Fatman Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Vikings-Packers to open on Monday night March 31st, 2008 – 10:38 AM by Judd Zulgad The NFL will announce this afternoon that the Vikings will play the Green Bay Packers in the Monday night opener at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 on ESPN, according to an industry source. As has become the custom, it will be the first game of a Monday night doubleheader on the network. The game is expected to be played at Lambeau Field and will be the first for the Packers in the post-Brett Favre era. (Do you think there will be a little talk about Favre that night?) The Vikings also played on the opening Monday night of the 2006 season when they beat Washington in Brad Childress’ first game as head coach. Last season, the Vikings made only one Monday night appearance. That came Dec. 17 at the Metrodome. Of course, the 2007 schedule was done long before Adrian Peterson proved himself to be one of the NFL’s top running backs and marquee attractions. Overall, the Vikings finished with two prime-time games last season. The Dec. 23 matchup against Washington was moved to Sunday night on NBC under the league’s flexible scheduling system. For those of you who live in the Twin Cities area and don’t get ESPN, you don’t have to worry. Under NFL rules, the network must find a local station to simulcast the coverage. It’s likely that station will be KSTP (Ch. 5). The NFL won’t announce its entire schedule today but rather just key dates associated with the opening week. This will include the opener on Thursday, Sept. 4, along with the Sept. 7 national and Sunday night games. News about the plans for the opening game on Thursday night broke last week. That matchup will involve the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and Washington Redskins and is expected to start around 6 p.m. to avoid any conflict with the Republican National Convention. This will be the sixth time the Vikings have opened against the Packers. A look at their previous meetings in season openers: Sept. 16, 1962: Packers 34, Vikings 7 at Green Bay (Vikings finished 2-11-1) Sept. 15, 1974: Vikings 32, Packers 17 at Green Bay (Vikings finished 10-4) Sept. 6, 1992: Vikings 23, Packers 20, overtime, at Green Bay (Vikings finished 11-5 in Dennis Green’s first season) Sept. 4, 1994: Packers 16, Vikings 10 at Green Bay (Vikings finished 10-6) Sept. 7, 2003: Vikings 30, Packers 25 at Green Bay (Vikings finished 9-7) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I love Favre as much as the next Packers fan, but I can already predict that the commentary will end up being unlistenable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I love Favre as much as the next Packers fan, but I can already predict that the commentary will end up being unlistenable... I may have to listen to local radio if there is not a time delay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 So the league managed to get the game into warmer weather? I'm surprised that they didn't move DAL playing at GB into that slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturphy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I love Favre as much as the next Packers fan, but I can already predict that the commentary will end up being unlistenable... OMG you are correct. The pregame, halftime, and postgame will be excruciating as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 So the league managed to get the game into warmer weather? I'm surprised that they didn't move DAL playing at GB into that slot. Adrian Peterson...It could be winner gets the divsion. The second game has the Broncos playing the Raiders. Wow that's quite a matchup as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 The second game has the Broncos playing the Raiders. Wow that's quite a matchup as well. How so? A fight for a projected top 10 draft pick in 2009? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 CHI at IND for the opening SNF game. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=393777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturphy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 How so? A fight for a projected top 10 draft pick in 2009? I always gravitate to watching AFC West games at the Black hole. Not sure what it is exactly, sort of a good vs. evil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE SIX KINGS Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Let the Aaron Rodgers era begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 CHI at IND for the opening SNF game. I suppose this might be premature but................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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