Home Sweet Dome

When the Saints enter the dome for the first time this season, two things for certain will be in their favor: Home field advantage and No Adrian Peterson. All that translates to is home crowd support and a small break defending the run. The defense against the passing game is hideous considering two quarterbacks threw for nearly 700 passing yards in the last two weeks.  With the absence of Peterson, the question is can will the Saints allow running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick Mckinnon to dictate the game?

From news on the Vikes website, the purple people are interested in exploiting the Saints’ defense. It shouldn’t be hard to do given the LAST two games which both resulted in losses. The question in mind is do the Saints want it bad enough? The Saints defense have no takeaways, only one forced fumble.  

 The offense is getting out to a slow start causing them to play from behind. Both of the last two games have been decided by a field goal or less.  With both centers listed as questionable, will Drew Brees have the protection necessary to rally this team to victory?  Without further ado, here are your keys to the game.

 

OFFENSE:

 In order for Drew Brees to lead this team to a win, he may have to make a run for it. Even if it means, sliding for a first down or scrambling to make time for a receiver to get open. Receivers must be disciplined enough to get in position to make a play. #catch#secure#run

The running game must be priority. Since Mark Ingram is out and Khiry Robinson is stepping in as the number two rusher, it should make for an interesting day in the rushing attack. Expect him to break a few for big gains in front of the home crowd.

 

Defense:

STAY ALERT! The two veterans on the Saints Defense, Jairus Byrd and Keenan Lewis must step up and play a flawless game. Byrd is beginning to find his comfort zone as evident by the team’s one and only forced fumble. All the analysts are big on Vikings receiver, Cordarrelle Patterson. Of course Rob Ryan should try and contain him but no one should forget the others like former Green Bay Packer, Greg Jennings.

FORCE THE ILL ADVISED THROWS: Veteran QB Matt Cassell is barely completing half of his passing attempts. He’s been intercepted four times and has been sacked six times already in two games. If the Saints can get some pressure on Cassell this Sunday, then look for the home team to come up big. 

Keep the tight end a non-factor. Limiting Kyle Rudolph from racking up yardage will shut down the extra option. If everyone does their part on defense, then the Vikings options for big plays are limited.

Game Prediction:

SAINTS 24- Vikings 21.

Note: I try and never pick against the Saints but something tells me the Vikings are wanting to take full advantage of the Saints and any weaknesses that turn up in this game. I have been wrong before but if the Saints don’t pay big tomorrow, the Vikings will have their way.

                                                                                                                               

  Injuries:

S Marcus Ball- OUT

RB Mark Ingram-OUT

LB David Hawthorne-OUT

FB Eric Lorig-OUT

C Jonathan Goodwin – PROBABLE

LB Kyle Knox-PROBABLE

C Tim Lelito- QUESTIONABLE

LB Curtis Lofton-PROBABLE

WR Joseph Morgan-PROBABLE

 

                                                                                                                                 Cheers,

                                                                                                                                        SC