Category: 2019 Playoffs

Demario Davis keeps perspective after difficult loss to Vikings

Demario Davis is keeping himself and his New Orleans Saints team grounded after their wild-card round playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings

How many more years can the New Orleans Saints keep feeding off the idea that they’ve left “unfinished business” in the playoffs? That’s been the narrative the Saints have chased ever since their exit in the 2017 postseason, and it stayed alive after their 2018 finale, too. Now, with the 2019 playoffs behind them, where do they go next?

Fortunately, that’s a question experienced leaders like linebacker Demario Davis can answer. And his message to his teammates is one cautioning patience.

“You have to realize it’s the end of a chapter and not a book,” Davis told ESPN’s Mike Triplett. That doesn’t mean the journey is painless. He continued, “Not all losses feel the same. But all losses hurt the same.”

It makes sense that Davis would take such a measured approach. He toiled thanklessly for years with the rudderless New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, watching playoff games from his couch or a treadmill at the gym. He’s acutely aware of how difficult it is to even reach the postseason, much less win games there.

And like he pointed out, this isn’t the end of things. Sean Payton and Drew Brees are still running the show in New Orleans. Davis is still the captain of the defense. The team is on a great trajectory to get right back into the thick of things next year, and with this kind of experience behind them, they should be better-prepared than ever. But that’s not going to do much to dull the pain of an early playoffs exit, and it’s a natural reaction. Like Davis said, it’s important to remember that this is the end of a chapter, not the last page in the book.

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Saints’ season comes to abrupt end, Vikings win in overtime 26-20

The New Orleans Saints 2019 season ended abruptly, with a wild-card round playoffs exit after losing to the Minnesota Vikings, 26-20.

Things didn’t go as planned for the New Orleans Saints. They entered the playoffs as a heavy favorite to go the distance and win the Super Bowl, but the Minnesota Vikings hit them in the mouth, took the lead, and didn’t let go, even if the Saints rallied late to force the game to overtime. A touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Rudolph on third down from the goal-line stunned the Saints defense, and gave Minnesota the 26-20 victory.

The Saints just didn’t execute well. Their offensive line, stocked with Pro Bowl and All-Pro talent, was bullied by an admittedly strong Vikings defensive line. Left guard Andrus Peat has been the weak link in that chain for years, and on Sunday, he broke. While Drew Brees didn’t have his sharpest day at quarterback, too often he wasn’t given any time to even read the field before his vision filled with purple jerseys.

And it’s not like Vikings coach Mike Zimmer did anything exotic, groundbreaking, or seriously creative. He moved his best pass rushers inside so that they would have a speed-to-power advantage over the Saints guards. New Orleans’ big men up front never really struggled to mirror their opponents or move around; they simply failed to win one-on-one battles. It was a battle of fundamentals that the Vikings won.

It’s disappointing to see the Saints’ season end this way. After everything they’ve fought through — injuries to everyone from rookie backup linebackers to the franchise quarterback, suspensions before and during the season, tough-to-swallow losses to longtime rivals — they’ve gone out with a whimper. It’s almost anticlimactic. Even on Sunday they rallied around a defense that came through in so many clutch moments and rode a furious spark from do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill. But it wasn’t enough when the offense couldn’t pick itself up off the floor.

The good news is that they’ll be back. Brees played so well this season that it’s impossible to think he’ll leave the game behind, not with so much unfinished business. The Saints’ core players are all either young or under contract for the foreseeable future. Next year’s schedule compares favorably to the season they just had. They’ll enter the 2020 offseason just as likely to go all the way as they were in this one.

But that disappointment can’t be overlooked. They shouldn’t be going into a long offseason looking to chase that elusive second Super Bowl trophy. They should be defending a championship and hoping to secure a third. Instead, the Saints are back in familiar territory — as underachievers.

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Watch: Taysom Hill gives the Saints another spark, catches 20-yard TD pass

New Orleans Saints QB Taysom Hill helped rally his team late against the Minnesota Vikings with a huge touchdown catch from QB Drew Brees.

The New Orleans Saints were in a bad way late in the fourth quarter, trailing the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 20-10. But Saints quarterback Drew Brees found some rhythm behind improved blocking from the offensive line, and then he found another Saints quarterback for a 20-yard touchdown pass — Taysom Hill, of course.

Hill emerged as a legitimate receiving threat in the regular season, with six touchdown catches to his credit. So it shouldn’t be a big surprise that he caught another scoring pass in the playoffs. But there’s something to be said for how timely it was, cutting the Vikings’ lead to just three points with more than ten minutes left in the game.

The Saints need to get more big plays like this if they’re going to come from behind and defend the Superdome against Minnesota. Drew Brees and the Saints offense have struggled to make headway against the Vikings defense except for a few chunk plays like this from Hill. Some more of the team’s playmakers must step up.

Kiko Alonso injured, questionable to return vs. Vikings

New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Kiko Alonso is questionable to return versus the Minnesota Vikings with a knee injury.

The New Orleans Saints defense took a hit in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings, with starting middle linebacker Kiko Alonso exiting the wild-card round game with a knee injury. Alonso had missed several regular season games with a quadriceps muscle issue, so this is a different problem for him to manage. The Saints announced that he is questionable to return.

Acquired in a preseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, Alonso’s playing-time has increased as the year wore on and he became a staple of the defense by the time they really got rolling in November. His ability to run well both vertically and laterally makes him a valuable asset in pass coverage.

