Monday Night Football tonight is an interesting matchup between two teams trying to hang on to playoff spots. With the playoff picture beginning to solidify, this is a must-win game for both squads. Who is playing, what time does the game start, how can you watch it, and what are the current odds?
Who Plays on Monday Night Football Tonight?
Teams
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals
Location
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Monday Night Football tonight will showcase the New England Patriots as they travel to Glendale to take on the Arizona Cardinals. Both of these teams have lost two in a row and need to get a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive.
If you rewind to a few weeks ago, the Patriots were slotted into a Wild Card spot and looking to compete for the AFC East crown with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. Now, they are barely “in the hunt,” and questions are starting to surround quarterback Mac Jones and even head coach Bill Belichick.
The Patriots are an abysmal 24th in the league in scoring, and their red-zone efficiency has been laughable. However, the highlight of their team has been their defense.
New England is ninth against the pass and seventh in total defense. However, if they want to get a win this week, that defense is going to need to figure out how to stop a mobile QB, something they have struggled with this season.
MORE: Mobile Quarterbacks Evolution
Meanwhile, Arizona technically still has a chance to make the playoffs, but it is beyond slim. The NFC West is already out of the picture thanks to Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers, but with the conference incredibly weak this year, this four-win Cardinals team could still technically make some noise.
However, in order to do so, they are going to need to win this Monday Night Football game tonight. With questions surrounding the future of HC Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona is going to need to rely on what they do best to try to get back into the win column.
And what does this team do best? Well, they can stop the run. They currently rank 11th in the league at stopping the run, which will come in handy against a Patriots team that loves to run the ball.
The Cardinals are also going to need to be better offensively. They’re 20th in scoring offense and only 17th in passing.
PFN’s Betting Director BJ Rudell broke down this game when giving out his Week 14 picks and predictions.
“There are 20 or more reasons to take New England to win and cover. The 4-8 Cardinals? Not so much. But the 6-6 Patriots are in trouble. Tough matchups against the Bengals, Dolphins, and Bills loom. This Arizona game arguably is their easiest remaining on the schedule.
Yet, the Cards have had DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown on the field together for only one game. Rookie Trey McBride will only get better, James Conner is healthy, and Kyler Murray remains one of the NFL’s best rushing QBs. Aside from missing Zach Ertz, this is one of the best teams the Cardinals could have hoped to field in Week 14.
It surely will be a tough battle. The Pats’ defense is legit. While the Cards’ defense is not, their offense is . . . or at least can be now that they’re almost fully charged. I like Arizona eking out the win.”
What Time Is Monday Night Football Tonight?
Date: Dec. 12, 2022
Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
With Monday Night Football tonight being on ESPN, the announcers you can expect to hear are Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters on the call.
TV Channel and Live Stream for Monday Night Football
TV channels: ESPN
Live stream: DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV
Want to stream NFL games at home or on the go this season? Check out fuboTV, a streaming platform that provides you with live sports across multiple devices. Additionally, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to live stream NFL games.