Last Minute Notes for Vikings/Saints

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Jan 14, 2018
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs hauls in a touchdown pass against the Saints in week 1. (Photo Courtesy: Andy Kenutis)

After what felt like the slowest two weeks in history, the Vikings are a little over an hour away from hosting their first post-season game in the history of US Bank Stadium. The importance of this game can’t be overstated and neither can the nerves that accompany watching the Vikings facing the Saints for the second time this season (and for the second time since 2009 in the post-season). The Vikings faithful seem cautiously optimistic, for once, despite the national narrative that seems to support the upset narrative that the Saints rode into the 2009 NFC Championship “game” (/exercise in national guilt over the response to Hurricane Katrina). So, let’s take a look at some of the final tidbits of information that are trickling out in an attempt to calm our collective nerves and also remind us all that this is a football game, at home, where the Vikings were 7-1 this season (while not allowing 20 points), with only one loss in the final three-fourths of the season (happening on the road, in Carolina).

1) Bradford is officially the Back-Up

Vikings QB Sam Bradford had, arguably, the best game of his career against the Saints way back in the season-opener on Monday Night Football and basically hasn’t played since (we’ll forget about that Bears game). It’s been known for awhile that he would be eligible to come off of the IR once the playoffs began but it wasn’t really known whether or not the Vikings would actually activate him and if they did, where he’d appear on the depth chart. This move makes a lot of sense as, again, Bradford picked apart this Saints defense this season and also because he does have a lot more (or any) experience running Pat Shurmur’s offense in game situations. So, should anything happen to Keenum, it’s nice to know that we have a back-up who has all of those boxes checked.

2) The Offensive Line:

The injury to Nick Easton against the Packers was worrisome as his replacement in Jeremiah Sirles was a significant step down in terms of quality, so it looks like the Vikings are avoiding Sirles altogether by attempting to put their best five offensive linemen on the field. That could be a bit too much of a risk for a game of this magnitude (as we discussed on this week’s purpleJOURNAL Podcast), as it will basically be the first time that this configuration of lineman will play together, with some playing their opposite position. However, should things go haywire, as above, they could theoretically go back to their regular line-up (with Sirles in at left guard), but hopefully Sparano and company (and that Bye week) got this all figured out and the line will be a boon to the offense (namely the running game).

3) Live Chat…

We will be live chatting the game, as well! Click Here to join!

https://purpleptsd.com/vikingssaints-live-chat/

4) Feelings

This week, especially, went by extremely slowly. I started out as pretty confident that this Vikings team, at home, would come out flying and really take it to this Saints team. However, as time seemed to slow to a crawl, my actual nature started seeping into my confidence and now I’m just really excited to get this game over with. We can talk about the future after the game, but there are some huge decisions to be made in the off-season and exciting updates in terms of the Vikings path to the Big Game that will be covered, hopefully with one occurring before the other. So, I just want to thank all the Vikings fans for following our site(s), for being here for support and for believing in this team along with us!

SKOL, Fellas! You Can Do It!

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