Vikes get ESPN Monday opener

[IFallsRon]

The Vikings will play the first-ever regular-season Monday night game on ESPN, according to league sources.

An announcement will be made later today that the Vikings will play Washington at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 at FedEx Field in the first game of a doubleheader. Oakland will visit San Diego at 9:15 p.m. in the second game.

ESPN will take over the rights to Monday night football from Disney cousin ABC. ESPN had previously had the rights to Sunday night NFL games.

The Sept. 11 game will be the first for the Vikings under new coach Brad Childress. The NFL also is expected to announce that the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers will play host to the Miami Dolphins in the Thursday night season-opener on Sept. 7. That game will be carried by NBC.

Former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper could be the Dolphins quarterback that night, assuming he has recovered from the three torn ligaments he suffered in his right knee last season.

[cybermuskie]

I think it sucks having MNF on ESPN now. I work road construction and I don't get those channels in my camper! Isn't the NFL network carring some games also. Seems like they are making it harder to watch a game.

[TNFL]

All Vikings games played on Monday Night should also be available on channel 5.

[Down to Earth]

If the NFL really wanted a story line they should have matched MN @ Miami for that first Monday nighter. One thing I won't have to worry about this year is watching the Packers on Monday night. They'll be lucky to get a Sunday Nighter.

I agree with you though Cybermuskie. I wish it would have stayed on a non-cable channel as well. Kinda stinks that they moved it over to ESPN. Oh well, guess I'll have to up my cable package to include ESPN now.

[Down to Earth]

Good point TNFL. I forgot they do that. They always did that for the Sunday night games. Are full schedules getting released today or just the prime time schedule?

[cybermuskie]

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All Vikings games played on Monday Night should also be available on channel 5.

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I don't get channel 5 Duluth and points North of there. Guess I will have to surf and see, or just get a dish for the camper!

[TNFL]

Do you get ABC?

[cybermuskie]

Depends where I am at,but sometimes. I will just have to see when the time comes. Thanks

[buzzsaw]

Ahhhh, Monday night football in High Def on the 42' Plasma will be saaweeeet!!

[JIvers]

The NFL released only five early games as a teaser; the full NFL schedule will be released in April.

The NFL Network is carrying eight NFL regular season games beginning on Thanksgiving, when the NFL is adding a third game featuring the Chiefs. Kansas City played Thanksgiving home games during the AFL era, so this move is being justified in the name of tradition. Whether Kansas City will keep the third Thanksgiving Day game remains to be seen. The other NFL Network games are on Saturday or Thursday nights.

Like probably everyone else on this site, save those of you who subscribe to dish networks, I have never even watched the NFL Network, since my cable company does not carry it. By this November, I suspect the NFL Network will be carried by many more cable companies than is now the case, which is why they spent big $$$ to land the eight-game package. Incidentally, the Outdoor Life Network also bid on that package.

[otto_man]

How in the world did the Vikings get a Monday night game? I can see the Packers not getting one because they sucked but I'd have to say the Queens sucked as well!! They lose Culapdancer and haven't added any big names so I'm just a little confused here! Buzzsaw, what's the deal??

[IFallsRon]

Might be more a case of Dan Snyder getting a Monday night game.

[Down to Earth]

I was always under the assumption that in order for a team to be on Monday Night Football they had to have had a winning record the previous year. Minnesota was 9-7 so they would qualify. Also take into account they have a new coach, a new owner and made a fair amount of signings during free agency.

The Packers could still land a Sunday night game I believe. I wouldn't be surprised to see a GB-MN or GB-Chi matchup there.

[buzzsaw]

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so I'm just a little confused here! Buzzsaw, what's the deal??

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Well theres a surprise Otto. Just kidding! I agree with Ironfalls to some extent.... I guess they can always talk about the left side of the Offensive line? or Chester Taylors breakout 200 yard rushing game? or Chris Kluwe's punting average? or Childress' porno mustache.... I digress.

[otto_man]

you forgot to add, longwell kicking some 50 yard field goals and sharper retuning an int for a touchdown!!!

[buzzsaw]

I still can't believe Minny stole basically two of GB's best players away the last two years. Who's next? Mike Wahle? oops, they lost him last year. Jamaal Reynolds has got to be worth a Demetrius Underwood or Jarvis Redwine in a trade.

Really otto, what is the deal with Favre?? I don't think the vikes would give him a playbook.