Saints vs Vikings Game Thread

In the final divisional round game of 2018, the New Orleans Saints make the long trip north to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

The New Orleans Saints survived a brutal schedule to win their division and make it to this game. Today's game against the Vikings marks the 10th playoff team the Saints have faced this season. The Saints managed to win the tough NFC South despite the rough schedule due in part to the new found strength of their running game and balance in their offense. The Saints added sensational rookie running back Alvin Kamara this year and their running game soared. Combine that running game with a passing attack led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and you get a lethal, well balanced offense extremely difficult to shut down. Sell out to stop the run and Brees will pick you apart. Sell out to stop Brees, and Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram will destroy you in the running attack. This Saints offense is a supreme challenge for any defense.

The Minnesota Vikings defense may be up to that challenge. The Vikings have the NFL's #1 ranked defense, #2 against both the run and the pass. The Vikings come into this game the hottest team in the NFL, winners of 11 of their last 12 games. The Vikings lethal defense has given up 10 or fewer points to five of their last seven opponents. Saints irresistable force offense, meet Vikings immovable object defense.

These two teams met in Minnesota in the first game of the season and the Vikings came away with a relatively easy 29-19 win. But that was a long time ago, and these two teams have evolved since then. In the best game of the best weekend of the year of NFL football, it will be interesting to see how the rematch plays out.

It's the Saints and the Vikings squaring off to cap off divisional weekend. A trip to the NFC Championship Game hangs in the balance.

Enjoy the game everybody.