Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Before Sunday night’s game, the Minnesota Vikings replayed the “Minneapolis Miracle” three times on the video boards.

The stakes in this game weren’t as high as the meeting last January, but the New Orleans Saints earned a little revenge with a 30-20 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Aside from some early struggled by the secondary, this was a dominant game by the Saints (5-1) to extend their winning streak to six games.

What went right: The Saints defense made timely plays that made up for some poor play early in the game. The defensive turnaround began with 1:11 left in the second quarter when Alex Anzalone forced a fumble by Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen at the New Orleans 14, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore returned it to the Minnesota 33, plus the Saints added 15 more yards thanks to a penalty on Vikings receiver Laquon Treadwell throwing his helmet.

https://i.nola.com/resizer/SAyb40hRg...QZYAGCFMZM.jpg

The Saints scored a touchdown two plays later, completing what was a minimum swing of 10 points to take a 17-13 lead into halftime.

Then, in the third quarter, cornerback P.J. Williams intercepted a pass by Kirk Cousins and returned it for a 45-yard touchdown. It was vindication for Williams, who struggled mightily in the first half.

The first drive for the offense was a thing of beauty as the Saints took an early 7-0 lead. Sean Payton did a great job mixing up the calls and keeping the Vikings guessing, and the diversity of plays likely helped the Saints offense for the rest of the game.

The Saints pass rush also stepped in the game, led by two sacks apiece from Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport.

Kicker Wil Lutz his all three of his field-goal attempts, one from 52 yards and two from 42.

What went wrong: The Saints pass defense was atrocious for the first 28 minutes of the game. Cousins repeatedly exploited matchups against Williams, and Minnesota finished the first half with 242 yards. If not for that fumble, the Vikings likely would’ve had a 16-10 or 20-10 lead at halftime.

Brees’ first interception of the season was a low moment. It ended a streak of 231 attempts without a pick to start this year, but the Vikings didn’t turn the takeaway into points because of that Thielen fumble.

Player of the game: Lattimore, whose lockdown coverage — along with the fumble recovery — helped the Saints significantly.

Injuries: In the game, Saints safety Vonn Bell exited with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter. Vikings running back Roc Thomas (hamstring) left in the first half and did not return.

NOLA

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

https://www.nola.com/saints/2018/10/...rt_river_index

6 take aways

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

The Vikings suck. On to the Rams. :x

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Saints D line continues to be a strength for this team.

They are getting better, ever single week.

Shout out to Coach Nolan. He's done a hell of job with the linebackers.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Apple didn’t seem to be much of an upgrade although I wasn’t there for the 3rd quarter. Did see him stop that TD with a penalty though. I wonder if they will try Crawley in the slot?

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Also worth noting ... Sheldon Rankins had 2 sacks tonight.

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Apple did pretty good for having less than a week of practice with his new teammates


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Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

PJ Williams has more TD’s this season than Julio Jones!

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

First time in his career.

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Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

The secondary,whom I thought was going to be a strength this year,is a hot mess of garbage. I just don't get it. Many people claimed better pass rush-better secondary. Well,the pass rush showed up...still no secondary. Get that fixed and we're unstoppable

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

It is frustrating watching them play back there. But hey, we're 6-1. It's scary to think if we can elevate our secondary to playing even at a below average clip, this team can be downright dangerous.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Every team in the NFL is passing at a league high rate it’s the new game and you can’t stop it like in the old days because of the new rules. You have to manage,adjust and game plan to offset. Saint are doing that with time of possession. We could no doubt be tighter in the secondary but there are fewer quick strike plays forcing opponents into longer drives. Add our offenses time of possession and points per possession combined with the defenses timely stops and turnovers is a game winning plan ... That is how we won the last 2 road games against “Good Offensive and Defensive Teams”. Games we needed to win and we did.

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I'm pretty sure it was Williams who forced that fumble, not Anzelone. But great job by the defense last night forcing takeaways! Hopefully, with a little more time to know the schemes, Apple will get better. The defensive line is getting a little stronger each week. Hell, even the linebackers are looking like they might know where to go now. Lot's of positives!

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

+1.

So true. What I've noticed is that Okafor, Cam Jordan & Davenport are doing just that. Instead of going for the "kill shot" & possible 15 yard flag, they are attacking the football.

Ryan Nielsen was an excellent hire for that D line.

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Well I've stated my negitive. My positive is I'm loving that D line. Davenport is turning into what I hoped and felt he would be! The o line is badass too! Win in the trenches,you win ball games

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Diggs/Marcus Williams post game.

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VS Baltimore they said it was the game plan to throw short because of pass rush. Last night 120 yds for Brees again very short passing game. Only long ball was Hill. I wonder if Drew is injured.

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No. There's nothing wrong with Brees. It is simply the best game plan against teams that pressure up front.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Consider that Brees didn't target a tight end once last night (unless you count the pass to Taysom). The Vikings were playing deep safeties making it difficult to throw long. So, the approach appeared to be to run the ball and keep Brees clean with extra blocking and short routes. Seems to have worked.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

I like that SP has adjusted as needed against what they're doing to us. If theyre taking away the deep ball go underneath. We ran the ball a lot last night. May not have picked up tons of yards, but SP has shown the ability to protect oru d and team by holding the ball by running and sticking with the run

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Anzalone made the tackle, PJ caused the fumble.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

My take away........the next game is against an undefeated Rams team that is better than the injury riddled Vikings.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Saints Defensive improvements ...

Weeks 1-3 we gave up over 400 yards/34.5 points per game.

Last 3 weeks we are allowing 20 ppg & 6 take aways.

You can go very far in the playoffs if this upward trend continues.

Re: Observations Saints at Vikings
 

Was great to see a game where we were not flawless offensively still result in a win because defense and special teams came to play. Adjustments was totally the word for this game. We adjusted on both sides of the ball better than Minny did and took what they gave us offensively to still have sustained drives, points and clock management and then defensively we dictated to them what we would allow and got stops through pressure and solid tackling. Great team win and it's nice to see other facets of the game rounding out where wins can be made without having to score 40.

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If I thought our secondary could generate a few turnovers like they did Sunday I wouldn’t care about them giving up some big plays. So far it hasn’t happened. You have to give props to the Vikings wide receivers though, they were making some pretty difficult receptions.

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How is Davenport not listed?

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Walking into work this morning when my boss is a Vikings fan like...

http://i65.tinypic.com/ifzjx5.gif

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Sounds like the beginning of an old joke:

A woman in a hot air balloon asks a man on the ground "Can you tell me where I am?" The man replies "You are in a hot air balloon 6 feet above the ground."

I'm pretty sure that Budsdrinker is asking what type of scoring system is used by PFF such that Davenport isn't somewhere on the top of the list. The guy pops when you see him. So the grading criteria seems flawed.

SFIAH

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In the 3 QB set the Saints used in the red zone, the Vikings left Brees virtually uncovered. If the teams keep doing that SP has to take advantage of it and throw a pass to Brees.

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Sean is setting things up for later. He's a sneaky :censored:

:banana: