Vikings @ Saints

[Chronic Husker 85]

Favre keeps going. Minnesota's defense is the deciding factor.

 

Vikings 27

 

Saints 20

[Vikings4ever 550]

Like I posted earlier in the year, I don't like how the Vikings match up with the Saints.

 

If the Saints go 4 wide, spread out the defense, and Brees makes quick, smart throws to neutralize the pass rush, I don't think the Vikes can keep up.

[mgs316 14]

Tough call.

 

#1 Offense: NO

#2 Offense: MN

 

So it's not like MN can't keep up.

 

MN has just as many weapons as NO at all positions.

 

Defense:

MN 10th in points against

NO 20th in points against

 

I think we all know the MN secondary can be killed if Brees gets too much time. The D line will almost have to do a even better job against Brees than they did against Romo which is tough.

 

I was sure against the Cowboy's that the Vikes would win cause they were at home.

 

This one is too tough to call.

[Vikings4ever 550]

Another aspect is special teams. The Vikes haven't been great on covering returns this year, and Bush absolutely killed them last year, returning 2 punts for TDs.

[dreadlocks34 0]

The entire key to the game is the Vikings d-line against the Saint o-line. If they play like Sunday, I honestly believe the Vikings win. If they cannot, the Saint probably outscore them in the end.

 

My question would be how in the world is the Saints D going to stop Favre from picking them apart? They don't have anywhere near the pass rush the Cowboys have and their secondary is not going to man up with anybody. Sharper playing centerfield isn't going to matter nearly as much in this game. On top of that, the Saint outside linebackers are quite weak against the run and there certainly are yards to be had both on the outside for Peterson as well as in the screen pass. I think this matchup is as bad or even worse than Saints O vs. Viking D which is what everybody is talking about.

[remote controller 143]

I love both squads but want Brett to finish the run. I am pulling for the Vikes but can't predict it. Interesting scenarios with 3 Qb's still in the hunt with direct ties to the City/Team, Region, or game site, and a rookie Coach and Qb who want to play spoiler.

[Sho Nuff 720]

The entire key to the game is the Vikings d-line against the Saint o-line. If they play like Sunday, I honestly believe the Vikings win. If they cannot, the Saint probably outscore them in the end.

 

My question would be how in the world is the Saints D going to stop Favre from picking them apart? They don't have anywhere near the pass rush the Cowboys have and their secondary is not going to man up with anybody. Sharper playing centerfield isn't going to matter nearly as much in this game. On top of that, the Saint outside linebackers are quite weak against the run and there certainly are yards to be had both on the outside for Peterson as well as in the screen pass. I think this matchup is as bad or even worse than Saints O vs. Viking D which is what everybody is talking about.

 

They stopped Warner from picking them apart too.

They have a decent pass rush...and now healthy the secondary is not terrible.

 

I agree it again comes down to who protects the QB better. Can't give either of these QBs time or they will kill you.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,439]

I was at the Saints-Cardinals game Saturday. The crowd was louder than I have ever heard them before. It was so loud that the sideline reporters gave up trying to communicate from the time the Cardinals were in the huddle to the snap on offense. You couldn't hear anything but the screaming. Warner wasn't able to audible throughout the game and it was one of the deciding factors. Favre won't be able to audible Sunday either. The Vikes are going to have to run whatever play they are given and roll with it. Huge advantage for the Saints.

[gopkrs 0]

Saints by 20.

[dreadlocks34 0]

I was at the Saints-Cardinals game Saturday. The crowd was louder than I have ever heard them before. It was so loud that the sideline reporters gave up trying to communicate from the time the Cardinals were in the huddle to the snap on offense. You couldn't hear anything but the screaming. Warner wasn't able to audible throughout the game and it was one of the deciding factors. Favre won't be able to audible Sunday either. The Vikes are going to have to run whatever play they are given and roll with it. Huge advantage for the Saints.

Its obvious who both of us are pulling for, but remember if there is one other team in the entire league who knows what that noise feels and sounds like, it is Minnesota. True, their offense isn't playing in it perse. But they are very familiar with it.

