The score suggests something closer, but two missed field goals apart, the Saints looked in control of this game and always seemed to be able to dictate the tone.

For the Vikings, some of the better performances looked reminiscent of last year, as Adrian Peterson (+2.1 rushing grade) made more yards than his barely acceptable run blocking should have allowed and the two starting defensive ends, Ray Edwards and Jared Allen, got good pressure throughout, combining for 2 hits and 11 hurries.

Unfortunately the run defense did not seem up to its usual standard. No one seemed capable of consistently holding up against the Saints’ ground game, with both members of the “Williams Wall” looking their age and Chad Greenway (-3.4 run defense) also struggling. In addition, Brett Favre appeared more in the guise of his 2008 alter ego than anything from last year’s vintage, coming up with only a -1.4 overall grade.

It wasn’t as if the Saints had everything their own way, though. Carl Nicks aside (+2.6 overall grade), their offensive line didn’t have a great day and they needed excellent work at the skill positions from Drew Brees (+4.5 rating) and Pierre Thomas (+2.3 rating) to see them through.

VIKINGS

Some of Minnesota’s problems on offense emanated from the offensive line. In particular, RT Phil Loadholt (-1.7 pass block, -2.1 run block & -1.7 penalty grades) and C John Sullivan (-3.2 pass block and -1.1 run block) had poor games. Loadholt had a partial excuse in that two of the three hurries and one of the two penalties he gave up came on the seven snaps he played at left tackle when Bryant McKinnie was injured. The Vikings had better pray McKinnie is back next week because the second-year man looked hugely uncomfortable playing away from his usual position. Last year Sullivan had problems with his run blocking (as he did here) but was at least average in pass protection. In this game he was a walking pressure machine, giving up 40 percent of the total allowed by Minnesota including a sack, hit and 2 hurries.  His run blocking was of his usual low standard.

Another reason for the Vikings inability to score was Bernard Berrian’s lackluster play (overall grade -2.0). He was on the field for 85 percent of all snaps and on 29 passing plays was only targeted three times, pulling in a catch for 3 yards. The Vikings really missed Sidney Rice‘s physicality; a couple of times Berrian couldn’t use his body and subsequently failed to secure a catch and shield a defender.

With cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris Cook out injured, Minnesota made the decision to start Asher Allen and bring in Lito Sheppard as the nickel back moving Antoine Winfield into the slot on these occasions. Of the three, Sheppard had the best day (overall rating +1.2). He was targeted seven times and allowed four receptions for 26 yards but also defended all three of the other passes. Given how vulnerable Allen looked at times, it may be better to promote Sheppard.  

SAINTS

It should be relatively straightforward for a solid running team to beat up on New Orleans, which doesn’t have a defense with the type of players to hold up well against the ground game. However, the Vikings aren’t as good as conventional wisdom would suggest and on this occasion Sedrick Ellis also had a good game in this area. Last year we only saw one game from him where he rated over +1.0 (in Week 2 against the Eagles), but here he graded a solid +2.3, getting penetration, squeezing the hole and making two tackles for good measure. He played in 84 percent of all defensive plays and rotated between defensive tackle and nose tackle as the Saints moved from 4-3 to 3-4. The stat sheet will also say he got good pressure, but his sack was his only real big push in the pass rush and came about solely because of Scott Shanle cleverly sitting on Visanthe Shiancoe, giving Favre no option on a screen.

Last year, Jon Stinchcomb was having a good season in pass protection until he came up against Ray Edwards in the conference championship game. Plainly put, he got killed. He gave up a sack and 6 hurries. It was déjà vu Thursday: Edwards had his way with the right tackle and Stinchcomb allowed a sack and 7 hurries as well as being called for holding. Perhaps with his nemesis out of the way, he can now go on to have as good a year as he did prior to playing the Vikings in 2009.

Jonathan Vilma is probably the best pass coverage linebacker in the NFL and despite being somewhat culpable for Shiancoe’s second-quarter touchdown, made up for it with his interception of Favre and general close coverage. The problem with Vilma comes in his ability to make square-on tackles and generally get to the ballcarrier if blocked. He only made one tackle where he had to beat a block (and only three in total) and was generally pushed about by anyone that got in his way. This is a weakness that other teams will do a better job of exploiting than Minnesota.

ROOKIE REPORT

This is a very short report on this occasion — fewer rookies appeared in this game than any in recent memory. Only three rookies took the field, and none for the Vikings. For the Saints, Patrick Robinson, Charles Brown and Matt Tennant played only on special teams and none did anything of note.

NOTES

The Saints used 3-4 and 4-3 formations throughout the game and in total only used four different packages:

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