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Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Monday, September 8 // 6 p.m. // Lambeau Field // Green Bay, Wisc.
Game Summary
The Minnesota Vikings (0-0) will open the 2008 regular season at the rival Green Bay Packers (0-0) on Monday, September 8. Kickoff for the nationally-televised game is set for 6:00 p.m. at Lambeau Field.
This is the second time in the past three years the Vikings have opened the season on Monday Night Football. In 2006, Head Coach Brad Childress’ fi rst season with the team, the Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 19-16 at FedEx Field on the 5th anniversary of 9/11.
Minnesota and Green Bay have met 94 times in the regular season and postseason, which is tied for the most of any opponent in Vikings history. The Vikings currently trail the Packers in the overall series 45-48-1. The Packers have won the last four games against the Vikings, sweeping them in 2006 and 2007.
Primetime Showcase
The Vikings-Packers game will mark the 4th time in Vikings history the team has opened the season on Monday Night Football and the 2nd time in the past three years. It will also be the 48th MNF game in team history with the Vikings holding a 24-23 all-time record on MNF. The team has two Monday Night games in 2008, the second coming at New Orleans on October 6.
This year’s opener will mark the 6th all-time game against the Packers on Monday night with the Vikings holding a 3-2 advantage in the previous five games.
Vikings on Opening Day
- The Vikings are a combined 27-19-1 (.574) on opening day over the team’s 48-year history and 7-3 in the last 10 season openers.
- Brad Childress is the only Vikings head coach to win his first two season openers. The Vikings are 2-0 under Childress, defeating Washington 19-16 in 2006 and Atlanta 24-3 in 2007.
- The Vikings are 3-2 against the Packers on opening day. The last time the two teams met to start a season was in 2003, when the Vikings defeated the Packers 30-25 at Green Bay.
First Time / Last Time
The first time the Vikings and Packers met was on October 22, 1961, the 6th game of the Vikings inaugural season. The Vikings fell 33-7 at Met Stadium only to turn around the following week and lose to the Packers again, 28-10 at Milwaukee.
The Vikings and Packers last met on November 11, 2007, at Lambeau Field in the 10th week of the 2007 regular season, a game which the Packers won 34-0. It was the first time the Vikings had been shutout in regular season play since 1991.
QB Brooks Bollinger started his first game as a Viking, completing 16 passes for 176 yards. Rookie RB Adrian Peterson (11 carries for 45 yards) averaged over 4 yards-per-carry before leaving the game with a knee injury in the third quarter. RB Chester Taylor excelled in limited work following Peterson’s departure, gaining 37 yards on just three carries, a 12.3 yard-average. Taylor also caught two passes for 59 yards.
Playing against his former teammates, WR Robert Ferguson led all receivers in the game with six catches netting 59 yards for the Vikings. Vikings 2007 Defensive MVP LB E.J. Henderson led all defenders with 11 tackles, a total matched by teammate S Dwight Smith. In his second week filling in for an injured CB Antoine Winfield, rookie CB Marcus McCauley was 2nd among all defenders with eight tackles. DE Erasmus James, DT Kevin Williams, and Henderson were all credited with quarterback hurries.
GAME NOTE: C Matt Birk played in his 100th career game.
Injury Report >> Click Here
Broadcast Information - Radio
KFAN AM 1130 // Pregame show begins at 4 p.m.; game broadcast begins at 6 p.m.
KTLK FM 100.3 // Picks up coverage at 5 p.m.; game broadcast begins at 6 p.m.
National Radio // Westwood One (Play-by-Play: Marv Albert ... Analyst: Boomer Esiason)
Click here to view the 2008 Minnesota Vikings Radio Network Information for those that live outside of the Twin Cities area.
Don't live within the listening area? Sign up for the NFL Field Pass and you can listen to every Vikings game live.
Broadcast Information - Television
National: ESPN - Pregame show begins at 4 p.m.; game broadcast begins at 6 p.m.
Locally: KSTP Channel 5 - Pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m.; game broadcast begins at 6 p.m.
If you plan on being in the Green Bay area and want to check out the game, click here for ticket info.
General Vikings Ticket Info
Single Game Tickets - All Games
Season Tickets
Group Tickets
Vikings TicketExchange
Vikings at Packers Press Release // 3 MB PDF
Latest Unofficial Vikings Depth Chart
vikings.com Blog: Rivalry Remains
Vikings / Packers Quotes - 9/3
Packers Game Preview
Vikings / Packers Quotes - 9/4
