New Orleans Saints should be running plenty this Monday
By Dean Mullen
The Saints better have their running shoes on early. In fact, Who Dat Nation may be a little shocked to see a lot more running plays on Monday night.
The Monday Night Football game against the Vikings will be tough. Both teams have a lot to prove. The Minnesota Vikings started 5-0 last year only to finish 8-8 and are ready to start the 2017 season. Similarly, the New Orleans Saints are “under the gun” to start off fast this season. Expect a very physical game in the trenches.
Some may see this as a possible shootout between Bradford and Brees. No doubt, that this could turn into a track race. In my opinion though, this game is going to be a lower scoring game than people might guess. The Saints now have three bonafide starting running backs at their disposal. Everyone on planet Earth is going to be keeping an eye on Adrian Peterson. This is going to be his first game in the Black and Gold, which just happens to be against his former team. That wasn’t by accident.
More from Who Dat Dish
- Are the Saints playoff contenders or pretenders in 2022?
- 3 takeaways from Saints unofficial depth chart ahead of preseason opener
- Saints 2022 Training Camp: Top 5 takeaways from Day 13
- 3 things to know about new Saints QB K.J. Costello
- Kirk Merritt could be a difficult player for the Saints to cut
Regardless, Peterson has made it known he’d like nothing else more than to stick it to the Minnesota Vikings. While the focus may be on Peterson, there’s a new guy in town named Alvin Kamara. Kamara blew people away with a RED HOT preseason. And don’t sleep on Mark Ingram. Ingram is still the focal point of this offense. Expect Ingram to be extra motivated to show he’s no slouch in this three-headed monster.
Above all, the Saints should make an extra effort to run the ball against this stout defense. Minnesota was ranked high in just about every category in defense EXCEPT rushing defense. The Vikings were ranked 20th in rushing yards per game with approximately 106 yards per outing. If the Saints can keep pounding the ball consistently, this could open up some big plays on play action.
Conversely, if Drew Brees has to put the ball up 40-50 times, that equation usually doesn’t bode well for a Saints win.