[Perennial Contender 18]

Vikings 45

Saints 30

 

AD will run for close to 200 yards and 4 TD's in a rout.

 

 

Go You Vikings Go Go Go!

[dreadlocks34 0]

I agree it again comes down to who protects the QB better. Can't give either of these QBs time or they will kill you.

Very true. One thing I am worried about if I am a Saint fan. They do not have the personnel on their roster to max protect. Evans is gone and their top two tight ends are strictly pass catchers. If the Viking D-Line gets going like it did last week, the Saints are very limited in any blocking adjustments they can make. Obviously that isn't normally a problem in the offense they run. But if you watched what happened to Dallas' line last week it has to be at least a concern.

Also the Saints are vulnerable to the run/play action. Sharper is going to want to pick something off and very well may be overanxious in reading Favre. Their linebackers are not equipped to take out Peterson if he breaks the first line of defense on the outside. As I said earlier in the thread, I don't hate this matchup personally.

[Perennial Contender 18]

Another aspect is special teams. The Vikes haven't been great on covering returns this year, and Bush absolutely killed them last year, returning 2 punts for TDs.

 

 

And who won that game? Which was in New Oleans.....Vikes 30 Saints 27

[Perennial Contender 18]

Saints, Vikings have history http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100119...2?p=3&tc=pg

 

Sports are built on rivalries.

 

And when it comes to rivalries and the New Orleans Saints, a few teams come to mind.

 

The obvious one is the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons. The Saints have played no other team more than they've played the Falcons, and the series is pretty evenly matched, with Atlanta leading, 43-38.

 

There is also former NFC West rival San Francisco. The 49ers were a dynasty throughout the 1980s, right around the time that the Saints were having their best stretch, finishing with records of 12-3, 10-6, 11-5 and 12-4 between 1987 and 1992.

 

Of course, when the Saints finished 12-3, the 49ers finished 13-2. When they finished 12-4, the 49ers again outdid them, finishing 14-2.

 

The Saints have a had a few other intense rivalries — the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers. And just like most people in this country that aren't Dallas Cowboys fans, Saints fans dread “America's Team.”

 

But there might be one team that has been more of a nuisance to the Saints than any other in the NFL.

 

That team is the Minnesota Vikings, this weekend's opponent in the NFC championship game.

 

The Saints and Vikings have played 25 times, and the Vikings are 18-7 in those meetings.

 

Where the nuisance part comes into play is in how those games have impacted the Saints.

 

Think back to 1987. The Saints finished the NFL's strike-shortened season a then-franchise best, 12-3, making their first playoff appearance on a nine-game winning streak.

 

Their opponent in the wild-card round was the Minnesota Vikings. After Bobby Hebert found Eric Martin for an early touchdown, the Vikings scored 31 first-half points en route to a 44-10 win.

The Saints made the playoffs three more times between 1988-92, losing their first game each time.

 

Their return trip to the playoffs came in 2000, then Coach Jim Haslett's first season.

 

The Saints ended their four-game playoff losing streak, beating the Rams, 31-28, in the wild-card round.

 

The Saints first-ever playoff win set up a divisional round matchup with the Vikings.

 

Time for sweet revenge?

 

Not quite.

 

The Vikings led 17-3 at halftime, and used big plays — Vikings receiver Randy Moss finished with two catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns — to end the Saints playoff run in the second round.

That was the last playoff meeting between the teams.

 

But they have met since then.

 

In 2002, a 3-10 Vikings team came the Superdome to play a 9-4 Saints team. The Saints needed just one win in their final three games to clinch a playoff spot. Instead the Vikings sent the Saints on a three-game losing streak when quarterback Daunte Culpepper fumbled the snap on a two-point conversion attempt, picked up the ball then walked untouched into the end zone for a 32-31 Minnesota win.

 

Two years later, in 2004, the Vikings beat the Saints, 38-31, in a Sunday night game. The Saints finished that season 8-8, but lost out on the playoffs in a three-way tie with the Vikings and Rams. Had the Vikings beat the Redskins in Week 17, the Saints would have been in a tie with just the Rams and made the playoffs. Instead, the Vikings lost to Washington, 21-18.

