New Orleans Saints open season with victory over Minnesota Vikings
The New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings kicked off the National Football League season on Thursday with a much anticipated rematch of last season’s NFC title game. Although the game was competitive, it certainly did not live up to the same offensive and dramatic flair at last season. The Saints were able to hold on for a 14-9 victory at the Louisiana Superdome.
"We're not used to 14-9 victories, but we're used to winning," said Brees, the reigning Super Bowl MVP. "So we like the W."
Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre, also commented on the unspectacular nature of the game. "I know people are going to say it wasn't the fireworks they expected it to be," Favre said.
Despite the low scoring game, Brees delivered a solid passing game, completing 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. The Saints defence also limited Favre to 171 passing yards.
"We knew we would have to play better in a lot of areas than we did last year (against the Vikings) and I felt like we did," Brees said. "We just showed that we can win in a lot of different ways."
Although it was the lowest-scoring victory since Saints head coach, Sean Payton, took over in 2006, he admitted he "…was proud of the way we came through and made enough plays to start the season 1-0."
The Saints defence also did a great job containing Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, limiting him to just 87 yards. Peterson exploded for 122 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s playoff contest.
"We did a very good job of holding against the run and still taking some of the downfield throws away," Payton said.
The Saints wasted little time scoring, getting on the board in five plays after taking the opening kickoff. Brees started the drive, connecting on three of four passes, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson. The Saints offence was not able to do much after that in the first half, with the Vikings scoring nine unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 9-7 lead at the half. But the Vikings were not able to build on their momentum in the second-half.
"We were right where we wanted to be at halftime, then it was three-and-out, three-and-out," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "There were not a lot of throws to be made downfield. They were going to hold us down and make us bleed slowly."
The Saints scored again on their first drive in the second half, marching downfield 74 yards in 11 plays. The drive was eventually rewarded after a one-yard plunge from Pierre Thomas for a score of 14-9. It was the only score the Saints needed to secure the victory, and it was the only score by both teams in the second half.
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