Week one will feature a doubleheader on Monday night that will not include the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers will open a new era by hosting the Minnesota Vikings at 6 p.m. Central. That game will be followed by the Denver Broncos visiting the Oakland Moneypits, err, Raiders.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also announced that the Sunday night game would pit Chicago visiting Indianapolis as the Colts introduce the world to Lucas Oil Stadium, their new venue.

The Raiders? The Vikings? Chicago? These are the prime-time match-ups that will start the 2008 season? I know the Monday nighters are rivalry games, but in terms of what these teams’ expectations are at this point, these games seem a bit underwhelming to me. Okay, there’s some drama with Aaron Rodgers becoming the new starter, Adrian Peterson is a stud and the Raiders have spent millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars upgrading with mediocre talent.

The Vikings haven’t sniffed the playoffs in three seasons. And the Bears and the Raiders gave no indication last season that they are going to be much to watch. And has anyone underachieved like Denver the last couple years?

Plus the Vikes now open on my wife’s birthday. Fantastic. That’s going to go over well. Oh well. At least it’s an indication that football season is less than a half-year away. The rest of the schedule could be introduced later this week.