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NFL Monday Night Football - Week 1 Preview
Football is Back!
Welcome back football fans! The 2017-18 NFL season is underway, which means Monday Night Football is back on ESPN! So far so good in the NFL, as we saw a great start to Week 1 on Thursday Night Football with the Chiefs defeating the Patriots 42-27 on opening night, followed by an action packed Sunday. Now, MNF will wrap up Week 1 with not one, but two games; New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings, followed by Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos. Let's take a look at the matchups.
2017 ESPN Monday Night Football Schedule
New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings
MONDAY, SEP 11TH 7:10 PM ET
U.S. BANK STADIUM
Story of the Game - AP Headed Back to Minnesota with Saints
After signing with New Orleans this offseason, running back Adrian Peterson will play his first regular season game with Saints against his old team, the Vikings. It should be interesting to see how the fans in Minnesota will greet AP, after being such a crucial part of their team's success in years past.
Player to Watch - Adrian Peterson - RB
It's safe to say Adrian Peterson will be hungry to defeat his old team but it will be interesting to see how AP is used within the Saints elite offense. He will be paired up with another great running back in Mark Ingram, who has been an absolute goal-line touchdown machine throughout his 6 years in the NFL with the Saints. However, he has only surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark once, being last year. It seems Ingram works best with a back who can play the whole field, that way Ingram will only have to worry about using his big body for picking up short yardage in third-down and goal-line situations, and AP will have free-roam to carry the rest of the load. Look for AP to have big yardage this season, however, he may get some touchdowns stolen from him by Mark Ingram. None-the-less, AP will be a positive addition to the Saints and should help them be an elite offense this year, poising them for a playoff berth.
Prediction
Saints Win 30-20
Although the Vikings have a great defense, the Drew Brees led offense of the Saints will overpower Minnesota. The Vikings offense will have to keep up with that of the Saints, which could be very difficult to do considering the weaknesses the Vikings have on the offensive side of the ball. Consider this, the Saints have won each of the last three matchups between these teams dating back to September 9, 2010. The Vikings could not take down Drew Brees and the Saints when they had AP, and will not be able to take them down without AP, especially with him on the other sidelines.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
MONDAY, SEP 11TH 10:20 PM ET
SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH
Story of the Game - Two New Head Coaches
Both the Chargers and Broncos hired new head coaches going into this year's season; Chargers acquiring 48-year-old, Anthony Lynn, who was previously the Buffalo Bills Assistant Head Coach, and the Broncos bringing on 44-year-old, Vance Joseph, who instantly brought on the fired head coach of the Chargers, Mike McCoy, to be the team's Offensive Coordinator.
Both of these teams are looking to hit the refresh button after poor non-playoff contending 2016 campaigns. The Chargers were riddled with injuries and the Broncos had trouble finding success at the quarterback position. Both teams have immense potential, so this should be a great matchup to wrap up NFL Week 1.
Player to Watch - Keenan Allen - WR
After catching six passes in the first quarter of the first regular season game in the 2016 season, Keenan Allen was carted off the field with a season ending injury. It was a shame to see this as it looked as Allen was going to have another great season after coming off of another big injury that ended his great 2015 season early. We have seen flashes of excellence from Keenan throughout his four years in the NFL but the injury bug has been an issue for him. With Keenan Allen poised to win with Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordan, and the rest of the Charger's offense, look for Allen to put up some big numbers against a stout Denver defense. The talent that Allen possess is so great that he will have to be fed the ball at the right times for the Chargers to win this game.
Prediction
Chargers Win 28-25
The Chargers will have a tough time against a tough Broncos defense but there are just so many weapons for Philip Rivers and the LA offense, it is hard to say that they won't win. This game will be won by the offense that can put up the most points and make the least amount of mistakes. Denver's defense could rattle the Chargers a little but I see LA doing the same to the Bronco's, forcing young quarterback, Trevor Siemian, to make mistakes that will cost the team the game. Get ready for a good one, because this game could ultimately go either way.