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MINNESOTA
NEW ORLEANS |
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49.5
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Final
20 |
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| 459 | MINNESOTA | 51 | 49.5 | | 460 | NEW ORLEANS | -9.5 | -9.5 |
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| All Games | 1-1 | +0.3 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 20.5 | 10.0 | 281.5 | (5.1) | 2.0 | 18.0 | 12.0 | 305.0 | (5.2) | 1.0 | | Road Games | 1-0 | +1.3 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 34.0 | 13.0 | 346.0 | (6.3) | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 318.0 | (5.5) | 2.0 | | Last 3 Games | 1-1 | +0.3 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 20.5 | 10.0 | 281.5 | (5.1) | 2.0 | 18.0 | 12.0 | 305.0 | (5.2) | 1.0 | | Dome Games | 1-0 | +1.3 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 34.0 | 13.0 | 346.0 | (6.3) | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 318.0 | (5.5) | 2.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 20.5 | 10.0 | 17.5 | 28:21 | 24-120 | (4.9) | 18-30 | 59.0% | 161 | (5.3) | 55-281 | (5.1) | (13.7) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.8 | 9.2 | 19.5 | 29:46 | 29-147 | (5) | 18-28 | 61.4% | 167 | (5.9) | 58-314 | (5.4) | (13.8) | | Offense Road Games | 34.0 | 13.0 | 18.0 | 28:17 | 30-186 | (6.2) | 17-25 | 68.0% | 160 | (6.4) | 55-346 | (6.3) | (10.2) | | Defense (All Games) | 18.0 | 12.0 | 15.5 | 31:38 | 29-111 | (3.8) | 19-29 | 67.2% | 194 | (6.7) | 58-305 | (5.2) | (16.9) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 18.8 | 13.5 | 17.8 | 31:14 | 27-108 | (4) | 22-36 | 62.9% | 208 | (5.8) | 63-316 | (5) | (16.9) | | Defense Road Games | 6.0 | 0.0 | 15.0 | 31:43 | 22-72 | (3.3) | 24-36 | 66.7% | 246 | (6.8) | 58-318 | (5.5) | (53) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | -1.0 | 11-3 | 31.8% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-48 | (19.4) | 1-8 | (8.5) | 7-59 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 1.8 | 11-4 | 41.9% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 3-72 | (24) | 10-2 | (6.8) | 6-44 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 11-3 | 27.3% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-48 | (24) | 1-6 | (6) | 7-60 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | | 14-4 | 32.1% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 0-13 | (26) | 4-45 | (10) | 14-142 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 | | 14-5 | 33.9% | 1-0 | 40.0% | 2-31 | (20.8) | 26-3 | (8.8) | 10-112 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | | 14-4 | 28.6% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-26 | (26) | 5-24 | (4.8) | 13-121 |
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| All Games | 0-2 | -3.5 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 29.0 | 15.0 | 434.5 | (6.3) | 2.0 | 31.5 | 13.0 | 446.0 | (6.4) | 0.5 | | Last 3 Games | 0-2 | -3.5 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 29.0 | 15.0 | 434.5 | (6.3) | 2.0 | 31.5 | 13.0 | 446.0 | (6.4) | 0.5 | | Dome Games | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 34.0 | 20.0 | 472.0 | (6.7) | 2.0 | 37.0 | 10.0 | 568.0 | (8.4) | 1.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 29.0 | 15.0 | 28.0 | 31:07 | 27-156 | (5.7) | 28-41 | 68.3% | 278 | (6.8) | 68-434 | (6.3) | (15) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 25.5 | 14.2 | 22.7 | 31:12 | 29-137 | (4.8) | 24-36 | 66.9% | 278 | (7.8) | 65-415 | (6.4) | (16.3) | | Defense (All Games) | 31.5 | 13.0 | 25.5 | 29:44 | 27-122 | (4.5) | 27-42 | 65.5% | 323 | (7.7) | 69-446 | (6.4) | (14.2) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 30.4 | 12.8 | 23.7 | 29:05 | 28-137 | (4.8) | 24-37 | 64.3% | 269 | (7.2) | 66-406 | (6.2) | (13.3) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | -1.5 | 13-7 | 57.7% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-48 | (24.2) | 0-1 | (2) | 4-33 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 13-6 | 43.2% | 0-0 | 100.0% | 2-46 | (20.7) | 18-2 | (10.7) | 8-66 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | | 13-6 | 48.1% | 1-1 | 100.0% | 1-29 | (19.3) | 1-1 | (1.5) | 7-63 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | | 12-5 | 40.9% | 1-1 | 80.0% | 2-58 | (23.4) | 13-1 | (9.9) | 7-55 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: MINNESOTA 24, NEW ORLEANS 19 |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ ST LOUIS | 34-6 | W | 3 | W | 43.5 | U | 30-186 | 17-25-160 | 0 | 22-72 | 24-36-246 | 2 | | 9/14/2014 | NEW ENGLAND | 7-30 | L | 3 | L | 49 | U | 19-54 | 19-36-163 | 4 | 37-150 | 15-22-142 | 0 | | 9/21/2014 | @ NEW ORLEANS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/28/2014 | ATLANTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/2/2014 | @ GREEN BAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/12/2014 | DETROIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/19/2014 | @ BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ ATLANTA | 34-37 | L | -3 | L | 51 | O | 28-139 | 29-42-333 | 2 | 25-123 | 31-43-445 | 1 | | 9/14/2014 | @ CLEVELAND | 24-26 | L | -5 | L | 49 | O | 27-174 | 27-40-223 | 2 | 30-122 | 24-41-202 | 0 | | 9/21/2014 | MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/28/2014 | @ DALLAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/5/2014 | TAMPA BAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/19/2014 | @ DETROIT | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | MINNESOTA: At every one of Norv Turner's stops, the offense has leaned on a power running game, and his first year as the Vikings' offensive coordinator will be no different. He retained offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, whose scheme skews toward more zone than gap blocking. Adrian Peterson will see a monstrous workload due to his club's uncertainty under center, not to mention the inclement weather they'll be playing in as they move outdoors to University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium for 2014 and 2015 while their new stadium is being constructed. Expect the Vikings to also be one of the NFL's most run-heavy red zone teams.
Turner runs a classic Air Coryell, high-to-low passing game, one that should be relatively easy for rookie Teddy Bridgewater to pick up once he ascends to the top of the depth chart past incumbents Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder. They're going to carve out a bigger role for Cordarrelle Patterson, who has proven to be a catch-and-run threat, but he should also start working downfield more often. Patterson also proved to be a red-zone threat in limited chances last year. Greg Jennings will serve as the top downfield option and tight end Kyle Rudolph should have a big role as a possession receiver and an expanded role in the red zone. Peterson will also be worked into the passing game.
Free agents free safety Kurt Coleman and cornerbacks Captain Munnerlyn and Derek Cox were nice offseason additions. But new head coach Mike Zimmer and new defensive coordinator George Edwards don't have any superstar players to work with now that defensive end Jared Allen and his 128.5 career sacks are in rival Chicago. | | NEW ORLEANS: The Saints' running game is a Frankenstein of a series of other offenses, but its basis is in between-the-tackles power. Pierre Thomas might lead the backfield committee in playing time, but the running game is better suited for big bruising backs like Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson. They'll rotate the three on early downs with Thomas staying on the field for most passing downs. Thomas is at his best on stretch plays that move the opposing front seven laterally, while the other two will work a lot of inside zone runs. Thomas got most of the carries inside the 20 last season, but Ingram started to eat into those red-zone touches late in the year once he was healthy.
The Saints will run the same kind of pass-happy, spread offense they have run since 2007. Tight end Jimmy Graham is the focal point of the passing game, flexing out and working the deep seam. Drew Brees will look for him any time Graham gets single-coverage, and often when he's double-covered too. He is by far the Saints' top option in the red zone. Marques Colston works downfield on the perimeter, as Brees reads high-to-low. Kenny Stills and Brandin Cooks will mix in as home-run hitters, and Cooks could see some of the catch-and-run work that used to go to Darren Sproles. Thomas, one of the NFL's best in the screen game, will see increased usage through the air with Sproles gone.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan transformed one of the worst defenses ever in 2012 to a unit that finished fourth among NFL defenses in yards, points and sacks. The addition of FS Jairus Boyd and CB Champ Bailey will help pass-rushing studs DE Cameron Jordan (12.5 sacks) and OLB Junior Galette (12 sacks) get more sacks. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-NEW ORLEANS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Vikings-Saints Preview* ========================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
There's unlikely to be much of a divide in New Orleans on whether Adrian Peterson should play in Week 3.