 

Of course, there is also last season's Monday night game, when the Vikings beat the Saints, 30-27.

 

So, while the Vikings might not be a primary rival, there is definitely some bad blood between the franchises. The Vikings have come out on top most of the time.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Very true. One thing I am worried about if I am a Saint fan. They do not have the personnel on their roster to max protect. Evans is gone and their top two tight ends are strictly pass catchers. If the Viking D-Line gets going like it did last week, the Saints are very limited in any blocking adjustments they can make. Obviously that isn't normally a problem in the offense they run. But if you watched what happened to Dallas' line last week it has to be at least a concern.

Also the Saints are vulnerable to the run/play action. Sharper is going to want to pick something off and very well may be overanxious in reading Favre. Their linebackers are not equipped to take out Peterson if he breaks the first line of defense on the outside. As I said earlier in the thread, I don't hate this matchup personally.

 

If I was a Saints fan, Id be hoping Edwards is slowed by the injury enough that they can keep their focus on that crazy guy with the mullet.

And I would expect Sharper would get burnt at least once trying to get in for a pick.

[All_The_Way 0]

I'm worried about the injuries to meachem and shockey.. We really need both of them in the offense to run everything we want.

 

Gotta love Reggie in any situation.

 

If the saints go up by 2 scores.. favre falls apart. game over

 

if peterson gets going we could be in trouble, but we have stopped him in the past. I'm more worried about the sidney rice matchups..

 

there are just so many good players on each side.. it will come down to the age old thing about turnovers.. If thats equal, then whatever coach executes the best gameplan will win. Payton sometimes get too fancy.. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't

[FeelingMN 273]

Vikings coach Brad Childress confirmed that Percy Harvin missed Thursday's practice with a migraine headache.

 

There's no telling how long he'll be sidelined, though Childress believes he'll be "OK." While Harvin was able to play through the migraines early in the season, he missed one game and parts of another down the stretch. The Vikes passing attack suffered its biggest slump during those two weeks. Check back Friday for an update on Harvin's status.

 

[flexnfx 0]

I'm going with the Saints on this one ONLY because it's in New Orleans....but am pulling for #4 and the Vikings. While home field is an advantage, the Saints can be beat as proven by Dallas. As far as crowd noise, Favre and the Offense will probably run a silent snap count as Favre knows this offense better than anyone. I also give the Vikes a chance only because they faced and thrived in a hostile Lambeau environment where the noise was deafening and the crowd was angry. I also wouldn't be surprised if while everyone is focused on Favre AP and Chester take this thing over and grind it out. The Saints are very susceptible to the run.

[Vern357 15]

I too think it will come down to AP and Chester grinding it out for a time of possion, last team to score wins game.

[flexnfx 0]

I too think it will come down to AP and Chester grinding it out for a time of possion, last team to score wins game.

 

When I've watched the Saints this year, it's been the one weakness. No offense to Laurence Moroney, but he is an ordinary RB that looked extraordinary vs. the Saints on Monday Night.

[Perennial Contender 18]

Lets see: Dallas basically gave the Saints a smack down to end their perfect season just 4 weeks ago. In The Superdome.

 

The Vikes just gave Dallas a smack down.

 

You do the math. Vikes should win big.

 

Then again these are the Vikings I am are talking about!

 

They are hexed.

[Perennial Contender 18]

Also Kevin Williams, Antoine Winfield, Percy Harvin, and Ray Edwards are all hurt. Not to mention starting MLB EJ Henderson gone for the year. Not good.

[Perennial Contender 18]

Peterson should have a monster day:

 

10/25 RWilliams 80 yards rushing

11/02 MTurner 151

11/08 DWilliams 149

11/15 SJackson 131

12/27 CWilliams 127

01/03 JStewart 125

Hightower last week.

 

And Romo threw for 312 and MAustin had 139 receiving so there is no reason Favray and rec corp dont have a big day either.

[9-Route 0]

Like I posted earlier in the year, I don't like how the Vikings match up with the Saints.

 

If the Saints go 4 wide, spread out the defense, and Brees makes quick, smart throws to neutralize the pass rush, I don't think the Vikes can keep up.

