#1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Saints have the best offense bar none. Pass and run great. But they are facing the Vikings D that's darn good ranked #6. Great rushing D to force teams to become one dimensional. One of the best pass rushes to pressure QBs. There won't be 6 seconds and 4 yard pockets like the Cards gave Brees.

Whereas, the Saints D is ranked #25, not good at much except INT's. Most of those INT's came against inexperienced QB's Stafford, Sanchez, Freeman, Henne, and Ryan. Favre has protected the ball all year, so I don't think he's going to collapse against the Saints. I imagine the Saints will stick 8 in the box, like all other teams, so they can stop Peterson. So Rice or Berrian will be singled, which the Cowboys learned was stupid. Vikes live by "damn if you do... damn if you don't"... play the pass the run burns you... play the run and the pass burns you.

As I see it the Vikes Offense is not that far behind the Saints, whereas the Saints D is seriously lacking.

Please bring the excuses...

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

No excuses. It will be a good game. Maybe you can explain your team's mediocre 4-4 road record where you lost to any respectable team except the one road win in Green Bay which was likely as big or bigger than any game for Favre in his career. The Vikings statistically (since you seem to be enamored with them) look average at best on the road compared to their home performances with alarming lower stats on both sides of the football. Realistically should you not be comparing your road stats to our home stats to get a more accurate picture. You aren't in the friendly confines of the Metrodome this weekend.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I think you throw the stats out of the window for this game.

The defensive rank means nothing to us because our players are all finally healthy for once. It's up to Gregg Williams to put our guys in the right spot to make plays.

Both teams are healthy and have momentum. I wouldn't ask for the NFC Championship to be played any other way.

I think it comes down to who can protect their QB the best and limit turnovers.

I could see a close game and a 3 point win.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Excuses? First, let's go ahead and look at the fact that the Saints defense was in the top ten, in the first half of the season, against both the pass, and the run. Then we lost one of our starting DTs for the season. Two of our lbs went down for about three weeks, and here's the kicker, BOTH of our starting corners went down for what was almost the rest of the season.

As soon as both of our starting corners came back, our pass defense has been MUCH better, and they are playing exactly like they were the first of the year. So if I were you, I wouldn't underestimate our defense, whether it's against the run, or the pass. Arizona did the same thing, and they were all soaking in ice for about a day, after Saturday.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I prefer they continue to underestimate - especially the coaches.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Saints D looked pretty good last week against a team that scored 45 the week before. They completely shut down Fitzgerald until the game was over.

When the Saints go 4 or 5 wide who is going to cover those guys? Winfield is injured and not very good at this time because of said injury and their safeties are terrible. If the Saints LT gets injured early then maybe Allen will do some damage, he seems to make huge waves against 2nd and 3rd stringers (yes I realize Brown is technically the starting LT but he's been out all year).

Unlike the Cowboys the Saints actually throw to their WR. I don't think Tony Stinko actually threw a pass to a WR the entire 2nd half. Everything was to Witten and nothing else.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

"Favre has protected the ball all year, so I don't think he's going to collapse against the Saints."

How many ints did he throw in the losses to Carolina, Arizona, and Chicago? In three games.... Just curious. If he could do it in three season games, that basically would have given you guys homefield, because of our "3 game slide", then why wouldn't you believe he could do it for the shot at the superbowl? He did it before in Green Bay, many times. ESPECIALLY in the NFCCG.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

One thing I'd like to add is that the Saints MUST run the football well to win.

Our success running vs AZ helped win that game. (171yds)

It'll be a tough task, bc MINN's run D has looked good recently and especially against Dallas' RB's.

Paging Willie Roaf...

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Please fill free to cruch road vs home stats. If I recall you have been having a bit of problems at home recently, so your home cherry is broken. So I would be more worried about losing at home if I were you. Especially playing a team with a real D.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I agree 100%. We have got to get the run game going. That's what opened up that flea flicker against the red birds. As well as the rest of our passing game.

I say, screen, screen, screen... Back those LBs up, as well as those DEs.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

We lost 2 at home, you guys lost 4 on the road. I would say that those stats pretty much even out. By the way, that real D, is what lost you guys those road games. They couldn't stop Chicago, or ARizona. And their offenses aren't even close to ours.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Thanks for bringing it up ....wtf happened against Zona on turf in a Dome ... looks like you all get homesick and play like DOODOO when on the road .... take a deep breath and take in what Dallas felt like losing to y'all ... you'll need to drink that big tall drink of big-dose-of-reality and go-home-out-of-the-playoffs! Besides, Karma is a real Biatch, and so is payback!

