Vikings-Saints Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• MNF Crew Breaks Down Reggie Bush's Performance

SCOUTING REPORT

Vikings won't be able to stop Saints' spread offenseNeither one of these teams are playing at the level they want to -- or expected to -- but New Orleans is closer to being a complete team than Minnesota. Even though it is only Week 5, this is almost a must-win situation for the Vikings. The Saints have suffered a lot of offensive injuries, but they are surviving those setbacks and their offense, under QB Drew Brees, is still operating at a high level. Minnesota is a one-dimensional offensive team with a powerful run game behind RB Adrian Peterson, but the Vikings lack explosiveness and don't scare anybody on offense, but they still play good defense. Luckily for both teams, it looks like they are in divisions that lack an elite team, so turning the season around and staying in the playoff hunt is a definite possibility. It will be tough for the confidence-lacking Vikings to steal a win, but it is a necessity.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
MIN	10-6	379	333	6-2	4-4	4-2	8-4
NOR	8-8	463	393	6-2	2-6	2-4	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Minnesota Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Favre 68.4 4202 33 7 Jackso... 66.7 201 1 0

New Orleans Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Brees 70.6 4388 34 11 Brunel... 50.0 102 0 1

Minnesota Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Peters... 314 1383 4.4 18 Taylor 94 338 3.6 1

New Orleans Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Thomas 147 793 5.4 6 Bell 172 654 3.8 5

Minnesota Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Rice 83 1312 15.8 8 Harvin 60 790 13.2 6

New Orleans Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Colsto... 70 1074 15.3 9 Hender... 51 804 15.8 2

Full Player Stats: Minnesota | New Orleans

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	MIN	331.0
	NOR	411.0
Yards Passing	MIN	184.8
	NOR	311.1
Yards Rushing	MIN	146.1
	NOR	99.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	MIN	292.4
	NOR	339.5
Pass Yds Allowed	MIN	215.6
	NOR	221.7
Rush Yds Allowed	MIN	76.9
	NOR	117.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Minnesota leads 4-1
Sep 25, 2005	MIN 33, @NOR 16
Oct 17, 2004	MIN 38, NOR 31
Dec 15, 2002	MIN 32, NOR 31
Oct 7, 2001	MIN 15, NOR 28

The New Orleans Saints turned in their best defensive performance of the season last weekend, thanks to a particularly effective effort against the run. They're sure to be challenged in their next game as they try to contain one of the NFL's top running backs.

The Saints will have to contend with second-year star Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings when the teams meet at the Superdome in a Monday night matchup.

Though New Orleans (2-2) has surrendered 1,488 yards -- the fifth-highest total in the league -- through its first four contests, it has been better against the run, limiting opponents to 122.8 per game.

The Saints held San Francisco to a season-low 312 yards -- 91 on the ground -- in a 31-17 home victory on Sunday.

A matchup with Minnesota (1-3), though, presents a very different set of challenges because of Peterson, who has established himself as one of the league's top backs very quickly.

He carried 238 times for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie last season, and is showing no signs of a sophomore slump, ranking second in the NFL with 420 yards, two fewer than Atlanta's Michael Turner.

Peterson rushed 18 times for 80 yards in a 30-17 loss at Tennessee on Sunday, the second straight game he was held under 100 yards.

"We've seen some real good runners both at home and on the road, but this guy is the best we've seen to date," coach Sean Payton told the Saints' official Web site. "That's no slight on anyone that we've played to date, but there's something else about him and the guys blocking for him are something else. (Peterson's) big and strong -- he's exceptional."

New Orleans will be short-handed on the defensive line, as rookie tackle Sedrick Ellis is out two to four weeks with a right knee injury. Ellis, picked seventh overall in this year's draft, had started the first four games.

While the Vikings' offense revolves around Peterson and the run, the Saints usually pin their hopes on quarterback Drew Brees, the NFL's third-highest rated passer (106.9). New Orleans is averaging a league-best 327.3 passing yards per game.

Brees completed 23 of 35 for 363 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers, connecting twice with Lance Moore and once with rookie Robert Meachem, who had two receptions for a season-best 99 yards.

The Saints were successful despite playing without injured receiver Marques Colston (thumb) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (abdomen).

With those two sidelined, Deuce McAllister helped pick up the slack. He carried 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown after he was limited to 10 yards on two carries in a loss at Washington on Sept. 14. The team's all-time leading rusher continues to work his way back after undergoing a second knee operation last fall.

"It was great to see Deuce back in there," Payton said. "Those were some tough yards that he was getting for us."

McAllister hasn't been too successful in his career against Minnesota, totaling 50 carries for 210 yards and three TDs in four games.

The Saints haven't fared well against the Vikings either, losing 17 of 24 regular-season contests, including six of the last seven.

Playing at home didn't provide the Saints with much of an advantage last season as they went 3-5 at the Superdome, but they are undefeated in two games there this year.

New Orleans look to remain perfect at home against a Vikings team that has started 1-3 for the second time in three seasons.

Four turnovers were too much for Minnesota to overcome in Sunday's loss to the Titans.

"Obviously, we have to do a better job of taking care of the football," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "When you spot somebody 21 points on turnovers those are pivotal things. Turnovers is the No. 1 statistic in this business. It's disappointing."

Quarterback Gus Frerotte was responsible for one of those takeaways, tossing an interception in what was an otherwise strong performance. He went 25-for-43 for 266 yards, but hurt his left, non-throwing hand late in the fourth quarter.

Backup Tarvaris Jackson, who was replaced by Frerotte as the starter after Minnesota's 0-2 start, completed one pass for eight yards and was sacked twice. Childress said he plans to stick with Frerotte this week.

"It's not a death knell for (Jackson). It's just a step back," Childress said. "There's no right or wrong way to raise a quarterback in this league. ... He can take a step back and be an aide to Gus. Gus is coming in here and lending that experience and steady hand."

The Vikings have won their last two visits to New Orleans, including a 38-31 win on Oct. 17, 2004 in their most recent appearance.

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The Vikings completed a mandatory three-day minicamp Sunday at Winter Park. Here's a closer look at what we learned: Who says Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't like to have fun? He showed the lighter side of his personality on Sunday.

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Vikings' Childress is Favre's innocent victim

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More clarity is the positive that should come from StarCaps case

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Saints continues amazing sell out run

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StarCaps case likely a no-win for Grant, Smith

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We've come to the final spot in our position-by-position breakdown of the New Orleans Saints' roster, which is a little ironic since these guys probably should have kicked things off.