Saints-Vikings: Brees, Favre Have Offenses Aimed for Success

The New Orleans Saints’ NFC title game matchup against the Minnesota Vikings could be held at an indoor track with the NFL’s top two scoring offenses blazing their path to the NFC Championship game in a race to bring a Super Bowl title to one of the championship-starved franchises.

On the other hand, Minnesota only gave up three points to the red-hot Dallas Cowboys and the Saints quieted the Cardinals who won the highest-scoring game in NFL playoff history last week.

The Saints, the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the Vikings, the conference’s No. 2 seed, dominated the conference all season and this matchup of kingpin offenses has long lingered in the back of fans’ minds.

The Favre Factor

At his playoff best, Brett Favre is an almost unstoppable quarterback.

Favre and the Vikings demoralized the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Minnesota’s 34-3 win, as Brett Favre threw the last of his four touchdowns passes—and no interceptions—with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

In his last playoff victory before the win against the Cowboys, Favre threw three touchdowns and no interceptions, a 42-20 triumph against Seattle in January 2008.

Yet, at his playoff worst, Favre can be an interception-prone quarterback that throws the ball up for grabs at times. In his last playoff loss, Favre threw an interception in overtime in the 2008 NFC title game and would leave the team unceremoniously in the ensuing offseason.

This year, Favre hasn’t succumbed to his old ways and he has avoided the mistakes that plagued him last season as the New York Jets' quarterback.

He has a great offensive line, a superb running back and a strong defense. He doesn’t have to win it all by himself and if he makes good decisions, the Vikings could be headed to the Super Bowl.

Bush, Brees Flying High

In the Saints’ 45-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees seemed to glide effortlessly, finishing 23-of-32 for 247 yards and three touchdowns with plenty of help from an offensive line that didn’t surrender a single sack.

Bush continued to shine in playoff games, rushing for 84 yards on just five carries including a highlight-reel, 46-yard touchdown run featuring several broken tackles and an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown that showcased his game-breaking talent. Bush has scored four touchdowns in three career playoff games.

The Saints’ exhibited their big play ability, scoring three touchdowns of more than 40 yards. They showed the offense’s versatility, with five different players scoring touchdowns.

New Orleans has a capable running game and should utilize a balanced offense. If they pass too often they could play into the hands of Minnesota’s defense which sacked Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo six times, the most sacks Dallas’ huge offensive line has given up all year.

It’s hardly a mystery that they’ll frequently look to make a big play. If New Orleans’ offensive line can give Brees time, he’ll have fun targeting his plethora of receivers.

Teams Still Have to Play Defense

The Saints have a bend-but-don’t-break defense that receives plenty of assistance from the league’s highest-scoring offense. They’ll have plenty of chances to prove their prowess against Favre, Peterson, Rice and Harvin.

Favre’s former Green Bay teammate and current New Orleans safety Darren Sharper led the NFL with nine picks this year and recovered a fumble against the Cards last week. Favre should try to avoid another big play from NFL All-Pro Sharper, but the notorious gambler won’t back down from a challenge.

The Saints will need Sharper at his best to help neutralize the Vikings first-time Pro Bowl receiver Sidney Rice. The Cowboys didn’t have an answer for the 6’4” Rice who scored two long touchdowns on 47- and 45-yard passes and added a 16-yarder for another score.

Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma and standout defensive end Will Smith help to anchor the Saints defense.

The Vikings defense will encounter a tougher foe in New Orleans’ Brees. He has a quick release, a good offensive line and plenty of firepower to help him avoid trouble in the pocket.

Could Brees be done breezing through the playoffs?

The Vikings have the best defensive line in football, with perennial Pro Bowlers defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams causing havoc.

On Sunday, there were reinforcements from Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who led the way with three sacks and a forced fumble. Add an interception from linebacker Ben Leber and only three points allowed and one has a nearly flawless game from a defense that appears ready to match the team’s outstanding offense.

Will Favre soar or tumble? Will Brees continue to destroy defenses? How many game-changing plays will Reggie Bush make? How many sacks for the Vikings?

The team with the most favorable responses to those questions should win the game.

Overtime: Chippy Cheap Shots or Good 'Ole Aggressive Football?

New Orleans and Minnesota both made some highly questionable plays in the divisional round.

In a double-whammy during the New Orleans-Arizona game, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner suffered a chest injury in the second quarter after throwing an interception and being leveled by a vicious block from Saints defensive end Bobby McCray during Will Smith's return.

Aren't Saints supposed to be merciful?

Arizona and Warner were having a rough game and the Cardinals were already down 28-14. Warner didn't see the hard-charging McCray making a bee-line toward him and the veteran had the wind knocked out of him.

The oft-injured Warner was able to return in the second half, but would the Saints have been mad if their star quarterback—the irreplaceable engine of their offensive machine—had endured the same brutal fate?

The NFL has been adamant in its attempts to protect quarterbacks but McCray's hit was legal and no flag was thrown.

In one defensive tour de force, the Saints demonstrated that they aren't soft and that their defense is a force to beware.

With less than two minutes to go and the Minnesota up 27-3 in its romp over Dallas, Favre was still slinging for the end zone and found tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for his fourth touchdown pass of the game.

The game was clearly out of reach but the Vikings still had their offensive starters in the game.

The Vikings didn't take a knee or run the ball to let clock the clock wind down.

Instead, Favre continued to take advantage of a mismatch in Dallas' secondary and set a personal record for touchdown passes in a playoff game.

The purple-clad players plundered Dallas for the Cowboys' heart and dignity.

Dallas was shamed beyond belief. Animated Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking was enraged and let the Vikings bench hear rage and frustration.

Vikings players are well-paid—extra for the NFL playoffs—just like Cowboys players and players should compete until time expires.

Neither the Saints nor the Vikings are satisfied with simply winning the game. Emotions will be boiling over and in an elimination game no holds will be barred.