ESPN is going with a fresh approach for its first 2018 regular-season broadcast of "Monday Night Football."
Two announcers with plenty of NFL credentials but far more entrenched in the college game these days will be handling the Jets-Lions game from Detroit: Beth Mowins and Brian Griese.
"We are pretty excited to bring the franchise on the air Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey Dolphins , and hoping some pretty good story lines will play out," says Mowins, who did last year's second half of the opening doubleheader with analyst Rex Ryan. Mowins also does a few CBS telecasts of NFL games during the season, as well as Oakland Raiders preseason contests, but her main gig is college sports.
Griese is one of the top analysts of the college game, an insightful and often critical but fair voice.
"Guys who can shoot from the hip are always fun to work with," Mowins says.
Of course, he also played 11 pro seasons, starting 83 games. So his knowledge of both levels of football is expansive.
"I think the pro game in a lot of ways is more familiar to me than the college game," Griese notes. "I have had to learn the college game as it has grown. I spent 11 years in the NFL playing quarterback and it's more similar to what I know."
What both Mowins and Griese know is that the fan bases of both teams will be stoked for the game, even though Jets-Lions isn't quite the marquee matchup. Indeed, the NFL gave ESPN what appears to be a better game in the nightcap Authentic Danny Shelton Jersey , Jon Gruden's return as the Raiders host the Rams. The regular and new Monday night crew of Joe Tessitore and Jason Witten will be in the booth, Booger McFarland at field level for that one.
"No question both these teams have reasons for optimism, for different reasons," Griese says. "Jets fans should be excited about Sam Darnold, who can be a game changer and a franchise quarterback in the making. For Detroit, it's a whole new ballgame for the fans with Matt Patricia hired as coach, a new way of doing things. I'm eager to see how he will impact the franchise. And they have their bellwether in Matthew Stafford at quarterback."
Adds Mowins: "You tell the truth with a heavier emphasis on the hope, and that is what all of these fan bases are having. The history is part of the story heading into the season and something we absolutely talk about graphically. The nice thing about the opener is everyone has hope again, and we can also focus on the changes these teams have made to improve."
To its credit, ESPN is willing to make changes or go outside the box for its Monday night showcase. One area of expertise that Mowins and Griese 鈥?and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge 鈥?bring to the telecast is an advanced awareness of NFL newcomers.
That could be particularly enlightening for Jets-Lions with the likes of Darnold 鈥?even if he doesn't play and Josh McCown starts 鈥?and Lions rookie running back Kerryon Johnson on hand.
"One of the things I have noticed over the last several years and doing the Raiders games in preseason, you have a head start on rookies coming into the league," Mowins says. "I sort of have that background of who they were and relationships they might have with other players and coaches. That provides a nice jumping-off point Tyler Flowers Jersey , especially early in the season. Some of the rookies the NFL fans may not have seen in college, but I have had a chance to call their games in college, and so has Brian."
Mowins and Griese have not done game broadcasts together, but have had many conversations and learning sessions. Last year, when the Broncos played in the opener Mowins and Ryan announced, she reached out to Griese, who does Denver's preseason games.
"I've talked with Beth quite a bit through the years, we are in the same college football realm, so we see quite a bit of each other's work," Griese says. "I'm very familiar with her work in college football.
"The approach for me will be a little bit different because I will probably go to both teams' training camps to familiarize myself with the teams. I don't ever do a game where I have not seen a team live or in person (at practice or in a game). That will be the only difference for you in preparation."
The Latest on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights (all times local):
8:40 p.m.
The Washington Capitals have a high-flying, hard-hitting team and history working against them.
Tomas Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat Washington 6-4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Since the final went to a best-of-seven format in 1939, the winner of Game 1 has gone on to hoist the Cup the last six years and 61 of the last 78 times.
Boston is the last team to bounce back from losing Game 1 to win an NHL title.
