It is here. The NFL regular season starts tonight with the rematch of last seasons NFC Championship game between the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints, in the Dome. I will try to set my Saints bias aside and give an honest opinion as why both teams will win.
First, lets look at why Brett Farve will lead the upset-minded Vikings to a win over New Orleans.
The Saints didn't do much to ramp up a defense that succeeded based on strategic blitz packages and take-aways. If Adrian Peterson really did work on his ball handling skills in the off season, the Saints run defense will have a hard time keeping him from ripping off big gains for touchdowns. Despite Brett Favre's much talked about ankle, he is still coming off of his best statistical season ever. The ankle won't be a problem if the Vikings offensive line can hold the pocket open long enough for Old Man River (Favre) to be effective. The Viking's defense needs to cause problems for Drew Brees and the Saints' high flying offense. Brees did not make many mistakes last year, but if the Vikings can force Brees to make throws and not give him any time to do it, they will succeed in keeping Brees off of the field. Jared Allen, Vikings defensive end, will need to get to Brees early and often, similar to the way Bobby McCray and Will Smith got to Favre last season. Saints' offensive lineman, Jermon Bushrod, did a supreb job at containing Jared Allen in the game last season, so Jared Allen needs to get separation and be physical in the trench. If AP, Brett Favre, and the Vikings' defense can keep the Saints potent team on their collective heels, and prevent the turnovers that cost them a spot in the Super Bowl, the Vikes should have no problem putting this long awaited game away with a win.
Now here is why the Saints will win...
The Vikings are playing hurt. Brett Favre has said numerous times that his surgically repaired ankle is not healing properly, and Sidney Rice is out for at least half of the season after hip surgery. Bernard Berrian has been tapped as the #1 reciever for Brett Favre and the Vikings offense, which doesn't bode well for the Vikings' hopes of winning. The Saints' offense is returning almost all of their weapons from last season (Mike Bell sign with the Eagles via free agency), and Drew Brees has stated that the Saints have worked harder this off season than in any other to prepare to make another run at a Super Bowl Championship. The Saints forced turnovers on defense and capitalized on them, and despite being out gained by over 200 yards in the game against Minnesota last season, they still pulled it off on Garrett Hartley's overtime field goal. The Saints need to hit Brett Favre like they did last season. He was out of his comfort zone when his teammates had to start picking him up off the turf. The Saints' offense looked goo this off season, and the receiving corps. is in their best shape ever. NFL Live analyst, Mark Schlereth, picked the Saints to win 28-17 and make it back to the Super Bowl. This game should be a lock for the Saints if they can score, baby, score and make Brett Favre feel really uncomfortable. John Zaphyr of vegas-spreads.com has dubbed the Saints as the favorite tonight by six points, and if we know anything, it is to never bet against Vegas.
See Schlereth's analysis here: http://search.espn.go.com/nfl-live/
See Zaphr's analysis here: http://vegas-spreads.com/football/nfl-football/7025-090910-2010-nfl-predictions-minnesota-vikings-week-1-nfl-picks
There. Purely unbiased. Hope everyone enjoys the game tonight.
NBC, 8:30 E/T
WHO DAT
-Kenny "Mo"
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