Saints-Vikings

For the third time in the past year and a half the Minnesota Vikings hosted the New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised game. The third one didn't go as well as the previous two for the Vikings. The Saints rode a couple significant Minnesota miscues to a 30-20 win.

This game looked like it was about to go in a very different direction just before the end of the first half. The Vikings held a 13-10 lead when Harrison Smith intercepted a Drew Brees pass at the Vikings 33-yard line with 3:03 to play in the half. It was Brees' first interception of  the season. It looked like the Vikings were about to take full advantage of the first break of the game. Quarterback Kirk picked up a couple 3rd-and-longs and had the team sitting pretty with a first-and-ten at the Saints 18-yard line with 1:17 left in the half. It seemed like the only issue was how much time to leave on the clock for the Saints offense after the Vikings score. It didn't play out like that. Cousins connected with receiver Adam Thielen on a short pass to the Saints 13-yard line. Unfortunately, Thielen fumbled and Saints corner picked up the loose ball and raced the other way. The fumble return and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty had the Saints set up nicely on the Vikings 18-yard line with 57 seconds left in the half. It took two plays for Brees to get the Saints in the end zone. Just like that, an expected 20-10 Vikings half time lead was an all too real 17-13 Saints half time lead.

It didn't stop there. The Vikings got aggressive on their first possession of the second half. At their own 45-yard line the Vikings faced a 4th-and-1, head coach Mike Zimmer kept his offense on the field. Cousins' pass across the middle to Laquon Treadwell fell incomplete. It was a tough catch but it was a catch that even the loose-handed Treadwell makes more often than not. Instead of continuing a drive, the Saints started their second consecutive possession on the Vikings side of the field. They turned the opportunity into a field goal and a 20-13 lead. Going for the first down on fourth down didn't go the Vikings way but it felt like the right move at the time and I agree with the aggressiveness a poor night's sleep later. It just didn't work.

It didn't stop there. It got much worse for the Vikings. The Vikings responded to giving up 10 consecutive points in a blink by giving the Saints another seven. In a very short time Cousins has developed a terrific connection with receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. They always seem to be on the same page. Cousins and Diggs weren't even reading the same book on the Vikings second possession of the second half. Cousins expected Diggs to keep running his route. Diggs thought that he'd give his quarterback a more open target by stopping. Instead Saints corner had an easy interception and an easier return for a touchdown.

The Saints scored 17 unanswered points without taking an offensive snap on their side of the field. All 17 points came after the Vikings were a breath away from taking a 10-point lead.

The Vikings entered with game with a compromised roster. Six starters were inactive. On offense, running back Dalvin Cook was inactive again. Latavius Murray has played well in his place the last two weeks and again last night. So, Cook's absence had been minimized a bit. Left tackle Riley Reiff and left guard Tom Compton were out and very much missed. The line hasn't played well when all five starters have been  healthy. Without Reiff and Compton they were even worse. Cousins was under more duress than usual throughout the game. On defense, linebacker Anthony Barr, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and safety Andrew Sendejo were out. Zimmer and the defensive coaches compensated for those losses with a scheme that appeared to try and force the Saints offense to go with a short passing game. Brees' modest passing totals of 18/23 for 120 yards an a touchdown is an indication of the effectiveness of that defensive scheme. Brees throwing for only 120 yards is startling. He usually gets to that total in a quarter. But the Saints won with that offense. The Saints winning with that offense was due mostly to the opportunities that the Vikings miscues provided them. The Saints got the points that they needed and then they played carefully. It was actually kinda strange to see the Saints offense play carefully.

Total yards:
Vikings  423
Saints  270

Strange game.

On an historical note. Thielen had seven catches for 103 yards. It was his eighth consecutive game with 100 receiving yards. That broke the record that he shared with former Houston Oilers receiver Charley Hennigan for consecutive such games to start a season. Thielen is now tied with former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson with consecutive 100 yard receiving games. He can break that record against Johnson's former team next week.

It's always rough to see the Vikings lose. The Saints are one of the best football teams in the league. Their offense is fantastic and their defense had improved greatly with some legitimate starts. That offense with a formidable defense is a truly scary thought. This is a team that doesn't need an opponent handing them opportunities. The Vikings handed them a bunch last night. Big, shining opportunities. But the Vikings fought. They never quit. This game could've gone a very different way, the Vikings way, so easily. And it could've gone that way with a seriously compromised roster. I can't wait to see the Saints again. If the Vikings do see the Saints again this season it likely won't be in Minnesota.