New Orleans-Minnesota: Mid-Game Analysis

The New Orleans Saints should be trailing at halftime, not tied at 14. The Vikings should be feeling pretty good about themselves, rather than kicking themselves. But, well, the scoreboard reads 14-14, the Saints get the ball to open the second half and all they need to do is score one more point than Minnesota in the second half to advance to the Super Bowl.

Here's your football-gods-looking-out-for-the-Saints moment: Reggie Bush, attempting to field a punt, never really got control of it and fumbled when he was hit by Vikings safety Eric Frampton. Vikings linebacker Kenny Onatolu recovered at the Saints 10-yard line with 1:13 left in the half.

Two plays later, Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre and running back Adrian Peterson fumbled an exchange, and Saints linebacker Scott Fujita recovered the ball—at the 10-yard line, of course.

The Saints emerged no worse for the wear and the nine-yard touchdown pass Drew Brees threw to Devery Henderson with 10:30 left in the half wound up being the only score in the second quarter.

The most noticeable thing for the Saints offensively is they're having trouble getting the ball to the wide receivers. The two longest completions, of 38 and 28 yards, have been to running backs Pierre Thomas and Bush. Wide receivers have combined for five receptions for 43 yards. Expect some adjustments in the second half to get them free.

Defensively, the Saints were much smarter in the second quarter than in the first while holding Minnesota scoreless. The defense hasn't bent much since the first quarter and while Fujita's recovery was a gift, at least he was in position to take advantage. The pass rush isn't having much of an effect on Favre, so props have to be given to the defensive backs, who have covered up Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrien and Sidney Rice well so far