Venture behind the scenes with MNF: The show in pictures, Tirico narration

While most fans dread Mondays and the start of the new work week, it’s our Monday Night Football crew’s favorite day.

All the hard work, research and planning that goes into getting ready for the telecast finally comes to fruition and millions of viewers across the country are tuned in and ready for some football.

But how exactly does our crew spend its day leading up to kickoff?

Above is a slideshow from my trip to Philadelphia last month for the Bears-Eagles game.

Through these pictures — and with the help of play-by-play voice Mike Tirico — we offer a glimpse of a day in the life of MNF as you sit at your cubicle counting the minutes until tonight’s Rams-Seahawks game (8:30 p.m., ESPN). Enjoy!

To follow the 2011 ESPN’s Monday Night Football season, embed this handy Google calendar.