Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Green Bay's first game without Brett Favre is just as marketable as the last 200-plus the quarterback played with the Packers.
The debut of new quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be one of the showcase games the first week of the NFL season. The league just announced its national television schedule for opening week, and the Packers drew a prime slot.
Green Bay will host Minnesota on Sept. 8 in a Monday night game on ESPN. That game will start at 7 ET and will be followed by Denver at Oakland at 10:15.
The Super Bowl champion Giants will host the Redskins in the opening game of the season Thursday, Sept. 4, on NBC. The Colts will host the Bears in a Sunday night (Sept. 7) game on NBC.
Green Bay's first game since Favre's retirement will mark the first time another quarterback has started for the team since 1992. Rodgers has been with the Packers since he was drafted in the first round in 2005, but has attempted only 59 passes.
"The rivalry between the Packers and Vikings is obviously a big deal, as are all our other games with the other teams in our division,'' Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. "Throw in the fact it's the season opener and a Monday night game, and that makes it even bigger. We're excited about opening the season that way.''