Whether the Saints can stop anyone else, though, is certainly up for debate.
The winless Saints will try to make the most of the Minnesota Vikings star running back's continued absence in Sunday's home opener at the Superdome, where they haven't lost since 2012.
After initial plans pointed to him rejoining the Vikings (1-1), Peterson has been placed on the exempt-commissioner's permission list. This means he is off the active roster while he deals with his legal affairs, which center around allegedly injuring his 4-year-old son by spanking him with a wooden switch earlier this year. The team would not put a timeframe on when Peterson might be back.
The move bodes well for a New Orleans defense that is surrendering an average of 446.0 yards and has lost two games on late field goals.
After getting carved up for 568 yards in Week 1 at Atlanta, New Orleans (0-2) looked improved for parts of last Sunday's 26-24 loss in Cleveland but folded in crunch time. The Browns marched 85 yards for a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds.
Two losses by a total of five points hasn't softened the blow.
"Honestly, a loss is a loss. I don't care what the points are," safety Kenny Vaccaro said. "As a secondary I feel like we played terribly these last two weeks and it doesn't feel like (the losses) have been by a combined five points, I'll tell you that."
Five teams have started 0-3 and gone on to make the playoffs with the last coming in 1998, so New Orleans' season is already nearing the point of being on the line.
New Orleans started 0-4 in 2012, but that was without coach Sean Payton as he served a season-long suspension for the infamous bounty scandal. In eight seasons under Payton, New Orleans lost its first two games one other time - an 0-4 start in 2007 - which stands as Payton's only loss in a home opener.
Last season's season-opening win led to an 8-0 home record, a current winning streak that might be more relevant to Sunday's outcome than their winless start. The Saints have averaged 35.1 points in their last 10 home games. Minnesota has reached that level once in 38 road games, including the playoffs.
Drew Brees' 354.4 yards per game, 9.12 yards per attempt, 73.6 percent completion rate and 126.3 quarterback rating in eight home contests last season led all quarterbacks who played more than four home games. His 27 touchdowns matched MVP Peyton Manning for the league lead.
Brees was limited to 237 yards with two scores and an interception in Cleveland.
"It's frustrating because we expect to win," Brees said. "You can point to one play in each of these games. We're one play in each game from being 2-0 instead of 0-2. That hurts."
His connection with Jimmy Graham didn't suffer. The tight end had 10 catches for 118 yards and two TDs.
Minnesota would welcome such numbers after what Matt Cassel showed in Sunday's 30-7 home loss to New England. Cassel was 19 of 36 for 202 yards with a TD and surpassed Brees' entire 2013 home total with four interceptions. Brees had three.
It didn't prompt coach Mike Zimmer to give in to the crowd's chants for rookie Teddy Bridgewater.
"I'm going to hold the quarterback position just like every position here to the same standard, and I also said I wasn't going to have a quick hook," Zimmer said. "Matt needs to play better. It's pretty obvious he needs to play better."
Fall-back starting running back Matt Asiata didn't do much on the ground in his first start, gaining 36 yards on 13 carries, though he caught five passes for 48 yards and a TD.
The Vikings trailed by 17 at half, so the running game took a backseat. The team went on to net 89 yards, 53 of which came on penalties, after halftime and didn't progress past their own 34-yard line until their final possession.
Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson's response was troubling, given the direction the team has chosen to move with its star since the loss.
"We all felt off," Patterson said. "I think it was because 28 wasn't there."
The Saints will also reportedly be without a running back as Mark Ingram is expected to miss time with a broken hand.
New Orleans has won the last three meetings, including the NFC championship after the 2009 season. In the last regular-season matchup in 2011, Brees threw for 412 yards and five TDs in a 42-20 road victory.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 10:36:49 AM EST. |
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