NFC Championship Game Preview: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints Roundtable

Roundtables, Top Story

brett-favre-minnesota-vikings

The NFC representative in Super Bowl 44 will be determined this weekend in a showdown between Brett Favre and the Vikings and the powerhouse Saints.

Chad Jorgenson – New Orleans should win this game easily. The Saints aren’t going to be intimidated by the Vikings like the the Cowboys were and the Saints will have a raucus crowd to mess with the Vikings heads. The Vikings haven’t been able to run the ball for 14 weeks and teams are starting to figure out that if you play to stop the pass you can have success against the Vikes. And as we saw this weekend, the only way the Vikings were able to move the ball was through the deep passes and the Saints have former Viking/former Favre teammate Darren Sharper sitting back there looking for INTs. And I think he gets atleast one. The Saints on offense should be able to move the ball against the Vikings defense and use their size to create mismatches in the redzone. Reggie Bush should be able to have another big day since the Vikings don’t really have a linebacker who can cover someone as quick and agile as Bush. I expect a walk for the Saints, but I am a Vikings fan.

Trent Scott – You get the feeling that if the Saints move the ball like Dallas did early this will be another blowout win for the Saints. If they don’t, the Vikings might just hang with them. We will know who was worse, though: Arizona’s torrid defense or the Cowboy’s complete debacle of offense from the mid second quarter on. This contest will be far more entertaining than the AFC contest.

Travis Gehling – This one is going to be fun. The top two ranked offenses will shoot it out in New Orleans. The Vikings have a decided edge on defense and will look to keep their pass rush effective against a dangerous Drew Brees. My prediction: Vikings 38, Saints 31.

Russ Blatt – Wow. My first inclination is just go with the Vikings and the Favre thought. In further analysis, I think it is still the best thought. I think the Vikings defense is stronger than the Saints defense. So, thinking both offenses were basically equal, it comes down to defense. With the Vikings defense stronger than the Saints…I lean toward the Vikings. Final score 38-27.

Alex Schuhart – I have to go with the Vikings here. Brett Favre man. Brett Favre. The guy’s amazing. And that running back of theirs, that Peterson fellow, he’s pretty good too.

Danny Cox – The Saints saw Arizona come into the Dome and they proved that the three-game skid was a fluke and that too much rest was not a problem at all. New Orleans is healthy now and playing just as they were at the beginning of the season en route to a 13-0 record. The offense is clicking on all cylinders with the defense doing its job and then some to protect the big lead. Minnesota allowed Dallas into their house and just ripped them up exposing the Cowboys as a fraudulent team from that hot December. Brett Favre looked on target with everything he put up as the defense almost appeared to know the Dallas playbook. Both teams have a lot of momentum going into this NFC Championship game, but I just can’t help but think the Saints have more. I was in the Superdome this past Saturday and it was louder then I had ever heard it before. The fans were insane and pumped up and really became the twelfth man on the field no matter if the offense or defense was out there. Favre and the Vikings are used to playing in a dome, but this time it won’t be home-field advantage and that could cause a lot of fits. My original pick last week was closer to the final outcome of the Saints’ game more so then what I changed it to later in the week, but I think this one will be a tad closer. Prediction: Saints 35 – Vikings 27

Tom Daniels – NFC: Minnesota Vikings +3.5 at New Orleans Saints — This is one of those games that has every indication of 100 points and offense offense offense. Which absolutely means this is going to be one of those ridiculous 7-3 at the half games. Objectively, though, I think the Vikings just have better personnel. And, isn’t it about time for an Adrian Peterson coming out party? I don’t really like the idea of picking two road teams but there it is. Vikings outright over Saints 38-31.

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs