They're due.
I mean the New Orleans Saints, not the Minnesota Vikings.
With a .421 franchise winning percentage (fifth worst in the NFL) and not even a single Super Bowl appearance in 42 years of existence, there's not much to brag about if you're a Saints fan. In fact, it's probably been miserable existence for you.
But every dog has its day and when I try to think objectively about this game, I keep coming back to the same thought – "they're due."
It just seems like this is the Saints time doesn't it? (At least, it's they're time to reach the Super Bowl. I don't think anyone is stopping Peyton Manning this year.)
They had the best record in the NFC. They will be playing in front of a crowd that will break eardrums, and as it happens, the Vikings have won the last three games against the Saints in the Superdome.
The law of averages is not in the Vikings favor.
Objectively, I think both teams are pretty equal in talent. And you'd have to think any team that can lose to Tampa Bay at home is vulnerable.
The Vikings have the potential to score a lot of points. But can they duplicate their defensive performance from last week's game against Dallas? I doubt it.
It's also time for Adrian Peterson to come to life.
He's become increasingly irrelevant to the Vikings offensive success and he's come up small in several high profile games this year. But he can't do it again on Sunday. I really think Peterson has to have his best game of the season for the Vikings to win this one.
Why? Well, if the Vikings are forced into too many bad down-and-distance situations, and if Brett Favre is forced to throw when the Saints expect him to throw, this game might not be very competitive.
But if Peterson can be the force he hasn't been since, arguably, the season opener, the Vikings will have the balance they need to keep the Saints defence on its heels, keep the crowd out of the game and score enough points to keep up with the Saints.
Oh yeah, Peterson can't put the ball on the ground either. Not once.
So I'll root hard on Sunday. I'll yell loud. I'll stick with routines during the game (how I was sitting, what I was drinking) where I notice the Vikings seem to be successful. And I'll tell myself over and over and over that there is no reason why the Vikings can't win this game and reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976.
But again, I don't think the signs are good.
It ends here.
Saints 34 Vikings 21
And for your gaming pleasure ....
If you've got the time and software, why not play Pro Football References' Saints-Vikings Tecmo NFC Championship game?
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I'm calling 31-23 Vikings. I'm always pessimistic until the weekend, then I get homer-y.
The Vikings will extend their 24-16 lead to 31-16 late in the 3rd or early in the 4th, and that will be the last score before a meaningless TD near the end of the game.
Peter:
I wish I felt as confident as you do about the game. I guess my biggest fear is the game is not all that competitive. I'll be really disappointed if that is the case.
I just want a chance to win this one. Does that sound too much like a Vikings fan?
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