Vikings (1-3) – vs. Saints (2-2)
Monday night’s Minnesota at New Orleans game shapes up as what should be one of the highest-scoring MNF games of the season, and the Saints are 3-point home favorites with an over/under of 46.5 on WagerWeb.com.
The Vikings have won six of the past seven meetings to extend their overall series lead to 17-7, but the teams haven’t met since 2005 – which means this is the first time that Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush will be on the same field together, which alone is worth watching.
“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 said. “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.”
Peterson and Bush are clearly the two most electrifying backs in the NFL, although they go about it differently. Peterson carried 238 times for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie last season and is second in the NFL this season with 420 yards. However, he has been held under 100 yards the past two games.
But star left tackle Bryant McKinnie has served his four-game suspension and rejoined the team this week. His power on that side of the line and his ability to mesh with guard Steve Hutchinson could generate more running lanes for Peterson.
New Orleans has surrendered 1,488 yards – the fifth-highest total in the league – through its first four contests, but it has been decent against the run, limiting opponents to 122.8 per game.
However, 2008 top draft pick Sedrick Ellis, a run-stuffing defensive tackle out of USC, won’t play tonight or for possibly a month with a knee injury, so that will hurt. The Saints now only have three healthy defensive tackles: Kendrick Clancy, Antwan Lake and Brian Young. Coach Sean Payton said he didn’t think the team would bring in a free agent before Monday night’s game, but could bring Remi Ayodele off the practice squad.
Young said Payton warned the three healthy tackles to prepare for a long night’s work. Young said stopping Peterson will start up front and the defense will make do without Ellis.
“We definitely want to keep a rotation going and keep everybody fresh out there,” Young said. “They have a great running game. But we have good guys who can step up and play.”
The Saints’ Bush, meanwhile, makes his mark more as a receiver. He only averages 3.5 yards per carry on the ground but has NFL-high 31 catches for 257 yards and two TDs. He’s a big reason why New Orleans is averaging a league-best 327.3 passing yards per game – well, obviously include QB Drew Brees as part of that equation as well. New Orleans also integrated former All-Pro RB Deuce McAllister back into the workload last week, so he should get the bulk of the carries tonight.
The Vikings’ pass defense is 17th in the NFL, while their run defense ranks third, allowing just 71.8 yards per game.
The Minnesota defense is expected to be without starting middle linebacker E.J. Henderson with dislocated toes. However, No. 1 receiver Bernard Berrian is “optimistic” he will play tonight despite a knee injury and being listed as questionable.
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