Game: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Date & Time: Sunday January 5th, 2020, 1:05 (EST)
Location: Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
The Line: New Orleans Saints -8, O/U 49.5
TV Channel: FOX
A year after the Saints got robbed out of a Super Bowl berth, they begin their redemption tour on Sunday against the Vikings.
NFL Season Record: 60-50-3
NFL Playoff Record: 0-0
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Preview
Many feel that the New Orleans Saints were robbed of a chance to compete in the Super Bowl a season ago. In the NFC Championship, the referees missed a clear Pass Interference penalty that eventually cost the Saints the game. One year later, the Saints are back in the playoffs with a 13-3 record, looking for revenge.
We may be nearing the end of the illustrious career of Drew Brees. Brees has shown no signs of slowing down, but battling Father Time (who is undefeated), if he ends this season with a Super Bowl victory, the Hall of Famer may call it quits. Now, I’m only speculating, but it’s important to appreciate these legends while they’re still around. Brees almost single-handedly changed the trajectory of the Saints franchise, and the fanbase will love him forever for it.
The Vikings secured a playoff berth with a 10-6 record that they feel should’ve been better. Dalvin Cook was pacing the league in rushing yards before his injury late, and he finally showed the promise that the team saw when they drafted him in the second round in the 2017 NFL Draft. Cook finished with 1,135 yards and 13 TDS this season as the focal point of the Vikings offense.
Both of these teams have shown they have no problem putting up points this season. When Drew Brees is on, we’ve seen him absolutely torch defenses. Kirk Cousins on the other hand has been more inconsistent, but he had a fine year under center. With Stefon Diggs on the outside looking to be shadowed by Marshon Lattimore, Cousins will look to get Adam Thielen going early, who hasn’t looked like the same player since returning from his injury in Week 15.
Both of these teams feel they have the talent to win the NFC. Whether either of them does remains to be seen, but both of these teams have the talent to take them to Miami. It all starts here.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Key Stats
- Kirk Cousins lost his only playoff game in 2015, 35-18 to Green Bay
- Drew Brees is 8-6 in his playoff career
- Drew Brees has never lost at playoff game at the SuperDome
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Betting Lines
- The O/U for the game is 49.5
- The Saints are 8 point favorites on Draftkings
- The Saints are -385 on the ML, Vikings +325
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Prediction
As talented as the Vikings are, they just don’t match up with the Saints. The Saints can score in so many ways. Michael Thomas is essentially unguardable at receiver, and both of the Saints running backs, Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray, are nightmares for the opposing defense.
The Saints also come into this postseason with the added motivation of the robbery they received last season. Look for them to come out with a vengeance, as the combination of Drew Brees and Sean Payton looks to win their 2nd Super Bowl together. Take the Saints at -8 in what should be the most lopsided game of the weekend.
