Game 1 - Packers vs. Vikings - Monday, Sept. 8 - 6 PM CDT

[aaprigs311]

MINNESOTA (0-0) at GREEN BAY (0-0)
Monday, Sept. 8 | Lambeau Field | 6 p.m. CDT



WITH THE CALL

-ESPN enters its third season as host of the most successful series in sports television history, Monday Night Football. Play-by-play man Mike Tirico is joined by analysts Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser for the 39th season of MNF broadcasts.

-The contest also will air as a simulcast locally on WBAY (Ch. 2) in Green Bay and WISN (Ch. 12) in Milwaukee.



INJURY REPORT

Probable: Bigby, Clifton, KGB, Grant, Thompson, White
Questionable: Hawk, Peprah, Wells
Doubtful/Out: James Jones, Josh Sitton





vs.




A MATCHUP OF YOUNG QUARTERBACKS

-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a mainstay in the headlines this offseason as he becomes the first quarterback not named Favre to start under center for Green Bay in nearly 16 years.

-Don Majkowski started for the Packers against the Bengals on Sept. 20, 1992, and 253 games later, Rodgers gets the nod.

-The last Packers quarterback not named Favre to start at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football? It was Lynn Dickey, who led the club to a 12-9 overtime victory over Tampa Bay on Dec. 12, 1983.

-While Rodgers is slated to start his first game under center, it's not as if he's new to the NFL. Rodgers is entering his fourth year in the NFL - his third in Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense - and is already among the most tenured players in the locker room. Of the 53-man roster, only nine have been in Green Bay longer than Rodgers.

-In his first preseason as the starter, Rodgers proved to be both accurate (68.5% completion rate) and efficient (103.6 rating).

-On Monday night, the fourth-year pro will be competing against a quarterback equally as young. Third-year Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson is slated to make his 15th career start on Monday night.


THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES

-These two longtime divisional rivals - seperated by some 280 miles down Highway 29 - square off for the 95th time in the history of the rivalry.

-Few, if any, rivalries in sports have exhibited more parity. The Packers own a slight advantage over the Vikings (48-45-1, including playoffs) in the all-time series.

-The teams have met five times previously on Monday Night Football, with the Vikings holding a 3-2 edge, winning the most recent MNF contest on Nov. 21, 2005 (20-17). The MNF series includes Antonio Freeman's famous deflected overtime TD catch in 2000 at Lambeau Field.

-Last season's 34-0 shutout by the Packers was the first blanking by either team in their 94 meetings.

-The Packers look for their first five-game winning streak in the series since the 1983-85 seasons.

-The series began when the Vikings entered the league in 1961, and Vince Lombardi's Packers won the first six meetings and nine of the first 10.

-Over the last 14 seasons (1994-2007), these teams have accounted for 10 NFC Central/North division championships.

[MadCityBucky]

Go Pack Go!

Make Brad Childress 0-5 versus the Pack.

27-21 Packers

[aaprigs311]

Anyone else going to the game?

[El Duderino]

Anyone else going to the game?

I'm not, but my mom got big time lucky

A salesman who buys from my mom's company had his father die a few months ago and i think he was on that executive committee, he had 3rd or 4th row seats right behind the Packers bench where i guess many Packer wives sit. The salesman gave my mom a set of seats for the game, she so excited and i'm envious.

I've attended about 15 games or so over the years, but never had seats like that.

[MickeyDavis]

I hate the Queens and I can't stand Chilly.

[Neusch23]

I will be at the game

[mnstinks]

Anyone else going to the game?

I will be there in my club level seats

[aaprigs311]

Anyone else going to the game?

I'm not, but my mom got big time lucky

A salesman who buys from my mom's company had his father die a few months ago and i think he was on that executive committee, he had 3rd or 4th row seats right behind the Packers bench where i guess many Packer wives sit. The salesman gave my mom a set of seats for the game, she so excited and i'm envious.

I've attended about 15 games or so over the years, but never had seats like that.

Last season I got lucky and sat second row behind the Packer bench for the Viking game. Bubba Franks was drunk downtown the night before and gave his brothers tickets away to some chick I knew. I still ended up sitting next to his brother and behind the Hawks. There was like an entire milf section to my left. When the game was on commercial break I always had something to look at.

[Thunder Muscle]

Nice Bubba Franks story, lol. I won't be going, I've browsed eBay for the past week and couldn't find anything that I was willing to pay. I maybe would've went $80 tops and I most are still going for above that. I think a few ended up going for $90/ticket, which was the cheapest I've seen. But I think I'll watched this one from home.

I am anxious for the start and new era. I am concerned with the injuries, otherwise I think this could be a special team. Whatever the case its going to be a wild ride of a year, for better or worse.

GO PACK!

[Mags FTW]

Ahhhhhh! I can't wait anymore! Having to watch other teams all day is only increasing my bloodlust!

Rush hour traffic from 5:00-6:00 is probably going to be really bad.

[mnstinks]

Getting ready for the drive to Lambeau...can't wait!

[mnstinks]

Damn, looks like cool weather and rain tonight...plays well into the Vikings game plan (run, run, run).

[notoriousTJ11]

If the weather is cool and wet I gotta go with the Vikes because their run game and run defense is much superior to ours. AP and Taylor are much superior to Grant and Jackson, while Pickett hasn't played a down this year yet and the Williams' are the best run stuffing duo in the game.

[LUKE23]

I actually think the Vikings take this one, in a close one. It's just a bad combination of opponent given our issues on the offensive line. I think if Rodgers is given time, he will pick the Vikes secondary apart, but I think there will be defenders in the backfield all night, causing issues. Grant won't be a factor, given the Vikings DL strength and the fact he hasn't even played a down yet.

The D is going to have to play amazing tonight to win, IMO.

[BuckFan25226]

I am concerned about this one as well. I just can't see us containing Peterson.

With that being said, bring the house and let Woodson and Harris on an island and make Jackson beat you. Easier said that done though.

[notoriousTJ11]

If I'm Bob Sanders I put 8 in the box every 1st and 2nd down and force their hand. Berrian is a good play maker, but Jackson has to get him the ball and I'd make them prove they can do that rather than get scorched on the ground.

[Kerb Hohl]

If I'm Bob Sanders I put 8 in the box every 1st and 2nd down and force their hand. Berrian is a good play maker, but Jackson has to get him the ball and I'd make them prove they can do that rather than get scorched on the ground.

That should and probably will be the strategy, however I have had nightmares the past few nights thinking about Collins being the only safety valve in that situation for when they go play action and huck it deep.

[aaprigs311]

Play action is a big part of the Vikes offense. Berrian is the type of speed receiver that we gotta be careful with. I see fumbling playing an important role tonight. It's gonna be sloppy. Fewest turnovers wins the game.

[trwi7]

Inactives announced.

Scott Wells
James Jones
Jermichael Finley
Charlie Peprah
Pat Lee
Jeremy Thompson
Josh Sitton

[LUKE23]

Missing Jones hurts. I like the 5 WR set vs. the Vikings secondary. Martin and Nelson need to make a few plays tonight.

Moll at guard scares the hell out of me, the guy sucks worse than Tony Gwynn, Jr.