Vikes open as a 4 point Favorite
Rematch from week 1, who thought both of these teams would be squaring off in Divisional Playoff round? Both teams have their work cut out for them as the Saints lost to the Buccaneers and the Vikings are hosting the Super Bowl which are HUGE strikes against them. Just kidding if you have followed another thread, you know where I am going with this. Ok lets break this down
When the Saints have the ball.. They will be forced to pick on CB Trae Waynes, Rhodes will cover Thomas and since the Vikes play man to man you won't be seeing Thomas running across the field wide open like today. Kamara will be shadowed out of the backfield by Anthony Barr, so the Saints will have to run the ball effectively and pass to options outside of Thomas and Kamara for the most part. Big advantage for the Vikings and then they can effectively blitz Kendricks if they want to, or roll Sandejo and Harrison Smith wherever they like. Vikings also know Brees will not kill them with his legs and will be after him a lot as I expect the Saints to be passing. All this theory goes out the window if Saints establish a running game early but Vikes very stingy against the runs with a mental lapse from time to time.
When the Vikings have the ball, they will have to rely on the running game early to set up play action. Saints play a little of everything and from what I see the Saints blitz often. Vikes are really good at blitz pickup and Keenum was or is the #1 rated passer vs the Blitz. Do the Saints realize this and play coverage? ( What I would do.) The big question is Keenum, no playoff experience and he has looked less than spectacular of late but they aren't asking him to be..
Conclusion - I am going with the Vikings, I think their defense is much better than what the Saints can handle.. They held them to 19 week 1 and 7 of those points came in garbage time and another 3 were form bogus penalty. I know its been 4 months but the matchups are just in the Vikes favor.. Vikes offense will do enough provided Keenum doesn't implode and the Vikes O - Line has been very very good and now they are healthy.. Hope the Vikes aren't flat after the rest.. Oh also don't forget US BANK Stadium is a HUGE ADVANTAGE
VIKES 27 Saints 17
I am expecting this line to get below 4, public money will come in on the Saints...
Rematch from week 1, who thought both of these teams would be squaring off in Divisional Playoff round? Both teams have their work cut out for them as the Saints lost to the Buccaneers and the Vikings are hosting the Super Bowl which are HUGE strikes against them. Just kidding if you have followed another thread, you know where I am going with this. Ok lets break this down
When the Saints have the ball.. They will be forced to pick on CB Trae Waynes, Rhodes will cover Thomas and since the Vikes play man to man you won't be seeing Thomas running across the field wide open like today. Kamara will be shadowed out of the backfield by Anthony Barr, so the Saints will have to run the ball effectively and pass to options outside of Thomas and Kamara for the most part. Big advantage for the Vikings and then they can effectively blitz Kendricks if they want to, or roll Sandejo and Harrison Smith wherever they like. Vikings also know Brees will not kill them with his legs and will be after him a lot as I expect the Saints to be passing. All this theory goes out the window if Saints establish a running game early but Vikes very stingy against the runs with a mental lapse from time to time.
When the Vikings have the ball, they will have to rely on the running game early to set up play action. Saints play a little of everything and from what I see the Saints blitz often. Vikes are really good at blitz pickup and Keenum was or is the #1 rated passer vs the Blitz. Do the Saints realize this and play coverage? ( What I would do.) The big question is Keenum, no playoff experience and he has looked less than spectacular of late but they aren't asking him to be..
Conclusion - I am going with the Vikings, I think their defense is much better than what the Saints can handle.. They held them to 19 week 1 and 7 of those points came in garbage time and another 3 were form bogus penalty. I know its been 4 months but the matchups are just in the Vikes favor.. Vikes offense will do enough provided Keenum doesn't implode and the Vikes O - Line has been very very good and now they are healthy.. Hope the Vikes aren't flat after the rest.. Oh also don't forget US BANK Stadium is a HUGE ADVANTAGE
VIKES 27 Saints 17
I am expecting this line to get below 4, public money will come in on the Saints...
