it still stings

OUCH

Key Stats - New Orleans VS Vikes

Hmmm. Everyone is saying how evenly matched we are but are we?

ON paper, not at all. Sure they have lots of explosive play power, and they have a "rep" as a "ball hawking" defense... but why?

They are ranked high in interceptions, they had 26, they were 3rd in the NFL. They were avg. in sacks.. and very low in force fumbles/ fumbles recovered. (28th)

We led the league in sacks and forced fumbles, but were dreadful in interceptions. (Maybe because we get more sacks?)

Per passing attempt we got one Interception every 48 passing plays. (less then one a game!)

Saint's had a PICK every 23 plays ( very good)

Per passing play we got one sack every 11 plays (awesome)

Saints got one every 16 plays. (above average)

Plus Minus the Saints were +11, Vikes were +6.

Overall the VIKES are ranked 2nd in the NFC behind Green Bay, The Saints are ranked near the bottom ahead of Detroit and St. Louis. But I admit, these stats are slightly misleading as they're isn't much of a difference between teams over all. (55 yards total offense per game between Vikes and Saints)

But just by glancing at these facts, and comparing FAVREs incredibly LOW interception total, (7) the Vikes ability to rush the passer and create fumbles and the NEW ORLEANS very below avg. total defense you have to ask yourself. Which team is going to be able to stifle the other teams high scoring offense?

We just destroyed the 2nd best offense in the league. (Dallas) But we were at home and had the crowd noise as an advantage... New Orleans is the number one offense. WE are the number three offense. I don't like to crunch stats for anything more then fun, but common sense tells me that if we play half as good as we did against Dallas, we should be able to limit them to 14, 17, 21 points. How are they gonna stop us? They won't get any interceptions, I can tell you that... unless they are deflections etc or something like that. They better start scheming.

I am assuming that we will try to gash them with a real balanced run/pass attack early. Try to sustain long drives and "matriculate" it down the field. Keep our defense fresh, keep the bal out of BREES hands. I assume that we will have some success on the defensive end and of the two teams, we will cause the most turnovers. And we will, finally, have a rushing game again.

More stats...

DALLAS's defense is infinitely better then the SAINTS. Dallas is 4th against the run, the SAINTS are 22nd. The SAINTS give up 122 yards per game, and that's AVG. That's not VRS Adrian Peterson an company.

"Home field"

True, it's at their house, and crowd noise will be a nuisance, but I like our chances overall. I am not scared at all. "WHO DAT" all they want I think they're team will be exposed as just a high scoring no defense playing over rated side show. They won't be able to find a way to stop us when necessary and we will do a good job of slowing them down.

My take on Dallas match up...

Well, here are my keys to the game. Some are obvious, some not so much. We are both top ten teams in offense and defense... we both have great QBs, DEs and TEs and more then serviceable WRs. They have Austin who is a bigger threat then Berrian. But we trump them at RB easily. I think we have more "Explosive Play" capability but it's gonna come down to execution, not of the offenses, but of the defenses. Limiting those opportunities for the other team.

Scheming and Tackling!

People usually don't mention kickers but I will. We have a great one, theirs is real spotty. I know some of us are still traumatized by Gary Anderson's miss against the Dirty Birdies but I'm hoping those chokes are long gone. Let's not forget Romo blew it for the boys with his botched hold a few seasons ago!

Vikings nation is worried about "which VIKING team will show up" on Sunday. Common sense says they'll bring their A game. They all know what is at stake. In the back of their minds they're not looking forward to a bye week or an "easy game" with the Giants or Carolina. I think the sense of urgency will be there from the start and, even if we have a few hiccups holding off their defense at first, we will find a rhythm of sorts.

Now for some history... most of us have heard of the infamous Drew Pearson push off. Here is a great piece on it, which also bring ups some good points... the little things we forget.

the "push off"

game over

When we think of the '98 team, we all think of the aforementioned missed FG. We rarely mention how on the Falcons last drive to tie the game we dropped 2 easy interceptions that could have easily ended the game... this is the sort of thing that will make the biggest difference on Sunday. Not to be lazy and cliche, but it's gonna come down to "making plays." Unfortunately I was eerily accurate in my keys to the Philly playoff game last year. Hopefully in this equally fair match up, I won't be so accurate. OR at least, our negative worries won't come to fruition. ( we play like we did in Arizona, AP fumbles, Favre gets hurt etc)

Here they are, my keys. We need more YES answers then NO. I wrote it all from our perspective, keeping in mind our tendencies and what I've gathered about or club this season.

• Will the Vikes come out with an aggressive and quick passing attack?
• Will the Vikes play up to the standard they've set on special teams- coverage / returns?
• Will AP not fumble?
• Will Berrian have a break out game, and contribute?
• Will our O LINE provide protection?
• Will we intercept those balls we keep dropping? Knock downs aren't good enough!
• Will AP take it all the way instead of get tackled by their "last defender" in the red zone thus it's a FG instead of 7?
• Will we force ROMO into quick throws? sacks don't matter as much as disruption! Can we jam their WRs and get to him?
• Will we slow down or eliminate WITTEN as a primary target?
• Will we manage to keep Austin from torching us?
• Will we throw some curves or gadgets? we've been sitting on them all year. We've had so many "no gain" runs.. we're do for a flea flicker!
• Will their kicker choke on an XP or FG?
• Will Shiancoe, Rice, Harvin and company simply "do their jobs?
• Will we not get behind forcing Favre into his "I gotta force a play " mode?
• Will Winfield not get burnt?

Well... that's my take. I am gonna be a nervous wreck the first quarter. I hope we have scored at least 10 by half if not 17 but that's asking a lot against their defense which is a leader in Pts allowed. I just don't want us to have any bad turnovers or give up any big plays ( see New England vs Ravens) but that's football and that's why we play these games, to win. "Hello?!" =D

I hope they watch this kid before the game!

Come on AP! Release the Kracken!!

Skol Vikes.