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

O.K. You asked for it. First, I will pose a question to you. Do you think Kurt Warner and his receivers are slouches? Before you answer that and make your own excuses, you may want to look back and see what they did to your beloved Vikings about a month or so ago. See what happened when they played us with a HEALTHY secondary? Not very much. Jabari Greer was 2nd to ONLY Darelle Revis in percentage of getting burned. The Saints starting corners of Greer and Porter have allowed only ONE TD pass against them all year. If you don't know who they are, make yourself acquainted with them, because they will be on your boys all game long....and it will be man-on-man. I stated in another thread a couple of days ago that if the Saints can shut down arguably THE BEST WR IN FOOTBALL, what makes anyone think that they can't shut down Sidney "I wish my name was Jerry" Rice, Bernard "Damn, I stole a lot of money on that contract" Berrian, or Percy "Sledge" Harvin? With those two in the line-up, that allows Sharper (the man Minnesota thought was washed up) to play center field and be a playmaker like he does best. Add a guy who can really bring the lumber in Roman Harper, and I would take our secondary over yours any day of the week. The #25 ranking is skewed because early in the season, teams were having to play from behind, so they passed the ball. Later in the season, the Saints were playing with a lot of injured starters on defense. Most important the starting corners. Even our third corner was banged up with injuries (hamstring, concussion). That left us with a rookie corner and two guys signed off the street. Our depth was exposed. Not our defense. You saw what happened to the Cards when we had our top three corners healthy. They sure didn't do very much.

Secondly, putting Ryan in that category with the "un-experienced" QB's is just asinine, and shows that you aren't aware how good of a QB is is after on two years. He scares the living crap out of me knowing that he is in our division for several years to come. And about Stafford, didn't you guys play them twice? Also, let's run down the list of "inexperienced" QB's you guys played this year. Derrick Anderson (horrible), Stafford (twice), Shaun Hill (he almost beat you guys in your own place), Joe Flacco (since you wanted to put Ryan in the mix, and he's not as good as Ryan), Matt Moore (lit you guys up like a Christmas tree), and Jay Cutler (picked you guys apart after a HORRIBLE year). You might want to do some more research before you start talking your boys up.

I give the Vikings a lot of credit for having a great defensive line, but then again, they have yet to see a line like the Saints. Probably the most underrated line in football. One All-Pro, Two Pro-Bowlers, and two alternates to the Pro Bowl. The only person on that line that worries me is Bushrod, but Coach Payton learned from the Cowboys game not to leave him alone against an elite pass-rusher. He will get help from the tight ends and running backs. I honestly think that Jared Allen is a bit overrated, though. Sure, he had 14.5 sacks, but 7.5 of those came against that Packers line that got Rodgers sacked 50 times this year. I'm not saying he's not good, but I'm saying he may not be as good as everyone thinks he is.

You imagine the Saints will put 8 in the box? You are imagining wrong. Gregg Williams will be putting in all different kinds of packages to throw Favre off his game. If he can do that against the likes of Tom Brady, Eli Manning, and Kurt Warner and make them look average at best, who says that he won't do it against Favre, as well. There will be a game plan and packages on Sunday that the Saints haven't even used this season. They pulled some new ones out against the Cards, and they will do the same thing against the Vikings.

In short, there are a lot of things you aren't seeing in this Saints' team that needed to be pointed out.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

That's what I ment about excuses... injuries are a fact of the NFL. Vikes have had their fair share too, but our D is still #6. We are actually playing a 5th round rookie at MLB, because the starter broke his leg. Brinkley played great in shutting down Barber and Felix Jones, I imagine he'll do the same against Bush, Thomas, and Bell.

The Vikes D is ready to put pressure on Brees, so he can have a Dallas like day in NO... 4 sacks, 1 INT, 2 lost fumbles, 81 rating.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Great post D_it_up!

Spoken like someone who actually KNOWS what they are talking about!

Kudos!

:notworthy:

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Hmmm - Are their Saints fans heading onto Viks fan pages. I have always thought this concept weird.

To me it shows a lack of belief in ones' team. (so in your case the Viks)

Stats are meaningless at this point. Both teams rested - both teams hungry. Let the chips fall where they may.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Ok. At which point in the season, were you guys down 3 DBs, and having to hit the street to find FAs, to fill the holes? Do you even know how many CBs we signed and released since October? About 5. Our safety play, in our defensive scheme, becomes mute, when you don't have quality cover corners. Instead of playing the run, or just watching for opportunities for picks, they were put in the role of double coverage.

Our defensive scheme, and the Vikes, are like comparing apples to oranges.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Dream on! And do come back after the Saints oust the Vikes, and admit that you were wrong!

