Patriots Week 16: Pats close out MNF

Turn out the lights, the party's over, they say that all good things must end...That's right it is the end of Monday Night Football on network television. One of the longest running shows in the history of TV will end tonight as the Patriots take on the Jets in New Jersey.

The show was a cultural phenomenon when it first debut in 1970 and throughout the decade and it changed the way sports were shown on television.

Some of the moments in the show's history that UB thinks of when he looks back includes a game between the Miami Dolphins and Patriots when Howard Cosell broke the news of John Lennon's murder and when Cosell got drunk during a broadcast in Philadelphia. He actually had to be removed from the broadcast in the middle of the game. Too funny. The greatest game in Monday Night Football history for many was when the Dolphins defeated the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, and their 46 defense, in 1985. It was the Bears only loss of the season.

Since then the show has become more watered down, with Al Michaels being the constant, changing partners that have included Dennis Miller and most recently John Madden "boom"! Frank Gifford was a mainstay from the early days with Cosell, but was removed after having an affair and the woman appeared in Playboy.

As for tonight's game the Pats have already clinched the division but are fighting for a #3 seed, not that it appears to make too much of a difference. The Jets on the other hand have 3 wins and will most likely mail it in...The last time the Jets beat the Patriots was in December 2002. So expect a huge MNF retrospective, rather than much of a game. Although Monday Night Football has always been known for their surprises...

TO, your thoughts...