Prediction: Saints 31, Vikings 23
by Mike Krueger | Follow @FF_Today
Player Rankings and Projections
|
| Minnesota Vikings |
| Rank |
Player |
Projections |
| QB 18 |
Matt Cassel |
Pass: 235, 2 TD Rush: 10, 0 |
| RB 23 |
Matt Asiata |
Rush: 65, 0 TD Rec: 3-20, 0 |
| RB 58 |
Jerick McKinnon |
Rush: 20, 0 TD Rec: 1-5, 0 |
| WR 14 |
Cordarrelle Patterson  |
Rec: 5-65, 1 TD |
| WR 60 |
Greg Jennings |
Rec: 4-55, 0 TD |
| WR 94 |
Jarius Wright |
Rec: 1-20, 0 TD |
| TE 7 |
Kyle Rudolph |
Rec: 5-55, 1 TD |
| K 7 |
Blair Walsh |
FG: 3/3 XP: 2/2 |
| DEF 31 |
Defense / ST |
|
|
|
|
| New Orleans Saints |
| Rank |
Player |
Projections |
| QB 1 |
Drew Brees |
Pass: 310, 3 TD Rush: 0, 0 |
| RB 27 |
Pierre Thomas |
Rush: 45, 0 TD Rec: 4-30, 0 |
| RB 28 |
Khiry Robinson |
Rush: 60, 1 TD Rec: 1-10, 0 |
| WR 17 |
Marques Colston |
Rec: 6-75, 1 TD |
| WR 24 |
Brandin Cooks |
Rec: 6-70, 1 TD |
| WR 84 |
Kenny Stills |
Rec: 1-20, 0 TD |
| WR 97 |
Joe Morgan |
Rec: 1-10, 0 TD |
| TE 1 |
Jimmy Graham |
Rec: 7-85, 1 TD |
| TE 45 |
Ben Watson |
Rec: 1-10, 0 TD |
| K 13 |
Shayne Graham |
FG: 1/1 XP: 4/4 |
| DEF 17 |
Defense / ST |
|
|
|
Game Notes
 Vikings QB Matt Cassel won only start at NO (9/23/12) leading KC to 27-24 OT win... In 62 career games played indoors, RB Adrian Peterson has rushed for 6,387 yards (103 per game) & 52 TDs. Since entering NFL in 2007, leads NFL with 10,190 rush yards & 86 rush TDs. RB Matt Asiata had 25-yard rec. TD last week... WR-KR Cordarrelle Patterson aims for 4th road game in row with TD. Has 2 rush TDs & rec. TD in past 3 on road. Has TD in 6 of past 7 games (4 rush, 3 rec.). WR Greg Jennings had TD catch in all 4 career meetings vs. NO. Patterson Jennings & TE Kyle Rudolph are tied for team lead with 7 catches... LB Chad Greenway aims for 3rd meeting in row with 12+ tackles. LB Jasper Brinkley leads team with 14 tackles. CB Captain Munnerlyn leads NFL with 4 INT-TDs since 2012. S Harrison Smith is tied for 2nd during that span with 3 INT-TDs, incl. 81-yard TD in Week 1. DE Everson Griffen has 4.5 sacks in past 4.
 Saints Have won 8 in row at home... In past 3 vs. Min. (incl. 2009 NFC Champ), QB Drew Brees is 3-0, completing 76 of 107 (71 pct.) for 846 yards with 9 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 122.3 rating. In last meeting, completed 32 of 40 (80 pct.) for 412 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 149.2 rating. Only QB in NFL history w/ 80+ comp. pct., 400+ yards, 5+ TDs & 0 INTs in game. Since joining NO in 2006, leads NFL with 39,303 pass yards & 286 pass TDs... RB Pierre Thomas has 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in past 3 meetings (incl. NFC Champ)... Since 2011 (incl. playoffs), TE Jimmy Graham leads NFL TEs with 304 catches, 3,917 yards & 41 TDs. Incl. playoffs, has 24 rec. TDs in past 24 at home. Had 10 catches for 118 yards & 2 TDs last week. In last meeting, WR Marques Colston had 8 catches for 91 yards. Rookie WR Brandin Cooks has 143 scrimmage yards (94 rec., 49 rush)... LB Junior Galette has 10 sacks in past 8 at home. Has sack in 7 of those 8. Had sack in last meeting. DE Cameron Jordan has 7 sacks in past 7 at home. Since entering NFL in 2009, S Jairus Byrd has 22 INTs, most by NFL S.