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

The Cardinals defense is so bad that they fell behind and had to throw the whole game. The Vikings defense is better then the Cardinals defense. Andlast time the Saints faced a good defense they lost. And don't tell the Cowboy defense isn't good

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Oh and by the way mn pack fan Allen owned you guys so don't act he has done nothing

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

The Saints are going to roll you up in your Viking's snuggie and beat you senseless, boy. I'm going to be so embarrassed for your squad:pokechop:.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

The Cards defense was so bad that they only allowed 17 pts. to who? That's right! The Vikings! And that Vikings defense was so good that they allowed 31 points to who? That's right! The Cards! Bad argument, G. Try again.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I can do that as well what happened to your defense against Tampa? Dallas?

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Ummm...Four injured defensive players namely our top three corners? What else ya got? I can do this all day.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Blah blah blah can we stop with the injury excuse? we are not using it neither should you.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

We lost to Tampa, by a field goal, in OT. And that's not even why we lost, our kicker missed a freaking chip shot, that would have won the game in regulation. The Dallas game, we only played one quarter, and still only lost by six points, so regardless of what you think, neither of these losses were "blow outs". The Carolina game, and this is for everyone in the cheap seats, that seem to ignore this, DID NOT COUNT FOR US, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR STARTERS WERE HELD OUT FOR THE PLAY OFFS!!! Brees didn't throw one ball in the game. Almost our entire secondary sat out, and we STILL only gave up 23 points!!! With our B team.

Now let's talk about your losses, and margin of victories.... Let's see YOUR list of excuses.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

When did you have your starting corners out for half of the season? When did you have one of your starting DT's for 5 weeks and the other starting DT put on IR after the first game of the season?

One more thing. That three-game losing streak of ours opened the door for you guys to be hosting the NFCC instead of us, but what happened? *Cough* *Choke* *Cough* *Choke* Whose defense did that? Oh yeah...Once again. The Vikings!

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

It won't do any good, saintpaul. We shouldn't get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

hey, Vikes. great to see you on the site.

Just a caution, there isn't anyone here who doesn't do their homework before posting. So, that being said, you should do the research rather than ask the question "why are you 25th rated and think you can control us". We can answer that for you, play the tape of the New England game, for example, where 3 CB's and a safety who hadn't played in a year shut down the highest rated QB in the NFL and the most prolific passing game in the NFL this season, but that would just be too easy.

If you're a serious dude, you'll appreciate that, on a play per play basis, adjusted for level of competition, our D was actually better than yours over the whole season, even when we had injuries and even when we tanked it on purpose at the end of the season. You can follow this link, if you've recovered from your reality based coma,

Defense Analysis

Seems a shame to also note that these same analysts rate our O-line better than yours as well. And receivers, and TE's, and DB's. And QB. Pity.

Anyway, good luck to you and to your team's chances on the road this weekend. Tell them to prepare for the noise to start the moment they check into their hotel room.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Regular Season Schedule/Results
WK DATE OPPONENT RESULT W-L HI PASSING HI RUSHING HI RECEIVING
1 Sun, Sep 13 @ Cleveland W 34-20 1-0 Favre 110 Peterson 180 Harvin 36
2 Sun, Sep 20 @ Detroit W 27-13 2-0 Favre 155 Peterson 92 Berrian 46
3 Sun, Sep 27 San Francisco W 27-24 3-0 Favre 301 Peterson 85 Taylor 70
4 Mon, Oct 5 Green Bay W 30-23 4-0 Favre 271 Peterson 55 Berrian 75
5 Sun, Oct 11 @ St. Louis W 38-10 5-0 Favre 232 Peterson 63 Harvin 66
6 Sun, Oct 18 Baltimore W 33-31 6-0 Favre 278 Peterson 143 Rice 176
7 Sun, Oct 25 @ Pittsburgh L 17-27 6-1 Favre 334 Peterson 69 Rice 136
8 Sun, Nov 1 @ Green Bay W 38-26 7-1 Favre 244 Peterson 97 Harvin 84
9 BYE WEEK
10 Sun, Nov 15 Detroit W 27-10 8-1 Favre 344 Peterson 133 Rice 201
11 Sun, Nov 22 Seattle W 35-9 9-1 Favre 213 Peterson 82 Rice 89
12 Sun, Nov 29 Chicago W 36-10 10-1 Favre 392 Peterson 85 Harvin 101
13 Sun, Dec 6 @ Arizona L 17-30 10-2 Favre 275 Harvin 22 Harvin 79
14 Sun, Dec 13 Cincinnati W 30-10 11-2 Favre 192 Peterson 97 Berrian 43
15 Sun, Dec 20 @ Carolina L 7-26 11-3 Favre 224 Peterson 35 Peterson 73
16 Mon, Dec 28 @ Chicago L 30-36 OT
17 Sun, Jan 3 NY Giants W 44-7


Now, let's look at the Saints schedule....

