Both New Orleans and Minnesota coming off of very impressive home wins in thier playoff openers.
New Orleans started out a bit slow but then Drew Brees and Co started rolling and the Cards couldnt keep up. Reggie Bush was very impressive and Drew Brees did pretty much whatever he wanted against a Arizona defense that was really struggling coming into the contest. After early struggles the Saints D really tightened up and shut down Kurt Warner and the Cards the rest of the way.
Minnesota came into a game, where they were facing possible the hottest team in the league coming into the playoffs(next to the Chargers maybe). The "experts" seemed to be all over dallas all week and thought that dallas would go into probably the toughest place to play in the league and roll the vikes....Minnesota man-handled the Boys. Brett Favre lit up the Dallas Secondary to the tune of 4 TD passes(3 to Sidney Rice) While the Minnesota front 4 was all over Tony Romo from start to finsh, sacking him 6 times and holding the Dallas offense to 3 points.
Now to the NFC title game
Both teams have terrific offenses obviously. Number 1 and 2 in the league PPG wise. While I do think New Orleans has the best offense in the league, In this game I am going to give the advantage to Minnesota. Reason being, Minnesota should have a significant advantage in the run game. Adrian Peterson, while he has not put up huge numbers recently, will be facing a Saints D that is ranked 21st against the run. On the flip side, while the Saints have ran the ball very well this year(6th ranked in the NFL) They will be facing a tremendous Minnesota rush D(2nd ranked in the NFL) led by the Williams wall up front. This I believe will force the Saints to be very 1 dimensional, Which will in turn allow the leagues best pass rush to really pin thier ears back and go after Drew Brees.
Just about every top tier back the Saints have faced this year has had success...
C. Williams 129
J Stewart 125*
S Jackson 131
D Williams 149
M Turner 151
R Brown/R Williams 128
*(Week 17)
The one factor that I have heard talked about SO much this week and that I think is being way over valued is the crowd noise factor...
Yes i understand it gets VERY loud in the Superdome and forces the visiting team to use silient count, hand signals, ect.
You know where else its get very loud?
The Metrodome, where Brett Favre has come into as the visitor many times as a Packer. I have a hard time bellieving that is will get THAT much louder in the Superdome, then it does in the Metrodome for a Packer Vikings game..After all...The rookie Josh Freeman seemed to do ok with it...I think Brett Favre will be just fine
I think the key to beating a team with a great passing attack such as the Saints, is being able to get consistant pressure from your front 4.The Dallas Cowboys were able to do it in NO, and no team is better at doing just that in the NFL than the Minnesota Vikings.
The last thing i would like to point to is something I have not heard discussed to much this week, is the fact the While the Vikings will be relying on proven vetran kicker Ryan Longwell, while the Saints will be looking to Garrett Hartley who already cost his team in the home loss to Tampa Bay. Hartley only has 24 FG attempts in his NFL career. I would not feel confident as a Saints backer at all if this game comes down to field goals.
Just my thoughts on the game. This is the NFC matchup everyone was waiting for and now it is here. Cant wait for this one
My play.....MInnesota Vikings ML
GL to all enjoy the game