NEW ORLEANS (5-1) at MINNESOTA (4-2-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBC
OPENING LINE - Vikings by 2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - New Orleans 4-2, Minnesota 4-2-1
SERIES RECORD - Vikings lead 22-11
LAST MEETING - Vikings beat Saints 29-24 in NFC divisional playoff game, Jan. 14, 2018
LAST WEEK - Saints beat Ravens 24-23; Vikings beat Jets 37-17
AP PRO32 RANKING - Saints No. 4, Vikings No. 5
SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (16), PASS (6).
SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (17), RUSH (1), PASS (28).
VIKINGS OFFENSE - OVERALL (13), RUSH (27), PASS (7).
VIKINGS DEFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (5), PASS (16).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Vikings have 14-3 all-time record in Minnesota against Saints, including win in playoffs last season on last-second 61-yard TD reception by Stefon Diggs. Vikings also beat Saints 29-19 in 2017 opener. … Saints QB Drew Brees became fourth player in NFL history last week in win at Baltimore with 500 career TD passes, joining Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady. … In last four games against Vikings, Brees has nine TDs, no interceptions, average of 308 passing yards and 120.7 passer rating. … Brees leads league with 77.3 completion percentage and 121.6 passer rating, with no interceptions and 13 TDs in 220 attempts. … Saints RB Alvin Kamara is one of two players in league, next to Giants RB Saquon Barkley, with at least 350 rushing and receiving yards. … Saints WR Michael Thomas, who had two TD catches against Vikings in playoffs last season, is third in league with 53 receptions. He leads NFL in catch percentage (91.4). … CB Eli Apple, acquired in trade with Giants, joins struggling pass coverage that has allowed 13 TDs with only two interceptions. … Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has seven TDs and no interceptions with average of 323 passing yards in two career games against Saints, both with Washington. … Cousins is fifth in league with 70.0 completion percentage. … Vikings WR Adam Thielen leads NFL with 67 catches, on pace to break Marvin Harrison’s all-time record, and 822 receiving yards. With 100-yard game against Saints, Thielen would tie Calvin Johnson with league record eighth straight. … Diggs has 13 catches, 230 yards and three TDs in two career games against Saints. … Vikings DE Danielle Hunter tied with Rams DT Aaron Donald for league lead with eight sacks. … Fantasy tip: Since returning from suspension, Saints RB Mark Ingram has 28 rushing attempts and five passing targets. Kamara has 23 rushing attempts and five passing targets in those two games.
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