Saints Defeat Vikings 14-9 In Season Opener

The defending Super Bowl champs were able to hold off a Vikings squad looking for revenge after suffering a crushing overtime loss in the 2009 NFC Championship game, winning the 2010 season opener 14-9. Vikings QB Brett Favre’s return to the Super Dome consisted of 15 completions on 27 attempts for 171 yards, 1 TD and an INT. RB Adrian Peterson led all rushers in the game with 87 yards on 19 carries.

The game didn’t start out the way the Vikings wanted with the Saints offense quickly driving down the field in just 5 plays for the game’s 1st TD. New Orleans controlled most of the 1st quarter with 6 first downs compared to Minnesota’s 1. Saints QB Drew Brees was sacked once by DT Jayme Mitchell and LB Chad Greenway as the Saints led 7-0 after the 1st quarter.

Favre and Co. managed to put together 2 drives in the 2nd quarter that resulted in points. The first drive lasted 9:25 on 16 plays for 66 yards capped off by a 41-yard field goal from K Ryan Longwell with Peterson acting as the workhorse; #28 had 56 yards on 12 carries in the series. The 2nd series was much quicker, lasting just 45 seconds on 5 plays for 64 yards. The series concluded on a 20-yard TD pass from Favre to TE Visanthe Shiancoe in the middle of the endzone. Shiancoe finished the game as the leading receiver with 4 receptions for 76 yards and the Vikings lone TD. The extra point was blocked and the Purple went into the half with a 9-7 lead.

The 3rd quarter proved to be the turning point in the game as the Vikings defense couldn’t stop the Saints rushing attack. New Orleans put together an 11-play, 74-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard TD run from RB Pierre Thomas. The series lasted 6:43 and ended up being the game winner.

The Vikings now have 9 days of rest until their home opener at Mall of America Field against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CST.