Who plays on Monday Night Football? Breaking down Week 11 matchup

Posted by Admin November 18, 2024 Football

Spread the love

Jerry Jones has to be feeling lucky heading into Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season. Not because his Dallas Cowboys are preparing for any sort of playoff run, but because they are playing on “Monday Night Football.”

Jones made a big stink when Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb complained about the glare caused by the setting sun at Dallas’ home stadium. The All-Pro receiver lost a potential touchdown catch in the sun against the Philadelphia Eagles and stated that he was “1,000 percent” in favor of putting curtains over the windows.

Jones scoffed at the notion and insisted that the problem was being overblown.

“By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we decide to flip the coin or not,” Jones said. “We do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium.

“Everybody has got the same thing. Every team that comes in here has the same issues.”

Those issues won’t be prevalent during Dallas’ Monday night game, which could help Jones avoid boiling over again during a frustrating Cowboys season.

Here’s what to know for tonight’s “Monday Night Football” game:

Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight?

In Week 11, the Cowboys (3-6) will play host to the Texans (6-4) on “Monday Night Football.”

Dallas’ season is spiraling away. They have lost four consecutive games and must roll with Cooper Rush and Trey Lance at quarterback with Dak Prescott (hamstring) out for the season. The team’s running game is the second-worst in the NFL (83.6 yards per game), so that will prevent Rush and Lance from getting the support needed to spark the offense.

As a result, the Cowboys will need to rely on their defense to keep them in this game. The good news is that Micah Parsons has returned and the Texans are giving up 3.5 sacks per game, which is third-most in the NFL. That should give Dallas at least a chance to slow down C.J. Stroud and Co. and make this a defensive battle.

Still, it’s hard to believe the Cowboys will successfully limit the Texans’ offense. Nico Collins is expected to return from a five-week absence due to a hamstring injury, and Stroud has been significantly better with him in the lineup. That could awaken Houston’s vertical passing game while Joe Mixon takes advantage of a Dallas defense that is allowing 152.1 rushing yards per game, second-most in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Texans have one of the NFL’s strongest pass rushes (2.9 sacks per game, 8th-most in the NFL). That should allow them to significantly limit Dallas’ possessions and force Rush into some turnovers, so don’t be surprised if the Cowboys endure another rough outing without Prescott.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

Date: Monday, Nov. 18
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET in Week 11. It will be 7:15 p.m. locally in Dallas when the contest kicks off.

ESPN’s Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (game analyst) will call the game on ESPN. Lisa Salters will continue to serve as the broadcast’s main sideline reporter. She may be joined by Laura Rutledge, who has sometimes filled in for Salters during the 2024 NFL season and worked in tandem with her.

Pre and post-game analysis for “Monday Night Football” will occur in the ESPN studio with analysts Adam Schefter, Alex Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, and Jason Kelce.

What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight?

As usual, ESPN carries “Monday Night Football” in Week 11. The network will also broadcast the game on ABC, giving more viewers a way to access the contest

Fans who prefer to stream football games can watch “MNF” with an ESPN+ subscription or with Fubo, which offers a seven-day free trial.

Stream Monday Night Football with a Fubo subscription

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.