NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-0)	WK 1	MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-0)
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Here are the ground rules for the Game Threads:

-Thou shalt not link illegal feeds of today's game, or I shall kick thy arse to the curb until the game is over. Do not promote then, do not mention them, do not even hint at them. Thou hast been warned.

-Thou shalt make an attempt to keep the swearing to a minimum. Understandable that it will slip occasionally, but do try to limit it. If you really feel the need to curse, use the spoiler tags to keep it covered up. We'll get the sentiment.

-Thou shalt not feed the trolls. Rather, thou shall simply point them out, and they shall be banished to the fires of Mordor. Or Wisconsin. Whichever we feel is more harsh at the time.

-Thou shalt not engage in racist, sexist, or other such insulting rhetoric. Somebody disagreeing with you does not make them racist or sexist. It means they disagree with you. Talk it out like adults.

-Thou shalt not bait the fans of other teams into trolling.

-Basically, thou shalt not be a jackwagon in the game thread.

Ladies and gentlemen. . .we've made it.

The time for Minnesota Vikings football is nearly upon us, as we're approaching the kickoff of the 2017 regular season opener. For the first time since 2012, the purple will open up at home, as the friendly confines of U.S. Bank Stadium will play host to Monday Night Football and the Vikings' contest against the New Orleans Saints.

So, what are the keys to victory in this one for our favorite football team?

1) Extend drives on offense - The Vikings are going to have their hands full with Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense, even with some of the players that the Saints will be missing in this one. While the first-team offense didn't exactly light it up in the preseason, if the Vikings are going to win this one, they need to keep their offense on the field and keep their defense rested. That means that Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are going to have to generate yards behind the revamped offensive line, and Sam Bradford is going to need to make key completions on third downs. If the Vikings' defense has to play for extended periods as they did towards the end of last season, it's going to be a long night for the purple.

2) Get pressure on Brees - While Brees is a very good quarterback wherever he plays, he still isn't quite as good on the road as he is at home. The Saints will be starting a rookie, Ryan Ramczyk, at left tackle this evening, and Everson Griffen should be able to make it a long night for him. Danielle Hunter also draws a favorable matchup on the other side against Zach Streif. If the Minnesota pass rush can sack and/or hit Brees a few times, they're going to slow down the Saints offense in a big way.

3) Get off to a fast start - As we saw last year, this Vikings' team is a completely different team when they're playing with a lead than they are when they're playing from behind. If this team can generate an early score or two, it will allow them to pin their ears back and focus on stopping the pass. That may sound like a bad idea against Brees and company, but the Vikings' offense should be able to put points on the board against the New Orleans defense. If they can get off to an early lead, they should have a much easier time of things.

We're less than an hour away from kickoff, folks. We'll be starting a new Game Thread every quarter, so keep your eyes out for that. Other than that, let's just enjoy the game and hopefully, in a few hours, we'll be celebrating a victory.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!