Ah, Monday Night Football.

The memories.

Is it still special?

There are some of us who go back to the Frank Gifford -Don Meredith-Howard Cosell days.

Then the Al Michaels-John Madden days.

Heaven help the kids who had to watch the Booger Mobile days.

“Cosell, Meredith, Gifford,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the other day. “Saw of lot of that. Monday night highlights, that was big … That was kind of your olnly chance to see what the hightlights from the weekend were. It was always ckind of a thing to be home Monday night by halftime.”

And because the game started in those days at 9 p.m. eastern, it was around 10:30. Watch the highlights, then bed. “If,” Belichick said, “you could make it that long.”

Of course there was a time so many years ago when Foxborough was banned from having MNF. Last year there were no Monday Night games at Gillette; the last one was with an empty stadium during the height of the pandemic in late December of 2020. Good thing, it was a blowout of the Bills.

But the younger Patriots still say they look forward to playing on Monday night.

“Oh yeah, no doubt” that’s wone of the reasons you want to come to the NFL, Monday Night, Sunday Night, you’ve got the theme music coming in,” Jalen Mills said.

“Absolutely,” Harris said. “You grew up watching those Monday night games, and dream of having the opportunity to do that one day. The opportunity is here.”

Ah, but those days on ABC, when the nation was glued to the TV.

“Certainly put a lot of excitement into Monday night,” Belichick said, “that wasn’t there before.”

However, this game may not do that, although it will have New Englanders changing their schedule to either be at Gillette or watch. If at home, it may be a way to fall asleep, and here’s why:

PATRIOTS 30, BEARS 6

Really, while Chicago’s running game is good – second best in the NFL – its passing game with Justin Fields is terrible. This ain’t college, kid, sometimes you have to look off your receivers. No matter who Monday night’s Patriots QB is, defense will add to the scoring. 4-3 there they go.

JETS 17, BRONCOS 6

Russell Wilson is out for the Broncos; that may be a good thing for Denver, right? Except it’s not Mark Rypien who will be QBing, it’s his nephew. He went into the season with a career passer rating of 61.1. J-E-T-S. Sets up a good one next week in Joisey.

TITANS 27, COLTS 17

Matt Ryan and Indy have underperformed; they aren’t playing Jacksonville or Arizona this week. The Titans, coming off a bye, will shake off the rust, control the ball and the game.

BUCS 30, PANTHERS 3

It’s a feel good week for Tom Brady, who can’t seem to help himself with his comments and dissatisfaction with, well, life. Remember that Tom Brady who had a little too much to drink at that Super Bowl celebration nearly two years ago? Yikes. He should at least crack a smile after an easy wi n over a team in the midst of a fire sale.

PACKERS 23, COMMANDERS 6

Yikes, there aren’t any good, competitive all-NFC games this week. Another great QB who doesn’t have much around him should be happy after today. Aaron Rodgers, take a bow. But don’t get used to it. Your team is not the best one in the NFC North anymore, but it’s good enough to beat another bad team in your conference.

CHIEFS 24, NINERS 17

Really, Niners? All those draft picks for a running back, and one that gets hurt a lot at that? Eventually, these draft trades are going to cost SF general manager John Lynch his job. Chiefs need a bounce-back win after last week’s loss, and they’ll get it. But the Niners’ defense won’t make it easy.

JAGUARS 27, GIANTS 13

The surprising G-Men have been well coached, but this year the Jags are, too, and they have the better QB. Trevor Lawrence picks the New York secondary apart and it’s back to earth for Big Blue.

LAST WEEK: 2-5

SEASON: 22-20

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).