Here we go, the NFL Playoffs for the Vikings and Saints, as they get set for their second matchup in the last three seasons.
To start with, the Saints are very talented. Not just Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and the offense. The defense has been good too.
"Well, they have a lot of guys, a lot of talent, a lot of guys that have played a lot of football in this league, so they can do a lot of different things," said Thielen. "They can mix up coverages. Um, they can play a lot of different packages, things like that, to throw offenses off. When you have a lot of veteran guys that have played a lot of football and have a lot of experience that then they're allowed to do more. And to really make it tough on offense. This is a really good football team all around, you know, not only on defense but on offense as well. So we know as an offense, we know as a team that we're going to have to be laser focused and we're going to have to prepare and, play well."
As for Michael Thomas, he is coming off a record-setting year in which he caught 149 passes for 1,725 yards. The 149 catches broke Marvin Harrison's season record. Thomas will be a major challenge for the Viking defense. Thielen says Thomas is very difficult to stop.
"You know, I think it's versatility. You know, he can really do it all. He can go outside, he can go inside,he can run all the different routes. His body control is up there with the best in the league. The way that he tracks the ball. Drew (Brees) has a lot of trust in him and, and when he can, he gives him a lot opportunitys because he knows that he's going to come down with the football. So, you know, have a ton of respect for him. Got to spend some time with him at the Pro Bowl and really pick his brain, his mindset and how he does things. Like I said, I have a ton of respect for him and he's a really good football player."
Vikings-Saints in the PlayoffsBesides the aformentioned "Minneapolis Miracle", the Vikings and Saints have played a couple of other memorable postseason games in what has become a really good postseason rivalry.
Of course there was January 24th, 2010. The Vikings lost 31-28 in a classic NFC Championship game. Later known as "Bountygate" following the revelations that Saints players were accused of paying out bonuses, or "bounties", for injuring opposing team players, Viking fans will also remember Adrian Peterson fumbling, "too many men on the field", and of course Brett Favre's heartbreaking interception at the end of regulation. The Vikings would eventually lose in OT after a very controversial pass interference call on Ben Leber.
January 6th, 2001, the Vikings played the Saints as the #2 seed at the Metrodome. The Saints had dispatched the Rams in the Wild Card round while the Vikings had limped into the playoffs losing three straight to drop the #1 overall seed to the Giants. And we all know how that worked out, right?
Culpepper to Moss struck quickly on the third play of the game for a 53 yard TD, connected again in the 3rd quarter for a 68 yard TD and blew the Saints out 34-16.
The following week was 41-Donut in New York.
Finally, there is January 3rd, 1988. This was the strike season. The NFL cancelled a weeks' worth of games, there were three weeks' of replacement players, and one of the weirdest seasons in NFL history ended with the Vikings finishing 8-7 and squeezing into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
They went to New Orleans, who finished 12-3 ( behind San Francisco) in the NFC West. The Saints were heavy favorites.
But the Vikings, after a quick New Orleans TD, went off. Anthony Carter returned a punt 84 yards for a TD, caught a 10-yard TD pass from running back Allen Rice, and just before halftime Hassan Jones caught a 44-yard Hail Mary for a TD to blow the game open 31-10.
They'd end up winning 44-10 before heading to San Francisco where Anthony Carter went completely berserk to upset Joe Montana and the 49ers. Of course that ended with the crushing 14-7 loss in Washington the following week.
InjuriesThere are a couple of question marks for the Vikings as they head to New Orleans. The biggest one is at linebacker, where Eric Kendricks was limited again in practice on Thursday. He injured his quad in the December 23rd game against Green Bay. He then has sat out most practices and the game against the Bears.
Kendricks has had his best season and is crucial in the Viking coverage scheme. And that is amplified against the Saints where Alvin Kamra is a huge weapon out of the backfield. Hopefully for the Vikings, he'll be able to go at full-speed Sunday, but it looks likely that he'll be dealing with that sore leg still.
It looks like Thielen, running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are back to being totally healthy which should give the offense a big boost.
There are a couple of players that are sick. Stephen Weatherly and Andrew Sendejo sat out practice but will likely play.
There could be a few secondary concerns though, with free safety Marcus Williams and cornerback Eli Apple questionable.
Expensive TicketWhile it's "just" a Wild Card game, it's one of the toughest tickets New Orleans has seen in a while on the secondary market. Take note if you're hoping to head to New Orleans and score some last-minute seats.
According to the Canal Street Chronicles, this is the most expensive Wild Card game at the Superdowme in over a decade.
The average ticket price is up to $408, and the cheapest seat in the house is $165. Want to sit behind the Viking bench at the 50-yard line? You'll be writing a check for $1,700.