Results and Schedule
| Minnesota Vikings |
| Week |
Date |
Opp |
H/A |
Score |
Dif |
| 1 |
2014-09-07 |
STL |
A |
W 34-6 |
+28 |
| 2 |
2014-09-14 |
NE |
H |
L 7-30 |
-23 |
| 3 |
2014-09-21 |
NO |
A |
|
|
| 4 |
2014-09-28 |
ATL |
H |
|
|
| 5 |
2014-10-02 |
GB |
A |
|
|
| 6 |
2014-10-12 |
DET |
H |
|
|
| 7 |
2014-10-19 |
BUF |
A |
|
|
| 8 |
2014-10-26 |
TB |
A |
|
|
| 9 |
2014-11-02 |
WAS |
H |
|
|
| 10 |
|
Bye |
|
|
|
| 11 |
2014-11-16 |
CHI |
A |
|
|
| 12 |
2014-11-23 |
GB |
H |
|
|
| 13 |
2014-11-30 |
CAR |
H |
|
|
| 14 |
2014-12-07 |
NYJ |
H |
|
|
| 15 |
2014-12-14 |
DET |
A |
|
|
| 16 |
2014-12-21 |
MIA |
A |
|
|
| 17 |
2014-12-28 |
CHI |
H |
|
|
|
|
|
| New Orleans Saints |
| Week |
Date |
Opp |
H/A |
Score |
Dif |
| 1 |
2014-09-07 |
ATL |
A |
L 34-37 |
-3 |
| 2 |
2014-09-14 |
CLE |
A |
L 24-26 |
-2 |
| 3 |
2014-09-21 |
MIN |
H |
|
|
| 4 |
2014-09-28 |
DAL |
A |
|
|
| 5 |
2014-10-05 |
TB |
H |
|
|
| 6 |
|
Bye |
|
|
|
| 7 |
2014-10-19 |
DET |
A |
|
|
| 8 |
2014-10-26 |
GB |
H |
|
|
| 9 |
2014-10-30 |
CAR |
A |
|
|
| 10 |
2014-11-09 |
SF |
H |
|
|
| 11 |
2014-11-16 |
CIN |
H |
|
|
| 12 |
2014-11-24 |
BAL |
H |
|
|
| 13 |
2014-11-30 |
PIT |
A |
|
|
| 14 |
2014-12-07 |
CAR |
H |
|
|
| 15 |
2014-12-15 |
CHI |
A |
|
|
| 16 |
2014-12-21 |
ATL |
H |
|
|
| 17 |
2014-12-28 |
TB |
A |
|
|
|
|
Offense Stats Comparison
| |
MIN
Offense |
NO
Offense |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Points for |
20.5 |
29.0 |
21.8 |
NO |
| Rushing yards |
120.0 |
156.5 |
116.3 |
NO |
| Rushing yards per attempt |
4.90 |
5.69 |
4.31 |
NO |
| Completion % |
59.0% |
68.3% |
63.5% |
NO |
| Passing yards |
161.5 |
278.0 |
228.5 |
NO |
| Passing yards per completion |
8.97 |
9.93 |
10.27 |
NO |
| Passing yards per attempt |
5.30 |
6.78 |
6.52 |
NO |
| Interceptions |
2.0 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
NO |
| Fumbles lost |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
MIN |
| Sacks allowed |
3.5 |
1.0 |
2.2 |
NO |
| 3rd down conversions |
31.8% |
57.7% |
40.9% |
NO |
| 4th down conversions |
0.0% |
0.0% |
50.9% |
- |
| Time of possession |
28:22 |
31:08 |
30:07 |
NO |
|
|
|
Defense Stats Comparison
| |
MIN
Defense |
NO
Defense |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Points against |
18.0 |
31.5 |
21.8 |
MIN |
| Rushing yards |
111.0 |
122.5 |
116.3 |
MIN |
| Rushing yards per attempt |
3.76 |
4.45 |
4.31 |
MIN |
| Completion % |
67.2% |
65.5% |
63.5% |
NO |
| Passing yards |
194.0 |
323.5 |
228.5 |
MIN |
| Passing yards per completion |
9.95 |
11.76 |
10.27 |
MIN |
| Passing yards per attempt |
6.69 |
7.70 |
6.52 |
MIN |
| INT return |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
MIN |
| Fumble recoveries |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
NO |
| Sacks |
3.0 |
1.0 |
2.2 |
MIN |
| 3rd down conversions |
32.1% |
48.1% |
40.9% |
MIN |
| 4th down conversions |
0.0% |
100.0% |
50.9% |
MIN |
| Time of possession |
31:38 |
29:44 |
30:07 |
NO |
|
|
Special Teams Stats Comparison
| |
MIN |
NO |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Yards per punt return |
8.5 |
-2.0 |
8.5 |
MIN |
| Yards per kick return |
19.4 |
24.3 |
22.5 |
NO |
| Yards allowed per punt return |
10.0 |
1.5 |
8.5 |
NO |
| Yards allowed per kick return |
26.0 |
19.3 |
22.5 |
NO |
|
|
|
Misc Stats Comparison
| |
MIN |
NO |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Penalties |
7.0 |
4.0 |
6.9 |
NO |
| Penalty yards |
59.0 |
33.0 |
59.8 |
NO |
|
|
Note: Team statistics are shown as the average per game
through Weeks 1 to 2 of the 2014 season with no adjustment. Once
more weeks are played, these stats will tabulate the last 6 weeks results and deduct the
best and worst value from the data set.
Weather
Dome Stadium
Team vs. Team History
| Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints |
| Season |
Week |
Date |
Vis |
Home |
Score |
Winner |
| 2001 |
4 |
2001-10-07 |
MIN |
NO |
15-28 |
NO |
| 2002 |
15 |
2002-12-15 |
MIN |
NO |
32-31 |
MIN |
| 2004 |
6 |
2004-10-17 |
MIN |
NO |
38-31 |
MIN |
| 2005 |
3 |
2005-09-25 |
NO |
MIN |
16-33 |
MIN |
| 2008 |
5 |
2008-10-06 |
MIN |
NO |
30-27 |
MIN |
| 2009 |
CF |
2010-01-24 |
MIN |
NO |
28-31 |
NO |
| 2010 |
1 |
2010-09-09 |
MIN |
NO |
9-14 |
NO |
| 2011 |
15 |
2011-12-18 |
NO |
MIN |
42-20 |
NO |
|
Note: Only playoff games from the 2004 to 2010 seasons are included in the team vs. team history. Playoff games from seasons prior to 2004 are not currently included in the database. CF = Conference Final
|
