Who gets to SB? NFC

[gbgary]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

GB put up 23 in MINN and 26 at home against the Vikes. Some how I can easily see NO put up those numbers. If Bush goes off again I could see them reach 40 very easily.

i agree.

[packerbacker1234]

I don't see how the saints can stop teh vikings either. Indeed, this could be a shootout, and whoever has the ball last may be the winner. Of course, we say that, and it will magically become a defensive battle. Both the vikings and saints this year have ahd games where they looked barely better then average.

And yes, this is during some of the saints wins when they were still playing for something. If Washington was somehow able to stop that offense of the saitns, you could easily see how the vikings could.

EIther case, I am betting this is more like a 34 - 27 type game, and really could go either way. The team that turns the ball over less wins.

[mngolf19]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

GB put up 23 in MINN and 26 at home against the Vikes. Some how I can easily see NO put up those numbers. If Bush goes off again I could see them reach 40 very easily.

Since Bush hasn't been able to do that twice all season..... And my opinion is that NO lives off big plays and I don't think they'll get many. Packers are obviously more familiar with Vikes and in the second game were willing to throw more short passes. Pack also has better D so Vikes could eat up the clock on NO and keep them off the field. AP will have a very good game. Barring fumble of course.

[ThunderDan]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

GB put up 23 in MINN and 26 at home against the Vikes. Some how I can easily see NO put up those numbers. If Bush goes off again I could see them reach 40 very easily.

Since Bush hasn't been able to do that twice all season..... And my opinion is that NO lives off big plays and I don't think they'll get many. Packers are obviously more familiar with Vikes and in the second game were willing to throw more short passes. Pack also has better D so Vikes could eat up the clock on NO and keep them off the field. AP will have a very good game. Barring fumble of course.

I think AP needs to have a good game or the Vikes are in trouble. It will be crazy loud in NO and Minn will have to run a silent snap count.

[hoosier]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

You watch them more than I do, but I have seen nothing this year that would say that Minnesota's pass defense is anything but mediocre. Even their vaunted run defense showed a few chinks in the armor. Now they have lost their top linebacker. Their best defensive back is recovering from a broken foot and is still unable to push off with full effectiveness, and so he is being confined to nickel back. Kevin Williams and Edwards are both less than 100% because of knee injuries.

What are you basing this idea of the Vikings defense being "too good" on?

[denverYooper]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

GB put up 23 in MINN and 26 at home against the Vikes. Some how I can easily see NO put up those numbers. If Bush goes off again I could see them reach 40 very easily.

Since Bush hasn't been able to do that twice all season..... And my opinion is that NO lives off big plays and I don't think they'll get many. Packers are obviously more familiar with Vikes and in the second game were willing to throw more short passes. Pack also has better D so Vikes could eat up the clock on NO and keep them off the field. AP will have a very good game. Barring fumble of course.

Disagree that NO lives off of the big plays. They live off of creating mismatches out of multiple formations and letting Brees exploit those mismatches. Their passing attack is usually spread 'em thin, hit 'em quick, and let the receivers/backs work their mojo.

Further:

• Minny has more plays of 40+ than NO in the passing game(13 - 11) on the year.
  Minny has more total plays of 20+ than NO (rush + pass): 86 - 85
  NO has 1 more rush attempt (468 - 467) than Minny
  NO has 2,106 yards on the ground to Minny's 1918
  Drew Brees set the record for QB completion pct this year (70.6%) - that would not be a product of an offense that relied on the big play. Only 1 man more methodical than Brees right now and he's in the AFC Championship Tilt

I agree that Peterson needs a lot of touches and a reversion back to pre 2009 form in this game. The Vikings pass rush also needs a big day against an underrated offensive line playing at home and a very quick-on-his-feet QB. Not saying they won't, I just don't think you can that battle up to Minny's front 4 just yet.

[denverYooper]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

You watch them more than I do, but I have seen nothing this year that would say that Minnesota's pass defense is anything but mediocre. Even their vaunted run defense showed a few chinks in the armor. Now they have lost their top linebacker. Their best defensive back is recovering from a broken foot and is still unable to push off with full effectiveness, and so he is being confined to nickel back. Kevin Williams and Edwards are both less than 100% because of knee injuries.

They remind me some of Seattle's pass rush in '07 - beastly at home with the crowd advantage or playing against backups, but just ok on the road against a decent unit.

[mngolf19]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

You watch them more than I do, but I have seen nothing this year that would say that Minnesota's pass defense is anything but mediocre. Even their vaunted run defense showed a few chinks in the armor. Now they have lost their top linebacker. Their best defensive back is recovering from a broken foot and is still unable to push off with full effectiveness, and so he is being confined to nickel back. Kevin Williams and Edwards are both less than 100% because of knee injuries.

What are you basing this idea of the Vikings defense being "too good" on?

They're on turf. Vikes are REALLY different on turf. And while they won't have the crowd on their side, they will be able to apply more pressure both up the middle and from ends than nearly everyone NO played this year. It's not about how good their DBs are, it's about the pressure they can apply with the DL. Kevin will be fine, and Edwards practiced thurs and fri so we'll see on him.

[mngolf19]

Just can't see a shootout. Vikes D is too good for that. Barring turnovers or ST scores, Vikes win. And in that scenario, NO can't score more than 24.

GB put up 23 in MINN and 26 at home against the Vikes. Some how I can easily see NO put up those numbers. If Bush goes off again I could see them reach 40 very easily.

Since Bush hasn't been able to do that twice all season..... And my opinion is that NO lives off big plays and I don't think they'll get many. Packers are obviously more familiar with Vikes and in the second game were willing to throw more short passes. Pack also has better D so Vikes could eat up the clock on NO and keep them off the field. AP will have a very good game. Barring fumble of course.

Disagree that NO lives off of the big plays. They live off of creating mismatches out of multiple formations and letting Brees exploit those mismatches. Their passing attack is usually spread 'em thin, hit 'em quick, and let the receivers/backs work their mojo.

Further:

• Minny has more plays of 40+ than NO in the passing game(13 - 11) on the year.
  Minny has more total plays of 20+ than NO (rush + pass): 86 - 85
  NO has 1 more rush attempt (468 - 467) than Minny
  NO has 2,106 yards on the ground to Minny's 1918
  Drew Brees set the record for QB completion pct this year (70.6%) - that would not be a product of an offense that relied on the big play. Only 1 man more methodical than Brees right now and he's in the AFC Championship Tilt

I agree that Peterson needs a lot of touches and a reversion back to pre 2009 form in this game. The Vikings pass rush also needs a big day against an underrated offensive line playing at home and a very quick-on-his-feet QB. Not saying they won't, I just don't think you can that battle up to Minny's front 4 just yet.

I'm not saying that MN doesn't have more big plays, just that I think NO needs them to score high. And they will now have to against a very tough pass rush. And most of their bad run D lately has been when they're on grass.

[mngolf19]

All that being said, Harvin has a migraine again and if he can't play it will make things very tough for MN.

[sheepshead]

Last guy with the ball wins!