NFC divisional
playoff game |
Saints at Vikings
H.H.H. Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minn.
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001
AT A GLANCE: After nearly blowing their first-ever
playoff victory with a fourth-quarter letdown vs. the Rams, the Saints hope to keep their
dream season alive. Minnesota hopes to regain its early-season form after losing three
straight.
|
| OVERVIEW: Considering they’ve had to face the
league’s top-ranked offense the last two weeks, the Saints aren’t expected to be
intimidated by Minnesota’s high-profile offense (27 or more points in 10 games this
season). What could be a legitimate concern, though, is the condition of the
Saints’ defense after facing a Rams offense that is known for draining opposing
defenses with its frenetic pace.
Saints secondary coach Rick Venturi said the team’s fourth-quarter disappearing
act, which put the Rams back in last Saturday’s wild-card game at the Superdome, was
a direct result of that.
On the other hand, the Saints would appear to have a huge edge in the momentum
department with 10 wins in their last 13 games.
The Vikings finished the regular season on a low note. Their porous defense allowed an
average of 34.7 points and 451.0 total yards in three straight losses, while their offense
lost the terrific balance it had displayed earlier in the season.
The Saints are 7-1 on the road, while the Vikings are 7-1 at home, their only loss a
33-28 setback vs. Green Bay in Week 16.
Both teams are piloted by second-year quarterbacks who have far exceeded expectations.
Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper and New Orleans’ Aaron Brooks have shown impressive
poise, strong and accurate arms, great mobility and rare athleticism.
WHEN THE SAINTS HAVE THE BALL:
After gaining only 50 yards on 32 carries vs. St. Louis last Saturday, the Saints could
sure use RB Ricky Williams, who has been out of the lineup since breaking an ankle in Week
11. At presstime, though, they were not optimistic about Williams’ availability for
this game. |
|
|
| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Date: Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001 |
| 12:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
New Orleans |
11-6-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
11-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New Orleans |
10-7-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
8-8-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
New Orleans (R) |
7-1-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New Orleans (R) |
6-2-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
4-4-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
New Orleans |
6-6-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
9-3-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
New Orleans |
5-7-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
6-6-0 |
|
|
| The Saints’ ground game also has been
seriously hurt by the loss of FB Terrelle Smith, who has missed the team’s last three
games with bulging discs in his back. Smith’s blocking and occasional play-making
ability could come in handy (check status). Primary WR Joe Horn missed all but three
plays of the Saints’ playoff victory over the Rams with a sprained right ankle. At
presstime, Horn was expected to be listed as doubtful on the injury report, which means
Willie Jackson could take on an accelerated role again this weekend.
A key matchup pits Jackson, Robert Wilson and Jake Reed vs. a Vikings secondary that
has given up a ton of yardage and forced Pro Bowl SS Robert Griffith to stay back in
coverage.
Wasswa Serwanga will most likely replace ineffective CB Kenny Wright in the starting
lineup.
Look for Brooks, who is now 4-2 as a starter, to peck away at the Vikings’ soft
underbelly. Athletic OLB Dwayne Rudd and disappointing DLE John Randle — who had his
first single-digit sack total since 1991 — need to turn it up a notch and come up
with some big plays.
The ever-intense Randle’s matchup vs. nasty Saints ORT Kyle Turley should be a
honey.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
Culpepper, who has been hampered by a sprained ankle and played only briefly in the
Vikings’ regular-season finale, is expected to practice at full throttle this week.
Culpepper, who is bigger and stronger than Brooks, will be looking to consistently hook
up with Vikings Pro Bowl WRs Randy Moss and Cris Carter in the face of what is expected to
be steady pressure from New Orleans’ league-leading sack attack.
But it would help if the Vikings could resurrect their sagging ground game featuring
Pro Bowl RB Robert Smith, who has averaged only 43.3 yards on 13.3 carries in the last
three games.
