We’ve reached the final “Monday Night Football” matchup of the 2021 NFL season, and this one will happen during the 2022 NFL playoffs. This is the first Monday night game in NFL postseason history, and it looks like a good one.
Two NFC West rivals, the Cardinals and Rams, will meet for the third time this season. They have split the series today with the grudge being the biggest game in each team’s respective seasons.
NFL fans will no doubt enjoy this contest and Manningcast fans will too. Peyton and Eli Manning will return to the airwaves on ESPN after missing last week while there was no “Monday Night Football” action.
The Mannings will have just three guests as part of “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” for wild card weekend. However, their lineup is solid, with one current player, one former player, and one celebrity providing solid feedback on the game. Unfortunately, the current player is not yet alive in the playoff race, so there will be no chance of the “Manningcast curse” hitting again until next season.
Viewers are hoping the Mannings can capture lightning in a bottle again like they did during Marshawn Lynch’s appearance in Week 7. He appeared on the show and admitted that he had been drinking Hennessy (and spouted a lot of profanity during the broadcast). That episode itself was legendary, as it was also the one during which Eli Manning flashed the double bird on camera. That prompted three complaints submitted by viewers to the FCC.
Can the Mannings top that show and those moments? We’ll see soon enough, but viewers will enjoy the final Manningcast of the season either way.
Here’s a look at the guest list for the Wild Card Weekend telecast of “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” during the Rams vs. Cardinals.
MORE: Is the Manningcast Cursed?
Manningcast Guests for Wild Card Weekend
- Larry Fitzgerald, former Cardinals catcher
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, actor and owner of the XFL
- Russell Wilson, Seahawks quarterback
Larry Fitzgerald
It always seemed likely that the Mannings would draw a Cardinals legend for this telecast. Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner were the standout choices, and Fitzgerald ended up getting the nod this time.
Fitzgerald is the Cardinals’ all-time leading receiver and has amassed 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns during his career. He played with Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray during his first two seasons in the desert, so he probably has a unique take on those two’s working relationship.
Fitzgerald has yet to officially retire from the NFL, but he has decided not to play this year. Perhaps he’ll make a retirement announcement on this broadcast if he decides he’s finally ready to hang up his boots.
IYER: The Manningcast curse is undefeated, but will it continue in the playoffs?
Dwayne The Rock Johnson
“La Roca” is a big football fan. Before becoming an actor, he was a wrestler. Before being a wrestler, he played football in Miami (FL). His son, Dwayne Johnson Jr., spent time on the Giants’ practice squad this year, so he’s in league with the league.
Why bring him for this game? That’s a mystery, but Johnson is one of the owners of the XFL, which will try to return to action in 2023. ESPN previously broadcast XFL games when it first returned in 2020, and they were a hit before the COVID pandemic shut down. -19. for the fledgling league.
Will The Rock talk about the XFL? That seems likely. What else will you bring to the table? That’s for him to know, and Rams and Cardinals fans to find out.
Russell Wilson
Wilson is a great guest for this duel. He has faced both the Rams and Cardinals twice this season as he plays in the NFC West. You’ll be able to offer a solid look at what teams do well and what Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford bring to their teams.
Plus, Wilson is once again the subject of offseason rumors. He could leave the Seahawks, so will he talk to the Manning brothers about his plans? This will be a good opportunity to see where his mind is after his 10th season in Seattle.
MORE: Ranking the guests we’d like to see on ESPN’s ‘Manningcast’
How to watch Peyton, Eli Manning on Monday Night Football
“Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” will air on ESPN2. It will also be simulcast on ESPN’s streaming service ESPN+, which has several subscription options. You can see them all below.
Product | General price as of August 13 |
---|---|
ESPN+ monthly subscription | $6.99/month |
ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $69.99/year |
Disney bundle with Hulu advertising | $19.99/month |
The Disney bundle with Hulu without ads | $13.99/month |
Viewers can also stream “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” using fuboTV, offering a free trial.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.