| | Thursday, August 29, 2002
MNF History: 1970
ABC Sports Online
The period of 1969-70 was a time of great change in the National Football League. The New York Jets became the first American Football League team to win the Super Bowl, and the NFL recognized the Super Bowl title as a result. The following year, the AFL and NFL officially merged, creating a unified, 26-team league.
At the same time, Monday Night Football was created and ABC acquired the rights. The original agreement was for ABC to televise 13 games in 1970, '71 and '72, and was widely regarded as an experiment that would lead to the network's demise.
The New York Jets played against the Cleveland Browns in the first-ever Monday Night game -- the embodiment of the merger coupled with the star power of Joe Namath being placed in the spotlight. Browns owner Art Modell refused to attend the game, but upwards of 80,000 rabid fans, as well as a curious television audience, watched the Browns defeat Joe Namath's Jets 31-21.
But the program was about more than the game. Producer Roone Arledge changed the way the NFL was presented on television, most notably with the three-man announcing booth that included Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and the controversial Howard Cosell.
Today, MNF is a cultural staple and continues to be innovative in its presentation of the games. Below begins an archive of the results of every Monday Night game ever played.
Home team in CAPS
*Denotes record
| MNF results: 1970 |
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Date
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Result
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Sept. 21, 1970*
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CLEVELAND 31, N.Y. Jets 21
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Sept. 28, 1970*
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Kansas City 44, BALTIMORE 24
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Oct. 5, 1970
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DETROIT 28, Chicago 14
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Oct. 12, 1970
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Green Bay 22, SAN DIEGO 20
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Oct. 19, 1970*
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OAKLAND 34, Washington 20
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Oct. 26, 1970
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MINNESOTA 13, Los Angeles 3
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Nov. 2, 1970
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PITTSBURGH 21, Cincinnati 10
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Nov. 9, 1970
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Baltimore 13, GREEN BAY 10
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Nov. 16, 1970*
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St. Louis 38, DALLAS 0
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Nov. 23, 1970
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PHILADELPHIA 23, N.Y. Giants 20
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Nov. 30, 1970
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Miami 20, ATLANTA 7
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Dec. 7, 1970
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Cleveland 21, HOUSTON 10
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Dec.14, 1970
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Detroit 28, LOS ANGELES 23
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Top performances in inaugral season:
*Homer Jones of the Browns returned the second-half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 21.
*George Sauer caught 10 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in a losing cause for the Jets on Sept. 21.
*Johhny Robinson of the Chiefs intercepted three passes on Sept. 28. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown.
*Len Dawson threw four TD passes for the Chiefs on Sept. 28.
*Hewritt Dixon rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown for the Raiders on Oct. 19.
*The Cowboys were stopped twice within the 10-yard line in MNF's first shutout.
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