 While the NFL moved to a 16-week schedule in 1978, Meredith was contractually obligated to work only 14 games, leaving Cosell and Gifford to work games as a duo or with newly retired Fran Tarkenton beginning in 1979.From 1977 to 1986, ABC also aired occasional NFL games on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights.Each of these telecasts would be billed by the network as a "Special Thursday/Saturday/Sunday Night Edition of "Monday Night Football"".