Minnesota’s interior line must do a better job of handling Saints DLT Norman Hand
than the Rams did last Saturday. Vikings C Matt Birk,who like Culpepper has thrived in his
first full season as a starter, will play a pivotal role in blocking Hand.
Using his cat-quick first step, Hand consistently caved in Rams QB Kurt Warner’s
protective pocket and clogged the middle, making it virtually impossible for Rams RB
Marshall Faulk to cut back inside.
Don’t be surprised if the Saints’ defense disguises its packages from
beginning to end in an effort to confuse Culpepper, who has shown lots of savvy.
A key Saints defender could be SS Sammy Knight, who came up with a pair of
interceptions last Saturday and has been a big-time playmaker all season.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 1, 2001 |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
88 JACKSON, 80 Wilson, 86 Reed |
| OLT |
77 ROAF, 78 Terrell, 76 Reyes* |
| OLG |
63 W. WILLIAMS, 69 Ackerman |
| C |
62 FONTENOT, 69 Ackerman |
| ORG |
65 NAEOLE, 69 Ackerman |
| ORT |
68 TURLEY, 70 Price |
| TE |
82 A. GLOVER, 81 Hall, 89 Stachelski, 84 Wheatley* |
| WR |
87 HORN, 83 Poole |
| QB |
2 A. BROOKS, 12 Delhomme, 11 Tolliver |
| RB |
20 ALLEN, 32 R. Williams, 30 Morton*, 32 Moore, 26 McAfee |
| FB |
40 MILNE, 44 T. Smith*, 47 Houser* |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 HOWARD*,98 Whitehead |
| DLT |
99 HAND, 92 Chase |
| DRT |
97 L. GLOVER, 90 Tomich |
| DRE |
94 J. JOHNSON, 98 Whitehead |
| LOLB |
59 MITCHELL, 53 D. Jones |
| MLB |
54 D. SMITH, 51 Clarke |
| ROLB |
55 FIELDS, 54 D. Smith |
| LCB |
25 MOLDEN, 36 Hawthorne*, 35 Canty |
| RCB |
23 MATHIS, 22 Thomas |
| SS |
29 KNIGHT, 28 Oldham, 37 Gleason |
| FS |
39 PERRY, 27 Kelly |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
4 GOWIN |
| PK |
10 BRIEN |
| H |
4 GOWIN, 12 Delhomme |
| KR |
26 McAFEE, 23 Mathis |
| PR |
35 CANTY, 23 Mathis |
| KC |
47 HOUSER*, 62 Fontenot |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 MOSS, 81 Walsh, 83 Jacquet |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 74 Badger |
| OLG |
63 LACINA, 76 Liwienski, 60 Withrow |
| C |
78 BIRK, 60 Withrow |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 76 Liwienski |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 74 Badger |
| TE |
86 DAVIS, 87 McWilliams, 85 Jordan |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 89 Hatchette, 82 Walters* |
| QB |
11 CULPEPPER, 6 Brister, 8 Bouman |
| RB |
26 SMITH, 21 Williams, 22 D. Palmer, 23 Chapman* |
| FB |
40 KLEINSASSER, 33 Morrow |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 RANDLE, 91 Burrough, 95 Paup |
| NT |
99 HOVAN*, 98 Robbins* |
| UT |
94 WILLIAMS, 98 Robbins* |
| DRE |
97 SAWYER, 90 Northern |
| SLB |
57 RUDD, 55 Hall |
| MLB |
52 WONG, 56 Nelson, 50 Bercich |
| WLB |
58 McDANIEL, 54 Wilson* |
| LCB |
29 SERWANGA, 20 Wright |
| RCB |
28 TATE, 27 Thibodeaux |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 30 Banks |
| FS |
42 THOMAS, 37 Carter*, 31 Morgan |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
82 WALTERS, 22 Palmer, 28 Tate |
| KR |
82 WALTERS, 21 Williams, 33 Morrow |
| KC |
51 M. PALMER, 91 Burrough |
* Rookie |
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