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Previewing Monday Night Football's doubleheader Published: Sep 11, 2017 at 05:03 AM Around The NFL Podcast Co-Host This time around, the NFL saved its best for last. Monday night's nationally televised double-header offers a pair of season-opening tilts thick with intrigue. For starters, -- now a member of the -- will head back to Minnesota for a showdown with his former teammates. Once that wraps, fans will get a late-night look at a fascinating AFC West bout between the and . Sunday's action offered just three games decided by eight-or-fewer points -- the fewest in Week 1 since 1973 -- but Monday night has the potential to deliver a pair of gems. Here's what we'll be watching for: Devan Dubnyk Youth Jersey Expect the to give Peterson a chance to make his mark right away. Facing the team he starred with for a full decade, the 32-year-old running back was largely kept tucked away all summer. We saw the replace Peterson with near the goal-line during preseason fare, but both backs should see their share of carries against a team that finished 20th against the run last autumn. The X-factor for New Orleans remains rookie runner , who has a shot to steal the show after a headline-grabbing dose of work in August. The third-rounder runs with explosion and power while doubling as a dangerous a set on pa sing downs. Minnesota has a rookie back of their own -- -- headed for a monster workload out of the gate. The first-rounder has emerged as an every-down player for the , one who will test an improving defense with his ability to run inside and also hit the edges as a receiver in space. New Orleans struggled last season to shut down pa s-catching backs, giving signal-caller an attractive target to work with all evening. Behind Cook, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound figures to see a handful of carries near the goal-line. remains a threat to pa s for major numbers in a attack featuring , and , who earned consistent praise from coach Sean Payton during the summer. New Orleans must find a way to mask over the lo s of suspended receiver , which could mean a bigger workload for Coleman, slot-man and tight end Coby Fleener. This collection of targets will battle a Mike Zimmer-coached Lars Eller Jersey secondary fronted by cornerback and the up-and-down . Traded-for cover man is questionable with a thigh injury. Stretching back half a decade, the and their high-octane offense have been sabotaged by an asleep-at-the-wheel defense that kept this team from its true potential. New Orleans finished dead last in total yardage allowed and points surrendered in 2016, but preseason observers saw an improved bunch in August. The additions of , and rookie have overhauled a suddenly quick and efficient linebacking core that will be tasked with shutting down Cook. Versatile safety should see work in the slot covering while rookie cornerback will man the outside. The key to Monday's game, though, could boil down to and his fellow pa s rushers facing a Adam Graves Jersey offensive line that struggled all preseason. If Bradford can't shake free, the big story coming out of this game will be a New Orleans defense that finally looks ready to turn the corner. quarterback faces a grueling test out of the gate, taking his Bolts offense into Denver to face one of the league's grittiest secondaries. Look for star wideout to primarily square off against , Jr., who earned the highest grade league-wide at his position last season from Pro Football Focus. Denver's defense -- just two years removed from glory -- marches into this game without released safety T.J. Ward; retired star pa s-rusher DeMarcus Ware; and former play-caller Wade Philips, now spinning his magic with the . With and still entrenched as cover men, look for Rivers to lean Eric Fehr Jersey on tight end and his ground game to offset the menace of All-Pro pa s-rusher . Considering the matchup with Denver's ultra-thorny secondary, Monday could mean big things for . The third-year running back is coming off an impre sive 997-yard campaign and looms as the key to Anthony Lynn's offense. The first-year head coach has overseen nine 1,000-yard rushing seasons since 2003 and turned the into the NFL's top rushing squad over the past two seasons in Buffalo. During that same span, the finished 31st in ground yards per game, 30th in rushing touchdowns and dead last in yards per carry. Los Angeles suffered a handful of key injuries along the offensive line, but look for the Bolts to strive for balance on offense come Monday night. It's easy to forget that quarterback was undefeated as a starter with a 99.6 pa ser rating before injuring his left shoulder in Week 4 last season. That setback impacted his numbers down the stretch -- his completion percentage dropped a full 10 points -- before Siemian opted for offseason surgery. The starter still has and to throw to against a secondary boasting and . The key for Denver, though, is finding a way for its le s-than-stellar O-line to hold up the fort Ryan Hartman Jersey against and terrifying second-year pa s-rusher . Denver's ground game fizzled up last season after was lost in Week 7 with a torn meniscus. Coach Vance Joseph said during the summer that Denver's lead back was in the best shape of his career, but it's anyone's gue s which Anderson you'll get from year to year. He's ticketed for a large workload against the Bolts, but Jamaal Charles should also see a handful of snaps against a defense that finished a respectable 10th against the run in 2016. After last year's became just one of six teams over the past decade to mi s the playoffs despite a top-five scoring defense, it's on Siemian, Anderson and Denver's collection of blockers to pick up the slack. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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