Breaking Down the NFL's 2011 Monday Night Football Schedule

The 42nd season of Monday Night Football kicks off on September 12th.

Calling the games this season are play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski.

ESPN's Monday Night Football is the most-watched series in cable television history. There are plenty of great games scheduled this season that should once again draw in record ratings.

Here is your 2011 breakdown of the 2011 Monday Night Football schedule.

Preseason Schedule

(All times 8 p.m. Eastern)

Aug. 11: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers 

Aug. 15: New York Jets at Houston Texans 

Aug. 22: Chicago Bears at New York Giants 

Aug. 25: Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens 

Sept. 12th: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

Reason To Watch the Game

It's the first Monday night football game of the season, duh. It's also between two division rivals that almost always play each other close.

The Dolphins' tough defense has to show up in order for Miami to have a chance in this game. New England destroyed Miami 41-14 on Monday night and 38-17 in a meeting that was over before it started.

Let's hope this Monday night game is a lot like the one in 2004, when the margin of victory was one point.

Miami Dolphins lead the series (50-41)

Sept. 12th (10:15 p.m. ET): Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Reason To Watch the Game

At 10:15 at night, what else are you going to watch?

This is a doubleheader Monday night game, and a division game as well. The Broncos have lost five of the last seven games between these two teams.

With the rebuilding process, new coach and quarterback questions for Denver, the Broncos could end up losing the fourth game in a row to the Raiders.

Hopefully Tim Tebow is starting for Denver and we get to see him run over somebody.

Raiders lead the series (59-42-2)

Sept. 19th: St. Louis Rams at New York Giants

Reason To Watch the Game

This is a chance to watch up-and-comer Sam Bradford take on one of the best defenses in the league. Let's see just how good he really is.

The Rams look like they're the best team in the NFC West and are the only team in the division to have their quarterback of the future.

Problem is they still aren't that good yet. This will be a big test in front of all of America to see just how far they've come.

Rams lead the series (26-14)

Sept. 26th: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

Reason To Watch the Game

This is a division game between the Cowboys and Redskins in one of the greatest division rivalries the sport has to offer.

The Redskins may not be very competitive but these games are usually close regardless, although this game may get ugly with Dallas' passing game against the horrible Redskins secondary.

Is it possible we can get a flex schedule for this game?

Cowboys lead the series (60-40-2)

Oct. 3rd: Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reason To Watch the Game

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the surprise teams last season and Josh Freeman is growing up before our eyes. How will he match up against a great in Peyton Manning?

This could be one of the better games on the Monday Night Football schedule. Tampa Bay is one of those teams that doesn't do anything particularly well, but finds itself in every game and finds ways to win games.

There is also an NFL rule that anytime Peyton Manning is on TV you have to watch it. Look it up.

Colts lead the series (7-4)

Oct. 10th: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

Reason To Watch the Game

It's a division game that goes back to the 1930s, and both teams are on the rise.

Is this the year Matt Stafford can finally stay healthy? If so, the Lions have an offense that, on paper, could be extremely fun to watch.

The Bears have won the last six games against the Lions, but Detroit will want revenge for the controversial call last year involving Calvin Johnson.

Bears lead the series (93-64-5)

Oct. 17th: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Reason To Watch the Game

This is one of the most heated rivalries in the NFL. These two teams absolutely hate each other and it shows when they play. You always expect a hard-fought game when these two teams meet. 

This game could be all defense from both sides. Whichever team's quarterback makes the fewest mistakes will probably win this game.

New York Jets lead the series (47-43-1)

Oct. 24th: Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars

Reason To Watch the Game

Because there is nothing else on. This will probably be your first chance to see Blaine Gabbert as well.

Seriously though, the Jaguars are a team in transition with a rookie quarterback possibly going against one of the top defenses. This game could get ugly quick, as Maurice Jones-Drew won't be able to do everything.

Jacksonville leads the series (9-7)

Oct. 31th: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Reason To Watch the Game

This is a division game and it gives the Kansas City Chiefs a chance to show they're for real on a national stage.

The Chiefs offense, with Jamaal Charles, is probably the most electrifying in the entire NFL and is very fun to watch.

The Chargers have a pretty good offense as well, led by Philip Rivers.

This game could be a shootout.

Kansas City leads the series (51-50-1)

Nov. 7th: Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

Reason To Watch the Game

It's Michael Vick—what more convincing do you need?

This game should be very entertaining. The Eagles' high-powered offense against one of the top defenses in the Chicago Bears.

The Bears were able to limit Vick's running game and his arm wasn't enough to pull out a victory last year. This year it could be a different story.

Bears lead the series (29-11-1)

Nov. 14th: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Reason To Watch the Game

It's a division rivalry game that goes back to the 1960s. The game will feature the Super Bowl champs and Adrian Peterson.

With rookie quarterback Christian Ponder running the Vikings, just how competitive can they really be? A test against the defending champion Green Bay Packers will help find out.

Who knows? Maybe Brett Favre will make a last-second comeback.

Green Bay leads the series (51-48-1)

Nov. 21st: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

Reason To Watch the Game

There's Tom Brady, and then the exciting Chiefs offense.

Once again the Chiefs are a fun team to watch. This game will be a little different though, as Kansas City will try and control the game. Keeping Tom Brady off the field is the game plan here.

The problem is, that may still not be enough.

Chiefs lead the series (16-12-3)

Nov. 28th: New York Giants at New Orleans Saints

Reason To Watch the Game

This pits a great offense against great defense and includes Drew Brees.

A Monday night game in New Orleans is always a tough environment for opponents to play in. Eli Manning is going to have to limit his mistakes for the Giants to stay in this one.

Giants lead the series (14-11)

Dec. 5th: San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Reason To Watch the Game

Philip Rivers and the high-powered San Diego offense is always fun to watch.

How did Jacksonville get another Monday night game scheduled? Maybe the Jaguars stay in the game till halftime, but they simply don't have enough offensive weapons to keep up with the Chargers.

Series is tied (2-2)

Dec. 12th: St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Reason To Watch the Game

Sam Bradford? Seriously, that's all I have for this one.

Maybe this game will be for the NFC West title like it was last season. But if the game is anything like it was last year, count me out.

Seahawks lead the series (15-11)

Dec. 19th: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers

Reason To Watch the Game

The Steelers are always a fun team to watch, right?

Here is another Monday Night Football game that will probably result in a blowout. I'll give $5 to the person who can name the 49ers quarterback without looking it up.

49ers lead the series (10-9)

Dec. 26th: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

Reason To Watch the Game

It's a division game featuring two of the NFC's powerhouses and may have playoff implications as well.

Both games last season were won by a margin of three points. Both of these teams have Super Bowl potential.

They really saved one of the better games on the schedule for last.

Falcons lead the series (46-38)