In the NFC Divisional round – the New Orleans Saints are at the Minnesota Vikings, with the winner heading to the NFC title game. The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings played on Monday Night Football in Week 1 with the Vikings winning at home. Both teams would host the NFC title game with a win and an Atlanta win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings won 13 games during the regular season and ran away with the NFC North. Minnesota has won three straight games, and gone 7-1 at home this season. For the New Orleans Saints – they went 11-5 during the regular season and won the NFC South. The Saints beat the Carolina Panthers for the third time to head to this game. The New Minnesota Vikings +5 over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday evening.
Keenum Guiding Minnesota
Case Keenum was given no chance to start the season for the Vikings. Keenum was behind Sam Bradford, and likely behind Teddy Bridgewater when he returned to health. Then Bradford went down, Bridgewater was not ready and Keenum was the guy. The quarterback tossed for more than 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns during the regular season. His top target was Adam Thielen with 91 receptions and more than 1,200 yards.
The Vikings defense has been elite most of the season. In the last four wins for the Vikings, they allowed just 6.5 points per game. Minnesota shut-out the Packers, held the Bengals to 7 and kept Atlanta to just 9. Minnesota on the season allowed 15.8 points per game, which was best in the league.
Saints Looking for Road Upset
The New Orleans Saints are on the road in this game, a place they went 4-4 during the regular season. The Saints road losses were to playoff teams, except for in Week 17 at Tampa Bay. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees finished with nearly 4,400 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Michael Thomas was his go to guy with 1,245 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram put together a fantastic season as the running back duo for New Orleans. Ingram finished the season with 1,124 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. New Orleans finished the season with 261.8 passing yards, 129.4 rushing yards, and finished 4th in the league with 28 points per game.
Saints Win Road Thriller
What a game. This may be the best of all the divisional games this weekend. The Saints and Vikings are both playing great football, and both seem to be teams of destiny. The Vikings want to stay at home with a win, and a Falcons win. The Saints want Drew Brees to get back to another Super Bowl. In the end – the offensive team, and the team with more experience will win this game. That team is the New Orleans Saints. The final pick for this game on Sunday in the NFC Divisional round is the New Orleans Saints +5 over Minnesota Vikings. Bet on the New Orleans Saints +5 over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday evening.
