1-0

The Saints’ title defense has begun successfully, if unimpressively.  By defeating the Vikings 14-9, they have put to rest any accusations that they didn’t belong in the Super Bowl, not that the argument was ever legitimate to begin with. 

Just as in the Super Bowl, the Saints were sharper in every phase of the game, except for special teams of course.  Hey, Garret Hartley—what up??  Aside from Hartley’s two missed field goals, Brees was accurate; the defense made key stops; and the Saints didn’t turn the ball over.

As Cris Collinsworth incessantly observed on the telecast, Favre’s timing and accuracy were both off, and I can think of three third downs where it proved costly.  Just as significant in the Vikings’ loss, however, was that Peterson only had 19 rushes.  In the second quarter Peterson led the Vikings downfield, came out of the game, and everything stalled.  That should have been a signal to Brad Childress.  Instead Childress mysteriously abandoned the run in the second half, even though the game was always within one possession.  If the other team has five more points than you do, your quarterback is struggling, you have the second-best running back in the league, and there’s fifteen minutes of football left, you run the damn football!

Aside from Childress’ game management, the Saints had two major advantages.  One was the surprising effectiveness of Pierre Thomas, who really sealed the game.  Anyone who watched would be surprised that he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry.  The second was Sean Payton’s play-calling.  Payton got Brees going early, and he really surprised the Vikings in the second half with the power rushing game.  There were a few great play-calls, although on multiple drives the Saints struggled at the edge of field-goal territory. 

Neither team looked ready for highly competitive play tonight.  The Saints basically looked less rusty than the Vikings, and they had a better quarterback—I might say they have the best one, and I’d have numbers to back me up.

Let me just quickly note that by my count, of 21 “experts” on NFL.com and foxsports.com, only one—Deion Sanders—is predicting the Saints to repeat in the Super Bowl.  We’ll just have to see.