN (and ABC) has been the home for "Monday Night Football" since its inception in 1970. You can find a live stream for MNF games at ESPN.com or by downloading the ESPN app.
"Monday Night Football" is the only prime-time NFL broadcast with a new crew in 2019. Gone is Jason Witten, who decided to rejoin the Cowboys after a year of retirement in the broadcast booth. Replacing Witten in the booth is Booger McFarland, who joins Joe Tessitore after spending last season as a sideline analyst.
Lisa Salters is back for her eighth season as a sideline reporter, while John Perry joins the crew as its new officiating analyst.
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Monday Night Football TV schedule 2019
All "Monday Night Football" games start at 8:15 p.m. ET unless otherwise noted.
| Week 1 | Sept. 9 | Texans at Saints (7 p.m. ET) |
| Sept. 9 | Broncos at Raiders (10:15 p.m. ET) | |
| Week 2 | Sept. 16 | Browns at Jets |
| Week 3 | Sept. 23 | Bears at Redskins |
| Week 4 | Sept. 30 | Bengals at Steelers |
| Week 5 | Oct. 7 | Browns at 49ers |
| Week 6 | Oct. 14 | Lions at Packers |
| Week 7 | Oct. 21 | Patriots at Jets |
| Week 8 | Oct. 28 | Dolphins at Steelers |
| Week 9 | Nov. 4 | Cowboys at Giants |
| Week 10 | Nov. 11 | Seahawks at 49ers |
| Week 11 | Nov. 18 | Chiefs at Chargers |
| Week 12 | Nov. 25 | Ravens at Rams |
| Week 13 | Dec. 2 | Vikings at Seahawks |
| Week 14 | Dec. 9 | Giants at Eagles |
| Week 15 | Dec. 16 | Colts at Saints |
| Week 16 | Dec. 23 | Packers at Vikings |