Turns out we could’ve skipped the last several weeks of the season and the first two rounds of the NFC playoffs after all.
From about early November, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Vikings and Saints would meet in the NFC Championship game, and here they are set to play on Sunday for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
Both teams had their hiccups throughout the season, but both teams have an immense amount of talent on both sides of the ball.
We’ve seen more dud games than not so far in these playoffs, but Minnesota-New Orleans sure doesn’t seem like it will follow that trend.
NFC Title Game: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game Date: Sunday, January, 24th
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game Kickoff Time: 6:30 ET
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game TV Network: FOX
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game Point Spread: Saints -3.5 (as of Tuesday evening)
- Vikings-Saints NFC Title Game Over-Under Odds: 52.5
- Vikings-Saints NFC Championship Game Spread Pick by Jerod: Vikings +3.5
- MSF: NFC Championship Game Tickets
Note: The information above is taken from the NFL Playoffs AFC / NFC Championship TV schedule, spreads, and picks post from earlier this week. Keep in mind that spread information is from early in the week. For updated spreads and other up-to-the-minute playoff handicapping info, here are some links for your convenience:
- DocSports: NFL Odds | NFL Picks
- DocSports: NFL Playoff Predictions | NFL Playoff Tree | NFL Playoff Brackets | NFL Playoff Schedule
NFC Championship Game Analysis
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints very quickly showed the Arizona Cardinals and all Saints detractors that a week off did nothing to cool the NFL’s top offense.
Drew Brees looked as accurate as ever and made the kind of plays we see him make every week, completing jump balls to Marques Colston, underneath routes to Jeremy Shockey, and a deep ball to Devery Henderson (it’s him or Robert Meachem every week). While the Vikings’ pass “D” didn’t regularly get lit up like Arizona’s did this year, it was a middle-of-the-pack unit, allowing 218.4 yards per game through the air. If Brees gets proper protection, the Saints will pass on the Vikings.
But that’s a big if.
Led by Jared Allen, Minnesota’s pass rush was tops in the NFL this season, registering 48 sacks. It seems no one has an answer for Allen. Even the Dallas Cowboys’ big O-line totally collapsed against Minny’s speed rush. The Vikings will thus do everything in their power to get to Brees.
Part of what made New Orleans especially dangerous this year was that it added a potent rushing attack (No. 6 in the league) led by Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and, last week, a resurgent Reggie Bush. The Saints will need that versatility to keep the Vikes on their toes. But, again, there’s a big problem: Minnesota had the NFL’s No. 2 run defense this year. Pat and Kevin Williams swallowed up backs week in and week out and pose a major threat to whoever takes the rock for New Orleans.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson in the running game. He struggled down the stretch but so did New Orleans’ run defense, which allowed 122.2 yards per game. Even with Sedrick Ellis back from injury, the Saints’ front seven couldn’t recapture the dominance it displayed before Ellis got hurt. Could Peterson thus be poised for his best game in a while?
Even if AP gets shut down, Minnesota should do its share of scoring this week. It’s insane to say it, but 2009 was in many ways Brett Favre’s best season. The 40-year-old had a career-high passer rating of 107.2 and threw 33 touchdown passes versus seven picks. He didn’t miss a beat last week, throwing for four scores against Dallas. The Saints do a good job forcing turnovers, especially via Darren Sharper in the secondary, but Favre, for whatever reason, has stopped making dumb throws. Will he give Sharper a chance to make a play?
The Saints were the NFL’s sexiest offensive team this season, averaging 31.9 points per game. But right behind them in second place with 29.4 points per game were the Vikings. Minnesota can virtually match New Orleans’ offensive prowess but the Vikes bring a superior run defense and pass rush to the table.
For that reason, I think Brett Favre and company punch their ticket to the Super Bowl this weekend.
Sure, the Louisiana Superdome is a tough place to play, but remember that Favre grew up in nearby Mississippi, cheering for the Saints. Also remember that Favre’s lone Super Bowl win came in – you guessed it – the Superdome. He should have another successful experience there Sunday night.
NFC Championship Game Vikings-Saints Prediction: Vikings
NFC Championship Game Vikings-Saints Spread Pick: Vikings +3.5
What do you think?
Who will win the NFC Championship Game?
- Minnesota Vikings (61%, 715 Votes)
- New Orlreans Saints (39%, 457 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,170
Loading ...**********
* – Drew Brees photo credit: Chuck Cook/The Times-Picayune via NOLA.com
* – Brett Favre photo credit: REUTERS/Tom Olmscheid via Reuters.com
Midwest Sports Fans (MSF) Disclosure of Material Connection: MSF was compensated for using DocSports’ links as the references for our Vikings-Saints NFC Championship Game odds information. With that said, MSF only links to and endorses sites and services that we use ourselves. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
