The Ticket Chest

Vikings, Saints to Battle in NFC Championship Game on Sunday

Sunday, January 24th, 2010 | Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Sports | No Comments

The Minnesota Vikings will battle the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game at 7PM EST on Sunday, January 24th.

The Minnesota Vikings will try to establish a running game early with Adrian Peterson.  Peterson has not rushed for over 100 yards since Week 10 against the Detroit Lions when he rushed for 133 yards.  It has been a “down” year for Peterson (1,383 yards rushing compared to 1,760 yards rushing a year ago), but his ability to score in the red zone (18 TD’s this year compared to just 10 a year ago), that makes him so deadly.  Brett Favre has also performed at an optimum level all season long – 107.2 QB Rating, 68.4% completion percentage; 4,202 yards passing, 33 TD’s and just 7 interceptions (his lowest total ever as a full-time starter).  With a consistent 2-headed attack from Favre and Peterson, the Vikings will always be able to stay in games.  The one negative is a .500 record on the road this season.  There only 4 wins on the road were against the Browns, Lions, Rams and Packers.  Not a good sign going into the a tough place to play like the SuperDome.

The Saints are primed and ready to advance to the Super Bowl.  Drew Brees has been firing on all cylinders all season long – 109.6 QB Rating; 70.6% completion percentage; 4,388 yards passing, 34 TD’s and just 11 interceptions.  He has multiple weapons – Jeremy Shockey, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush out of the backfield – so they are tough to defend. Reggie Bush really re-invented himself last week against the Arizona Cardinals – 43-yard rushing touchdown, 83-yard punt return for a TD, 84 rushing yards and 24 receiving yards.  If Bush can play at that same level against the Vikings this week, the Saints are going to light up the scoreboard much to the delight of their home town New Orleans fans.

Although I think Brett Favre will give it all he has in the NFC Championship Game, I think the Saints will have a little too much fire power on their own home turf for the Vikings to overcome.  With the resurgence of Reggie Bush to complement Pierre Thomas, it’s just another weapon on offense that teams have to scheme for.  I’m going with a Saints Colts Super Bowl in Miami in 2 weeks…

Tags: Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush

NFL – - Colts & Saints Still Perfect – Will it Continue?

Friday, December 4th, 2009 | Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Sports | No Comments

It’s hard to believe that 2 NFL teams are still undefeated this late in the season – but both the Indianapolis Colts & New Orleans Saints are sitting pretty with 11-0 records.

Will either team be able to finish the season a perfect 16-0 like the New England Patriots did just 2 seasons ago?

Based on conference play and schedule, it looks like the Saints have a better chance of pulling off the feat.

The Saints are 11-0, but only have a 1-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings (10-1) for the best record in the NFC.  The Saints schedule sets up favorably – @ Washington Redskins, @ Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay BUcs at home, and then at Carolina Panthers.  With the weak schedule and the incentive to finish with the best record in the conference to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Saints have a good shot at winning their last 5 games.

The Colts, on the other hand, have 3 more wins than either the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers (both 8-3) for the best record in the AFC.  The Colts could conceivably clinch the #1 seed with 2 more wins, so if they do that, Head Coach Jim Caldwell may opt to play his players more sparingly down the stretch to keep them healthy and fresh for the playoffs.  And while the schedule shapes up favorably – home against the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos, @ Jacksonville Jaguars, home against the New York Jets and then @ Buffalo Bills, it will all come down to when the Colts clinch during these next few weeks.

Peyton Manning of the Colts and Drew Brees of the Saints have had remarkable years leading their teams and will lead the MVP charge along with the Vikings Brett Favre at the end of the year…

Tags: Drew Brees, Jim Caldwell, Marques Colston, Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Sean Payton