The Saintly Appointed Ones vs The Pagan Viking Pillagers - Pick it!

[HappyViking]

Yes, I'm glad we made it to the
playoffs.  Although sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for;
especially for Viking fans.  Pretty sure they will need another miracle on
Sunday to win this one.  NO is just simply better at about every position,
and have a huge home field advantage.



I think the Vikes could hang with
them for the first two quarters, but like the Seattle and GB games, they'll just
start running the ball down their throats in the 3rd quarter and wear out the Vikings
D to blow open the game in the 4th.



It would be wonderful to see the
Vikings finally play well for a complete game on both sides of the ball against
a good team.  That hasn't happened all season, and I'd have to be delusional
at best to think it could happen suddenly on the road in a playoff game.



Sorry to say I expect to see the
tale of the 2019 Viking season ending in NO on Sunday.
Pillagers: 17Monks: 31

[Guest]

FSUs breakdowns have got me feeling a bit optimistic...I think we stifle Brees early on, build a decent lead and hold on in a nail biter.


Vikes 27
Saints 23

[Guest]

@Disgustipated said:
FSUs breakdowns have got me feeling a bit optimistic...I think we stifle Brees early on, build a decent lead and hold on in a nail biter.
Vikes 27
Saints 23

Can't argue with this ^^^.  But to be different, what fingernails?

Vikings  26

  Saints  24

[Guest]

No Mac and Hughes. All Vowels dinged up. Sherels signed off the street. Really changes some things.

But I keep coming back to this: Thomas and Kamara caught almost half of all completions this season. Cook has come on during their recent hot streak Offensively. That's it. 3 weapons. And a propensity to win when they rush for over 100 yards.

You can't take Thomas away with double teams. Every DC in the League tries it and he still set the record for Receptions in a single season. He's going to get his. Kamara has given Kendricks fits as a receiver. But Eric has improved and is now the best Cover LB in football. 

Brees will complete passes to both of them. But it won't be for huge gains. He's next to last on deep throw attempts. YAC is the key and Minnesota led the League by a country mile in not giving up YAC.

I expect Zimmer to use every single pre-snap look in his bag to make Brees think but ultimately won't blitz a lot and count on NO having enough drive-killing plays to keep them from scoring too much in the first half. 

On the flip side, New Orleans is down 2 D-Linemen and have only 1 good CB. They blitz a lot more than Minnesota to get pressure. And you can burn them if you call a screen or TE chip and release play to the same side they come off of.

I also anticipate a few Max Protect calls early or even a waggle to give Kirk a chance to hit Thielen against Eli Apple. Diggs beat Slay several times and he's better than Lattimore so he's a viable weapon too. Irv and Rudy should make plays against their LBs.

I expect the game to start slow. Both teams will go out of their way to get the run game going. There will also be a few pass plays designed specifically to take advantage of a mismatch like Ginn on Hill or Boyd. Late Second Quarter the Offenses start opening things up and really moving the ball.

I predict a small Vikings lead at halftime. Will Zimmer be ready for Payton's adjustments? Will Stefanski be ready when Allen starts sending the House?

My answers are No and Yes. Brees can't go deep anymore. But he's still dynamite at everything else and Ramczyk will really slow down Hunter. In the 2nd Half New Orleans will move the ball better and Zimmer will have to blitz. Brees kills the blitz.

On the other side I expect Stefanski to finally bust out the Shotgun once Allen starts bringing the heat on more downs. I don't see the Saints stopping so many weapons and if they don't get home Cousins is really good against blitzes too. Look for some big plays deep.

Low scoring affair in the first half. Back and forth arena league in the second. Minnesota eeks it out on a Dan Bailey special.

Minnesota Vikings 31
New Orleans Saints 28

[Guest]

Cheaters 40
Vikings 23

[Guest]

@FSUVike said:
No Mac and Hughes. All Vowels dinged up. Sherels signed off the street. Really changes some things.

But I keep coming back to this: Thomas and Kamara caught almost half of all completions this season. Cook has come on during their recent hot streak Offensively. That's it. 3 weapons. And a propensity to win when they rush for over 100 yards.

You can't take Thomas away with double teams. Every DC in the League tries it and he still set the record for Receptions in a single season. He's going to get his. Kamara has given Kendricks fits as a receiver. But Eric has improved and is now the best Cover LB in football. 

Brees will complete passes to both of them. But it won't be for huge gains. He's next to last on deep throw attempts. YAC is the key and Minnesota led the League by a country mile in not giving up YAC.

I expect Zimmer to use every single pre-snap look in his bag to make Brees think but ultimately won't blitz a lot and count on NO having enough drive-killing plays to keep them from scoring too much in the first half. 

On the flip side, New Orleans is down 2 D-Linemen and have only 1 good CB. They blitz a lot more than Minnesota to get pressure. And you can burn them if you call a screen or TE chip and release play to the same side they come off of.

I also anticipate a few Max Protect calls early or even a waggle to give Kirk a chance to hit Thielen against Eli Apple. Diggs beat Slay several times and he's better than Lattimore so he's a viable weapon too. Irv and Rudy should make plays against their LBs.

I expect the game to start slow. Both teams will go out of their way to get the run game going. There will also be a few pass plays designed specifically to take advantage of a mismatch like Ginn on Hill or Boyd. Late Second Quarter the Offenses start opening things up and really moving the ball.

I predict a small Vikings lead at halftime. Will Zimmer be ready for Payton's adjustments? Will Stefanski be ready when Allen starts sending the House?

My answers are No and Yes. Brees can't go deep anymore. But he's still dynamite at everything else and Ramczyk will really slow down Hunter. In the 2nd Half New Orleans will move the ball better and Zimmer will have to blitz. Brees kills the blitz.

On the other side I expect Stefanski to finally bust out the Shotgun once Allen starts bringing the heat on more downs. I don't see the Saints stopping so many weapons and if they don't get home Cousins is really good against blitzes too. Look for some big plays deep.

Low scoring affair in the first half. Back and forth arena league in the second. Minnesota eeks it out on a Dan Bailey special.

Minnesota Vikings 31
New Orleans Saints 28

This would be a historically great game.  Hope you'r right, FSU! B)

[Guest]

I'm 0-3 on making predictions here this season. Time for a Tendency Breaker!

[Guest]

No 42
Vikes 17

[Guest]

Was gonna go with the upset but the loss of Mac and Hughes is too much to overcome.  Aint's 34 - Vikes 24

[Guest]

saints 41
vikings 9