Monday Night Football: Chicago & Minnesota in Vikings’ First Outdoor Home Game in 29 Years

Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings will host Jay Cutler and the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears in a matchup of longtime divisional rivals on ESPN’s Monday Night Football Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN HD. Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game, and Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will provide updates on the teams throughout the day from TCF Bank Stadium In Minneapolis.

The MNF game is being played at the on-campus stadium at the University of Minnesota as a result of damage sustained to the roof of the Metrodome during last week’s major snowstorm. Coincidentally, Monday's game marks the 29th anniversary to the day (Dec. 20, 1981) that the Vikings played their last home NFL game outdoors, a 10-6 loss to the Chiefs in their final game at Metropolitan Stadium.

The Bears (9-4) have a one-game lead over the Packers and can secure a playoff spot with a Monday win. Chicago, 4-0 in the NFC North, is one of only three NFL teams with a perfect record divisional record this season.

Monday’s telecast will begin with a Frank Gifford MNF vignette highlighting the 2009 MNF season finale when the Bears defeated the playoff-bound Vikings 36-30 in overtime in frigid late-December conditions at Soldier Field in Chicago.

ESPN’s “game around the game” studio coverage will begin at noon on SportsCenter, followed by NFL Live (3:30 p.m.) and NFL PrimeTime (4 p.m.). The 90-minute Monday Night Countdown pregame will begin at 7 p.m. with host Chris Berman and analysts Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter.  Analyst Cris Carter, who will be honored as a member of the Vikings’ 50th anniversary team Monday night at the game, will make a special appearance from the stadium, joining Stuart Scott and analysts Matt Millen and Steve Young.