Champs Win Kickoff Rematch 14-9
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 09/10/2010
New Orleans,LA
NEW ORLEANS, LA — Yes, the New Orleans Saints are still marching as defending Super Bowl Champions after beating the Vikings again in the NFL kickoff to the 2010 season. Last year's painful NFC title game was lost 31-28 in overtime; this time it was 14-9 in a defensive battle at the Super Dome before 70,051 supportive fans.
“They beat us fair and square last year,” said Brett Favre. “Same thing tonight.” The Saints took the game's opening drive and drove 77 yards in five plays as Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees picked up where he left off in Super Bowl XLIV.
Brees was sharp from the start and picked the Vikings' secondary apart on a masterful drive before the hyped-up, partisan Super Dome crowd, which was in a frenzy, loving it and dancing to the music of a great start to another season. Brett Favre was not sharp — he missed several open receivers and was intercepted once.
“I felt fine. I was a little bit behind on some of my reads,” Favre said. “I missed three or four throws that I should have made.”
Favre completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards and the one interception. He was sacked once and, unlike the NFC title game, did not take a physical beating. His offensive line played well and protected their leader.
The Vikings played power football for much of the first half, with star Adrian Peterson running hard for 57 of his game-high 87 rushing yards. Favre drove the Vikings 64 yards in five plays, hitting tight end Visanthe Shiancoe with two brilliant throws over the middle for 33 yards and a 20-yard touchdown strike.
Ryan Longwell's kick, however, was blocked — Vikings 9, Saints 7 at half. Vikings in control? Not so fast.
The Saints showed why they are the defending Super Bowl champions. They made adjustments at the half and played a little power football of their own. After being held to just nine yards rushing on three attempts in the first half, the Saints featured hard-running Pierre Thomas and rammed the ball down the Vikings' throat.
Pierre ran 18 times for 70 yards, all in the second half, and scored the go-ahead touchdown, a one-yard run. With a 14-9 lead, the Saints made it hold up. They kept the ball and won the time of possession, 33 minutes to the Vikings' 27. Despite missing two field goals, the Saints had no turnovers and just three penalties for 20 yards.
The Vikings came up on the short end with six penalties for 60 yards, two penalties on Shiancoe that wiped away two big offensive plays. The Vikings also lost a replay challenge in the second half when Jim Kleinsasser's apparent catch was called no catch.
Favre's interception was even on a questionable call. Shiancoe appeared to be held on the play. Somehow the Vikings got away from giving the ball to Peterson in the second half — just six carries for 30 yards.
Peterson is the first player since Barry Sanders to start the Pro Bowl at running back in each of his first three seasons. Last year he ran for 1,383 yards and an NFL-best 18 touchdowns. The Saints won because they were a little better prepared and mentally tougher than the Vikings.
Saints Head Coach Sean Payton even showed his team a video before the game that highlighted the values of teamwork and spliced in a Brett Favre TV commercial selling blue jeans. Favre missed all the OTA mini-camps and training camps.
Last year everything fell into place for the Vikings, going 12-4. Head Coach Brad Childress does not want the team's 50th anniversary season to blow up in the team's face. He has different mental challenges with this veteran team, like the way he publicly criticized Peterson for attending Peterson Days back in May in Texas and skipping Mini Camp.
Several players were guarded yet concerned with the double standard and the way Favre was allowed to have it his way again, miss everything, and have three teammates two weeks ago take the owner's private charter to Mississippi and get Favre.
The Vikings play a really tough schedule in 2010 with games against eight 2009 playoff teams, and the division is also stronger. The Vikings were 8-0 at home last year while going 4-4 on the road. Next up is their home opener versus the Miami Dolphins.
Fitz Notes & Quotes
Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl star Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. over the last five years has more receptions (465) for more yards (6,287) than any other NFL player. Fitzgerald Sunday scored the game-winning touchdown in a 17-13 win over quarterback Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams.
“In the NFL,” says Arizona Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, “every game is important.” Indeed!
It was Fitzgerald's 60th career touchdown reception. Whisenhunt made the controversial right decision to part ways with Matt Leinart and selected Dereck Anderson as his 2010 starting quarterback to replace retired Kurt Warner.
Anderson previously was 16-18 as an NFL starter in Cleveland at .471 percent. Leinart was 7-10 at .412 percent. Peter King of Sports Illustrated is not a big fan of Anderson's; he told me two weeks ago at the Vikings vs. Seattle pre-season game that Anderson was going to get my son killed.
The Saints' 14-9 win over the Vikings was seen by the largest TV audience in an NFL opener in 14 years. Once again, pro football is number one with sports fans according to the Harris Poll. For the fourth straight decade, NFL football is the most popular sport in America. Pro football is number one at 35 percent; number-two major league baseball is a distant second at 16 percent; number three is college football at 12 percent.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzger ald.com.
