It doesn’t require much effort to identify the enticing story lines that would attract the “ManningCast” to Monday night’s Week 1 game between the Vikings and Bears, nor is it very hard to explain the secret of the alternate broadcast’s popularity.

The heart of the show is legendary quarterbacks and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning talking football, and their real-time evaluation of Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s debut should be fascinating to digest.

“At the end of the day, you have two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time,” said Sam Pepper, the show’s executive producer, during an appearance on Monday’s Daily Delivery podcast. “[They] know the game so well and and are legitimately excited when big plays happen and interesting things happen and want to share that knowledge and that excitement with all the viewers.”

This is Year 5 of the ManningCast, and the format remains largely unchanged because its beauty is its simplicity.

That said, the timing and relevance of a planned special guest Monday might end up stealing the show.

Legendary Vikings receiver Randy Moss, who recently completed treatment for bile duct cancer and returned to ESPN’s Sunday Countdown before Week 1’s large slate of games, is set to join the Manning brothers on Monday’s ManningCast.

“When you think Vikings, I mean, who else would you want to have on?” Pepper said. “We’re so happy that he said yes and we’re so thrilled that Randy’s doing well and we’re honored to be a part of that comeback story for him.”

Moss appeared on a 2022 edition of the ManningCast during a Buccaneers game featuring his former Patriots QB Tom Brady, and a lot of the emphasis during that interview was focused on their relationship.