The Minnesota Vikings will host the New Orleans Saints for a key NFC battle on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. This game is a rematch of last year’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game that was won by the Vikings in miraculous fashion. Both offenses are off to great starts this season, and this game could end up in a shootout.
The Vikings have won three straight games to vault to the top of the NFC North Division. Minnesota enters this game with a 4-2-1 record, having been beaten by the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. The New Orleans Saints lost the season opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but have rattled off five straight victories. The Saints lead the tight NFC South Division with a 5-1 record. The Vikings are a one-point favorite at home over the Saints on Sunday night.
Thielen Emerging As Top Receiver
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is quickly emerging as one of the best playmakers in the NFL. Thielen became the first player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 100 receiving yards in the first seven games of the season. The speedy wideout has caught 67 passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has completed 70 percent of his passes in his first season with the Vikings.
The Minnesota defense had struggled leading up to their last game against the New York Jets. The Vikings have given up an average of 23.6 points per game this season, which is well off of their pace set last season. Defensive end Everson Griffen is expected to rejoin the team this week after missing several weeks due to mental health issues.
Saints Still Looking For Defense
The New Orleans Saints are still looking to get more consistent play from their defense to begin the season. The Saints are giving up a whopping 27.2 points per game this season, which ranks near the bottom of the league. New Orleans recently acquired cornerback Eli Apple from the New York Giants which should help improve their struggling secondary.
Quarterback Drew Brees is having another monster season under center to lead the Saints offense. Brees has completed an amazing 77.3 percent of his passes this season, and has yet to throw an interception this season. Wide receiver Michael Thomas has been the top target for Brees this season, but eight different Saints have scored a receiving touchdown.
Vikings Win at Home
This game will likely be a playoff preview, and the Vikings and Saints look like the top challengers to the Rams in the NFC. New Orleans has been beating people with their explosive offense all season long, but they will need their defense to show up in this game.
The Vikings have had a shaky start to the 2018 season, but they are starting to round into form at the right time. The Minnesota defense is one of the best in the NFL when playing well, and they will slow down Brees and the Saints in this game. Bet the Minnesota Vikings -1.0 to beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.
