The pro football regular season has kicked off, and is celebrating its opening weekend with two games for Monday Night Football. Two divisional games get the opening-night treatment, with Minnesota visiting Green Bay in a NFC North contest while the nightcap features the AFC West with Denver visiting Oakland.

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Now let’s take a closer look at both contests.

**Vikings at Packers**

-Caesars Palace currently has Green Bay as a 2 ½-point home ‘chalk’ over Minnesota, with the total set at 38. The line opened with the Packers favored by a field goal, with the total listed at 38 ½. This NFC North matchup is scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET, with ESPN providing coverage.

-Minnesota (8-8 straight up, 7-7 against the spread) went 3-5 SU and 3-3 ATS last season on the road, with the ‘under’ going 5-2. The Vikings finished second in the NFC North last season behind Green Bay, but failed to reach the postseason.

-Minnesota had won five games in a row SU before losing its last two games to miss the playoffs, including a Week 17 overtime setback at Denver.

-Second-year running back Adrian Peterson hopes to repeat his stellar rookie campaign after rushing for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

-The Vikings are a dismal 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS the past two years against Green Bay after getting swept last season. The Packers prevailed as a 1 ½-point road ‘chalk,’ 23-16, and as a 5 ½-point home favorite, 34-0. The ‘under’ is 5-2 the last seven games in this series.

-Green Bay (13-3 SU, 12-3 ATS) has been a team in transition since losing last year’s NFC Championship Game at home in overtime to New York. The whole Brett Favre saga is in the rear-view mirror, and now is the beginning of the Aaron Rodgers era at Lambeau Field. The four-year veteran has seen limited duty as a backup behind a quarterback who always played.

-The Packers went 7-1 SU and 6-1 ATS last season at home, with the ‘over’ going 5-3. Green Bay was favored in seven of those games, winning the lone time as an underdog against Philadelphia in Week 1 as a 3 ½-point ‘dog, 16-13.

-The ‘over’ was 6-0-1 for the Packers the last seven weeks of the regular season, but it will be interesting to see how good the offense remains with a new quarterback. Green Bay and Minnesota figure to battle atop the NFC North standings once again.

-Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (knee), wide receiver Robert Ferguson (leg), wide receiver Bernard Berrian (toe) and wide receiver Sidney Rice (illness) are ‘probable’ against the Packers, while running back Maurice Hicks (foot) is ‘doubtful.’ Defensive end Kenechi Udeze (illness), safety Madieu Williams (neck) and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (suspension) are ‘out.’

-Green Bay free safety Nick Collins (head), defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring), strong safety Atari Bigby (ankle), linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest) are ‘probable’ against the Vikings, while center Scott Wells (side), offensive guard Josh Sitton (knee), wide receiver James Jones (knee) and defensive tackle Justin Harrell (back) are ‘doubtful.’

**Broncos at Raiders**

-Caesars Palace lists Denver as a three-point road favorite over Oakland, with the total set at 41. The Broncos opened as a two-point ‘chalk,’ with the total set at 41 ½. ESPN will provide coverage of this AFC West contest beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET.

-Denver (7-9 SU, 5-11 ATS) struggled last season to a 2-6 SU and 1-7 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going 5-3. The Broncos were 0-3 as a road ‘chalk,’ and 1-4 ATS when playing on natural grass.

-Denver finished in second place in the AFC West, four games behind San Diego and three games ahead of both Oakland and Kansas City. The Broncos almost reached the .500 plateau despite being outscored by opponents, 409-320.

-Denver was knocked out of the postseason chase by losing four of five SU and ATS late in the season before a season-ending overtime victory over Minnesota, 22-19. Quarterback Jay Cutler starts his third season with the Broncos after completing 63.6 percent of his passes last season for 3,497 yards with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

-Oakland (4-12 SU, 6-10 ATS) had two two-game winning streaks last season, but also suffered through a six-game and four-game losing skid. The Raiders were a dismal 2-6 SU and ATS at home last year, going 2-2 ATS when listed as a home ‘dog.

-Oakland is just 1-3 SU the last four meetings with Denver, but 4-0 ATS. These two rivals split their season-series last year, with the home team prevailing each time. Denver triumphed in overtime as a 10-point home ‘chalk,’ 23-20, while the Raiders won as a 3 ½-point home ‘dog, 34-20. The ‘over’ cashed in both of those contests.

-Denver tight end Daniel Graham (hamstring), safety Marquand Manuel (hand), defensive line Ebenezer Ekuban (back), wide receiver Darrell Jackson (ankle), linebacker Boss Bailey (ankle) and strong safety Hamza Abdullah (groin) are ‘probable’ against the Raiders, while defensive tackle Carlton Powell (knee), center Tom Nalen (knee) and running back Ryan Torain (elbow) are ‘out.’

-Oakland offensive tackle Kwame Harris (shoulder) and wide receiver Javon Walker (hamstring) are ‘probable’ versus the Broncos.

Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.