The Bruins Dontae Johnson Color Rush Jersey , in fact, opened the 2011 Final with two losses against the Vancouver Canucks before rallying and winning in seven games.
—
8:10 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights took another step in their unlikely quest to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Washington Capitals 6-4 in a Game 1 thriller.
Fourth-line forward Tomas Nosek scored a go-ahead goal midway through the third period and had an empty-net goal with 2.7 seconds left.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for the Golden Knights. Braden Holtby made 28 saves for the Capitals, who are 0-5 in franchise history in the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas will host Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Shortly before the empty-net goal, Lars Eller of the Capitals had the puck go off the end of his stick blade with a wide-open net in front of him and a chance to tie the game.
—
7:55 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights are showing how deep and talented they are in the Stanley Cup Final.
Tomas Nosek scored a go-ahead goal midway through the third period to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 lead over the Washington Capitals in a Game 1 thriller.
Nosek’s one-timer from the right side was set up by Shea Theodore’s cross-ice pass. Ryan Reaves, the third player on Vegas’ fourth line, had tied the game early in the third.
—
7:50 p.m.
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas’ leading scorer in the playoffs, walked off the ice and toward the Golden Knights’ dressing room after taking an open-ice check.
Washington’s Tom Wilson landed a blind-sided hit on Marchessault well after he got rid of the puck near center ice.
Wilson was later called for interference against Marchessault after the officials gathered to discuss what happened. David Perron, who had come off Vegas’ bench, was penalized for cross-checking Alex Ovechkin during the same stoppage of play 5:53 into the third period.
Marchessault later returned to the ice.
—
7:35 p.m.
Vegas and Washington are putting on a show in the Stanley Cup Final opener.
Tom Wilson put the Capitals ahead early in the third period and Ryan Reaves evened the score at 4-all for the Golden Knights just 1:31 later, setting up a fantastic finish in Game 1.
Wilson finished off a sequence in which he and his teammates www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-tre_quan-smith-jersey , including Alex Ovechkin, finally found some time and space with the puck against the speedy, swarming Golden Knights.
That quieted the Vegas crowd, but not for long. Reaves scored the game-tying goal by lifting a loose puck over Braden Holtby.
—
7:10 p.m.
It’s all tied up after the first two periods in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Vegas Golden Knights killed their first penalty with a little help from the post behind Marc-Andre Fleury as John Carlson drew iron on a shot late in the second period. Moments later, Fleury gave the post to his right a friendly tap with his right glove to give thanks after his team was penalized for having too many men on the ice.
The Golden Knights and Capitals head into the third period tied 3-3 after an entertaining opening to a series between two teams seeking their first NHL championship.
Fleury had stopped 15 shots through two periods and Braden Holtby had stopped 22 for the Capitals.
—
6:45 p.m.
One of the hottest shows on the Strip isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
Reilly Smith put the Vegas Golden Knights ahead early in the second period and John Carlson pulled the Washington Capitals into a 3-3 tie as Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final reached the halfway point.
Just like the opening period, Vegas was able to generate more offense. The Golden Knights were outshooting the Capitals 10-5 midway through the second and 21-15 overall.
Both teams had some trouble keeping the puck settled at times. Crews were working on the ice during stoppages in play, adding water and shoveling shavings away.
—
6:10 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals are tied 2-2 after a wild first period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Brett Connolly and Nicklas Backstrom scored 42 seconds apart to put the Capitals ahead and William Karlsson answered with a goal late in the period.
Both teams took advantage of having players with soft hands, allowing them to redirect rolling and wobbling pucks into the net.
Washington’s Braden Holtby withstood a flurry of shots early in the period and finished the opening 20 minutes with nine saves. Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t have to stop a shot for more than five minutes before Washington woke up.
Colin Miller fired up the home crowd by scoring 7:15 into the game on a power play, slapping a shot past Holtby, who appeared to be screened. Washington roared back with two goals.
—
5:40 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights have jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final against Washington.
Colin Miller scored 7:.