Monday Night NFL on Sky Sports: Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos host double-header

Monday Night Football returns to Sky Sports, with a double-header to start Week One of the season.

We are live on Sky Sports Action (407) from midnight, with the New Orleans Saints and Adrian Peterson travelling to Minnesota to face the Vikings in our first game, before the Denver Broncos then host the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West divisional clash from 3.20am.

So, what can we expect from our first Monday night action of the season?

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings, Sky Sports Action (407), midnight

In 140 characters…

Adrian Petersen rolls back in to Minnesota, but with the New Orleans Saints. Can this season’s Super Bowl hosts contain AP all day?

What’s the latest?

It has been discovered that Saints long snapper Jon Dorenbos, recently acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, has a serious heart condition that will require surgery. Physician John Amoss discovered the long-snapper’s aortic aneurysm during a physical examination and the team is now placing Dorenbos on its non-football injury list and looking to bring in another long snapper before Monday’s season opener at Minnesota.

Stat attack

Drew Brees has led the NFL in passing yards in five of the last six seasons, including last year – his 5,208 yards passing placed him above Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan (4,944) in second spot.

Key battle

How Brees fares against a dominant Vikings defence will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the first Monday Night Football of the season. Minnesota were third in total defence last year, and were a top-three outfit against the pass too, with elite corner Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith a particularly imposing pair.

Game-changer

Dalvin Cook. While all eyes might be on Peterson in his homecoming, it’s not yet clear how New Orleans intend to use him, and just how many touches he is likely to get. The same cannot be said for the man replacing him in Minnesota – rookie Cook has clearly emerged through preseason as the team’s lead running back and could upstage AP.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos, Sky Sports Action (407), 3.20am

In 140 characters…

The now Los Angeles Chargers get their season underway on the road in Denver against their AFC West divisional rival Broncos.

What’s the news?

Brock Osweiler has returned to Denver as the Broncos’ backup quarterback after being cut by the Cleveland. The team have also parted ways with their Super Bowl-winning safety, T.J. Ward, and within hours of cutting the defensive back from their roster, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Stat attack

Chargers’ Antonio Gates is tied with Tony Gonzalez on 111 touchdown receptions and so needs just one more to break the all-time record for the most by a tight end.

Key battle

This game will be won or lost in the trenches – the Broncos have four new starters on their offensive line, including British-born right tackle Menelik Watson, acquired from the Oakland Raiders. They face the unenviable task of facing Chargers dynamic pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

Game-changer

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen returns after tearing his ACL in the team’s season opener a year ago. Injuries have plagued Allen’s development after a top-notch 1,046-yard and eight-touchdown rookie year in 2013, but a strong start on Monday night could see him on his way to posting similar numbers again this season.

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(c) Sky News 2017: Monday Night NFL on Sky Sports: Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos host double-header