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Ravens-Chargers moves onto list of Monday night matchups that lost their luster

Sport

Ravens-Chargers moves onto list of Monday night matchups that lost their luster
Sport

Sport

Ravens-Chargers moves onto list of Monday night matchups that lost their luster

2026-11-16 02:47 Last Updated At:03:00

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — “Monday Night Football” has long been one of the NFL's great showcases — most of the time.

Occasionally, a game that looked good on the schedule before the season becomes a dud by the time it's played.

Consider this Monday's matchup: the Los Angeles Chargers at the Baltimore Ravens. Chargers coach John Harbaugh vs. his former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Justin Herbert vs. Lamar Jackson. Two teams expected to make noise in the AFC this season.

At least, that's what it was supposed to be.

Instead, Los Angeles is 0-8 and Baltimore (4-5) has lost four straight games. Jackson is on injured reserve with a thumb injury.

“The past is the past. You can’t change anything about that,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. “But it’s about the present and how you approach every day, so when we go out there, we have the right mindset.”

The Chargers are actually on an 11-game losing streak going back to last season. So the teams have combined for 15 straight defeats, a record for a Monday night game, according to Sportradar.

Here's a look at the other longest combined losing streaks for teams playing on “Monday Night Football.”

The good news: These were all one-score games, so there's still a chance Ravens-Chargers could be interesting.

Miami was 0-10 and had lost 13 straight overall entering this matchup, but the Dolphins had a chance to win thanks to weather so bad the national anthem was skipped as the NFL rushed to get the game started. The host Steelers won on a field goal with 17 seconds left — the first time in 64 years a game went scoreless that long.

Las Vegas had dropped nine in a row before this defeat — but that odd final score doesn't mean there weren't any touchdowns. Atlanta managed a touchdown, a safety and two field goals. Las Vegas had a field goal and a late TD after which the extra point was blocked. Kirk Cousins threw for 112 yards for the Falcons in the win.

Houston won its division in 1993 and the Giants went 11-5 plus a playoff victory. So this could have been an exciting interconference matchup, but by late November everything had fallen apart for these teams. This game was Jeff Fisher's coaching debut after the Oilers fired Jack Pardee. Billy Joe Tolliver played quarterback for Houston. Kent Graham came on for New York after QB Dave Brown left with a concussion. David Treadwell's field goal with 2 seconds left won it.

The Jets had lost eight in a row and the Patriots four, but the two teams put on a decent enough show in primetime. Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes and helped New York to a 27-17 lead before a fourth-quarter rally by New England. Nick Folk won it with a 51-yard field goal on the final play. Jakobi Meyers had 12 catches for 169 yards for the Patriots.

These NFC East rivals met with the Giants on an eight-game skid. The Eagles had dropped three in a row, but this victory started a four-game winning streak that enabled them to win the division at 9-7. Carson Wentz threw a pair of late touchdown passes to Zach Ertz — one to tie it and one to win it in overtime. Philadelphia nearly doubled New York in time of possession.

— The Giants and Minnesota were a combined 1-10 in 2013 before New York earned its first win of the season, 23-7.

— Washington and Dallas were both 0-4 in 2001 and gave the viewing audience a quarterback matchup of Tony Banks vs. Anthony Wright. The Cowboys won 9-7.

— Baltimore was 4-9 and Green Bay was 3-10 entering their matchup in 2005. The Ravens won 48-3, with Kyle Boller outplaying both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Logan during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Logan during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, left, tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Fagnano (12) during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, left, tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Fagnano (12) during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Sunday began in a strange fashion for Don Willard.

About an hour before kickoff in Indianapolis, he did the traditional microphone check and then he handled the coin toss — duties typically reserved for referees. Willard usually works NFL games as a side judge.

But there was nothing normal about this weekend after the Federal Aviation Association called for a nationwide ground stoppage Friday. The stoppage caused consternation and chaos for professional and college teams throughout the country and even included moving at least one college football game from Saturday to Sunday.

NFL officials audibled by reassigning game officials for this week's matchups to stadiums closer to cities where they reside so they could drive, and Willard was asked to take over as the lead ref for the Miami Dolphins-Indianapolis Colts game as well as the Sunday night game in Cincinnati between the Bengals-Steelers.

Willard isn't the only one doing double duty Sunday.

When the early game ends, Willard and three members of his day crew — umpire Terry Killens, field judge Jabir Walker and side judge Justin Larrew — will jump in a minibus and make the two-hour drive down I-74 to work Sunday night's Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals game. It's the first time this officiating crew has worked together.

League officials did not make any of the four officials working double duty available to the media before Sunday's early game.

The Miami Dolphins did not have any travel issues, a team spokesman said.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Referee Don Willard watches a play during the first half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Referee Don Willard watches a play during the first half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Referee Don Willard walks on the field during warmups ahead of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Referee Don Willard walks on the field during warmups ahead of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Referee Don Willard officiates during the first half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Referee Don Willard officiates during the first half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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