Sep 13 vs. DETROIT LIONS 12:00PM
45 - 27
Sep 20 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 12:00PM
48 - 22
Sep 27 @ BUFFALO BILLS 3:05PM
27 - 7
Oct 04 vs. NEW YORK JETS 3:05PM
24 - 10
Oct 18 vs. NEW YORK GIANTS 12:00PM
48 - 27
Oct 25 @ MIAMI DOLPHINS 3:15PM
46 - 34
Nov 02 vs. ATLANTA FALCONS 7:30PM
35 - 27
Nov 08 vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS 3:05PM
30 - 20
Nov 15 @ ST. LOUIS RAMS 12:00PM
28 - 23
Nov 22 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 12:00PM
38 - 7
Nov 30 vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 7:30PM
38 - 17
Dec 06 @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS 12:00PM
33 - 30
Dec 13 @ ATLANTA FALCONS 12:00PM
26 - 23
Dec 19 vs. DALLAS COWBOYS 7:20PM
17 - 24
Dec 27 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 12:00PM
17 - 20
Jan 03 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS 12:00PM
10 - 23


We lost two at home, and one on the road. You guys lost none at home, and four on the road. And by strength of the teams you lost too, you gotta admit, that staunch defense gave up ALOT of yards, and points in those losses. Back to my first point: YOU ARE ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK. NOT AT HOME. Now, according to RECORD, who does that favor again?????

Also want to throw out that Peterson only had 4, 100 plus yard games all season. So pass blocking yes, run blocking, no.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

:notworthy:

It's funny how people saw us "tail off" towards the end of the season and pretend they know what our defense is about. As many have mentioned, a lot of our core/key players were on the mend... which definitely skewed our defensive standings. That said, I believe we had the best scoring defense in the league and forced a boat load of turnovers. Anyone can tell you that if you win the turnover battle, the likelihood of winning the game is greater than 70% (I think it's actually much higher). One other thing I'd like to mention is that when the Colts won the Superbowl, they had one of the worst defensive units during the regular season yet dominated in the postseason... which is all that matters. So as much as you want to brag about your regular season rankings, that stuff means absolutely means jack squat.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Or as Drew Brees said in an interview a couple of weeks ago, "it doesn't mean twat". :D

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I dont think your vaunted D as you claim has seen an offense as potent as ours. we hit you from all over the field..Dallas has a horrible offensive line and cant protect the QB ..Brees gets the ball out so fast your D line wont be able to get the pressure like they did on Romo..Believe me Payton will be able to outcoach Chilly.. and G.W will bring defensive formations even Bretty hasn't seen..I think the weak link that will decide this whole game is your weak secondary..Brees will attack that allday..which means points..I mean Julius Peppers ate your o-line up..He didnt sack Brees one time..we have the best o-line in football The Big Uglies ..they will keep your D- Line in check..

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

And our "terrible" defense only gave up 30 points in what, 3 games? And we WON all of those games.

We allowed two touch downs against the Cards, and one of those was given up, on a BS roughing the passer call, that SHOULD have been a pick, and Saints ball.

I have to agree D. Seems like he's grasping here.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Actually it was only twice they gave up 30 points or more. But who's counting? ;) The Vikings gave up 30 or more three times.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

With that correction, thank you btw :), IMHO, points allowed, and points off turnovers, are the most important stats going into this game. Because "statistically", we know who the better road team is.... But once again, we are NOT on the road this week.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Yep, we lost a couple at home, one meaningless as your team was backsliding their way into the bye not able to win on the road. We weren't the team losing with our starters in the game at the end of the year at risk of hosting a wild card game thanks to Philly choking for you. I guess the stats are a crutch for me but a pulpit for you? Typical of someone who brings nothing to the game. You can't dispute them with facts or back up so you mock them. Solid effort...

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

I get tired of hearing about our defense rank. The majority of that is been amplified because teams get extremely aggressive trying to come back. Also, we have had a ton of injuries on the defensive side of the football. Another thing, is when the offense of a team scores quickly, like what happens in a pass happy offense, the other team gets the ball more. Not making excuses, just stating the obvious.

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

Just remember, only teams without major injuries to either side of the ball, call them excuses. Let one of the Williams boys go down, or Allen, then all the sudden that excuse will turn to "well, if he had been playing."

Re: #1 O vs #6 D and #5 O vs #25 D Who wins?
 

1 big stat that I like to look at is points per play. Saints are 13th on defense. We are 2nd in turnover margin. In terms of net points from the defense per play, we are easily in the top 10 and probably in the top 5. Can't actually give an exact ranking, because I don't feel like doing the math. Would require to to find a average for the def through yards per point on turnover and all kinds of other crap. Our defense is easily in the top 10 in terms of production though.