5 EYEWITNESS NEWS to Carry Vikings MNF Opener 4.4.08

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS will carry the 2008 Monday Night Football regular season opener with the Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers on Monday, September 8.  The game, simulcast on ESPN, will start at 6:00pm.  This will be only the third time in franchise history that the Vikings have opened the season on Monday Night Football. 

"We are thrilled to bring the first Minnesota Vikings game of the 2008/2009 season to our viewers," says Mike Smith, Director of Programming and Operations for 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.  "And regarding the Vikings versus the Favre-less Packers, you couldn't ask for a better start to the season."

The game will also be the 47th appearance on MNF for the Vikings, who have a 24-23 record in the prime-time showcase.  This will be the sixth game in franchise history between Minnesota and Green Bay on Monday Night Football, with the last game coming on November 21, 2005, when the Vikings topped the Packers 20-17 on a last-second field goal by Paul Edinger.

The team’s first season-opening appearance on MNF came on September 20, 1971, when the Vikings won 16-13 at the Detroit Lions.  The game was played at Tiger Stadium and featured the Vikings coming back from a 13-3 halftime deficit to win the game on a Fred Cox field goal.  Minnesota’s other season-opening MNF appearance came in Brad Childress’ head coaching debut when the Vikings played at Washington on September 11, 2006.  The game was also decided by a field goal with Ryan Longwell connecting on a 31-yarder with a minute remaining to give the Vikings a 19-16 victory over the Redskins at FedEx Field.

The season opener will mark the 95th contest between the Vikings and the Packers, the most games in franchise history against any opponent for Minnesota.  The Packers lead the all-time series with a 48-45-1 record.

The remainder of the 2008 NFL regular-season schedule will be finalized and announced later in April.

For more information, contact Heather Belair at 651.642.4374 or hbelair@kstp.com.