 

my initial thoughts mirror this, but the dallas game showed the difference here: when a team brings pressure by numbers, you can hurt them with spreading the field in numbers [ie pats-eagles SB, where johnson blitz packages were neutralized by 4- and 5-wide sets and also screens]; when a team brings the pressure with the base 4, it seems you can still cover that offense [ie giants-pats SB, last week boys-vikes].

 

the dallas game and this matchup are almost an if 'a', then 'b' scenario: the boys used mostly base numbers [ware and spencer] to apply pressure, with bushrod and stinchcomb not up to the task to protect; consequently, the saints' offense was not performing to optimal levels. that same pressure did little to favre and the vikes, and the bombs rained down to the tune of 4TDs. on the other side, how will the run game [or lack thereof] affect the saints if at all? their offense def runs at complete optimization when they have the run-pass balance, but we know they can just as well exclusively pass their way to wins.

[VikesFan 1]

I tend to think that the Vikes match up quite well against the Saints. I realize the Saint's are going to score points, the question is how much. I think it is safe to conclude that the Vikings offense will put up something similar against the Saints that they did last week. You have the number 2 offense in the league going against a defense ranked in the mid-20s... the Vikes will score points. The real question for MN is defense. 3/4 of the defensive line was on the injury report, but if those guys are inefective, we are in trouble. If they show up and play, it should be a easy win for MN...

 

Vikings 34

Saints 21

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

Just read this at Rotoworld....

 

ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Brett Favre will wear all the Vikings' plays on his wrist for the first time Sunday night.

 

The noisy Superdome has prompted Favre to wear a wristband. Favre has been in the same offense since the Falcons traded him to Green Bay in the early 1990s, however, so he probably won't have to look at his wrist very often. Werder's story is somewhat interesting, but will have no bearing on the game.

 

May be good news for Vike fans. Favre has an excuse to call his own plays. More of Favre and less of Chilly could be a good thing for the Vikings.

[gocolts 300]

Damn, no runs yet.

[Vikings4ever 550]

AD!

[Big Blue 06 195]

Well damn, that looked easy.

[gocolts 300]

Talk bout moving the ball at will. Vikings are going to win.

[Me_2006 14]

"Wait, who's that guy?"

 

"Who, coach?"

 

 

"The big, stout looking MFer. Number 28."

 

 

"Him? Oh, that's Adrian Peterson, sir."

 

 

"Who?"

 

 

"He's our running back."

 

 

"Run-running back...?"

 

 

"Yes, sir. See, Favre can give him the ball too. He doesn't have to throw it every play."

 

 

"Well I'll be damned. Let's try that and see what happens."

[Big Blue 06 195]

Talk bout moving the ball at will. Vikings are going to win.

 

Easy there Shirley. At least give the other team a chance with the ball before you declare them dead.

[9-Route 0]

"Wait, who's that guy?"

 

"Who, coach?"

"The big, stout looking MFer. Number 28."

"Him? Oh, that's Adrian Peterson, sir."

"Who?"

"He's our running back."

"Run-running back...?"

"Yes, sir. See, Favre can give him the ball too. He doesn't have to throw it every play."

"Well I'll be damned. Let's try that and see what happens."

 

 

haha, yeah, reminds me of the old bang cartoons episode with the eagles front office and coach reid discussing the offense:

 

[joe banner] "poppycock! don't ever talk about such a thing, this mythical running game!"

[Vikings4ever 550]

This is looking to be a hell of game.

[kmccon02 1]

wow this is going to be a great game.

 

no matter what team wins... we're in for a great superbowl

[Big Blue 06 195]

Talk bout moving the ball at will. Vikings are going to win.

 

Talk about moving the ball at will. The Saints are going to win.

[Big Blue 06 195]

Favre is getting hammered back there on every pass. I predict he doesn't live through this game.

[Vikings4ever 550]

[Vikings4ever 550]

Gotta love Jared Allen chasing down Bush from behind.

[gocolts 300]

Easy there Shirley. At least give the other team a chance with the ball before you declare them dead.

That wasn't really what I meant, although it did look that way. I thought the Vikings would win this very game long before the season was even over.