5 reasons Saints will beat Vikings
By John Buhler
You know it’s true. The Vikings are probably the most snake-bitten franchise in the NFC. They have not been to a Super Bowl since the 1970s when the iconic Fran Tarkenton was their superstar quarterback. Minnesota is one of two teams in the NFL that is 0-4 in Super Bowls, the other being the Buffalo Bills.
Playoff pains of recent years are still very much on the minds of tortured Vikings fans. The Gary Andersen missed field goal at home to inevitably lose the 1998 NFC Championship to the Atlanta Falcons, despite being 15-1. Brett Favre throwing the worst pass in NFL history to lose the 2009 NFC Championship to the Saints. Blair Walsh missing a chip-shot field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in the snow in 2015. It’s all there.
New Orleans doesn’t have to worry about that. The Saints would go on to win the Super Bowl over the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 season. They have had plenty of gridiron success during the Sean Payton. Even if they Saints haven’t been to the playoffs in four years, they still have Payton as head coach and Drew Brees at quarterback. That’s a ton of playoff experience the Vikings simply do not have.
On paper, Minnesota might be the most well-rounded team in football. However,the Saints have that extra level to get to offensively that Minnesota cannot. If there is going to be a painful home loss this week, you know that it is more likely to be Minnesota above all. Philadelphia is a home dog to Atlanta and do you really think New England and Pittsburgh aren’t playing in the AFC Championship? Me neither.