The good news is that the Saints offense will receive the ball after halftime, meaning Alonso has a little more time to receive treatment from the Saints medical staff. But the fact that he was questionable to return at all is enough to suggest he may not play again on Sunday. It’s certainly a situation to monitor as the game progresses.

With starters Demario Davis and A.J. Klein both healthy and in the game — Davis specifically has made several plays in coverage and run defense — Alonso won’t be pressured to come back if his body isn’t ready. The Saints have bigger aspirations than just a win today, and if they can clinch it with Alonso sidelined, they’ll do so. But it starts with Drew Brees and the Saints offense making adjustments at halftime after a disappointing first half. Minnesota will kick the ball away to start the third quarter, so Brees will get his opportunity very soon. Right now, they trail the Vikings 13-10.

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Watch: Taysom Hill throws 50-yard pass, lead-blocks for rushing TD

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill threw a rare pass, connecting for 50 yards. He then blocked on Alvin Kamara’s touchdown run.

What can’t Taysom Hill do? He’s caught passes (including six touchdown throws), ran with the ball, and blocked all over the field, but his detractors — usually fantasy football nerds — point to the few pass attempts he’s made as evidence that he shouldn’t be labeled a quarterback.

So he quieted them by connecting with rookie wideout Deonte Harris on a 50-yard pass in Sunday’s wild-card round game with the Minnesota Vikings. Harris was named a first-team All-Pro for his efforts returning punts and kickoffs, but Saints coach Sean Payton found a way to get the rookie involved on offense against Minnesota. See it for yourself:

But Hill wasn’t finished just yet. After creating this big play, he remained on the field and blocked for Saints running back Alvin Kamara at the goal-line, paving the way for Kamara to fight his way into the end zone. It was Kamara’s fifth rushing touchdown in his last three games:

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Watch: Janoris Jenkins, Vonn Bell end first Vikings drive with a fumble

New Orleans Saints CB Janoris Jenkins forced a fumble out of Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen, which Saints SS Vonn Bell recovered.

It didn’t take long for the New Orleans Saints defense to assert itself in their wild-card round matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. In the game’s opening minutes, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins targeted wide receiver fAdam Thielen on a route down the sideline, which he caught. Thielen moved to turn upfield and was immediately struck by Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

“Jackrabbit” Jenkins had the presence of mind to put his helmet on the football as he tackled Thielen, and it flew out for a fumble. And who else would have been in position to recover it than strong safety Vonn Bell? Bell led the NFL’s defenders in fumbles recovered during the regular season (5), and he again put himself in the right spot at the right time to create a turnover early in the postseason.

Now that’s how you want to start a playoff game. Jenkins made up for an earlier holding penalty in coverage, and Bell made an impact in his first game back from a knee injury. See it for yourself:

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Watch: Demario Davis, Drew Brees fire up the Saints before kickoff vs. Vikings

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Drew Brees addressed the team before their wild-card round game with the Vikings

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The New Orleans Saints always hold a team huddle following pregame warmups, with team leaders Drew Brees and Demario Davis addressing the team to set the tone in the final minutes before kickoff. They kept that tradition running on Sunday, just ahead of their wild-card round game with the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s hard to not get pumped up listening to Brees and Davis fire up their teammates. They’ve found a great balance between the iconic “win again” cadence Brees introduced a decade ago in the run up to Super Bowl XLIV, and the “prowl, kill, eat” mantra Davis has made his signature. With leadership in place like this — respected voices who turn their words into actions, and lead by example — there’s no doubt that the Saints will follow them anywhere.

You can see this week’s pregame huddle where it’s embedded below, or by following this link:

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How to watch, wager, and stream New Orleans Saints vs. wild-card Vikings

The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to kick off in the playoffs wild-card round. Here’s how to tune in to the game.

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The NFL playoffs have hardly begun, and they’re already full of surprises. Saturday’s games in the wild-card round saw Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans go down to the wire against the Buffalo Bills, but the biggest shock of the day arrived when New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a pick-six in what may be his final pass attempt for New England.

So the Tennessee Titans advanced instead, and they’ll travel to face the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens next week while an entire generation of Patriots fans tries to figure out what they’re supposed to do now. Watson’s Texans are also going to hit the road for a divisional-round game with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

You’re here because you want to see Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints exorcise some demons against the Minnesota Vikings. That game — along with a later kickoff between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles — makes up the second leg of the NFL’s wild-card weekend, and there’s plenty of reasons to feel excited (or anxious) about it. The winner will advance. The loser’s season will be over. It’s pretty cut and dry.

Kirk Cousins’ team has underachieved this year, but they’re dangerous if they can begin firing on all cylinders with injured stars like wideout Adam Thielen and running back Dalvin Cook back in the fold. The Saints defense will be ready, though, with starting safety duo Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams expected to return.

If the Saints win, they’ll have finally put that one thing that happened in the 2017 playoffs behind them. They’ll also progress to the next round of the playoffs, for a road game at Lambeau Field with the Green Bay Packers. But like we said — there’s no sense in putting the cart before the horse. Here’s all that you need to know so that you can tune in for Sunday’s game.

Game Information

New Orleans Saints (13-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

12:05 p.m. CT, Sunday, Jan. 5

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Streaming

fuboTV (try it for free)

NFL Game Pass

Television

FOX

Radio

WWL 870 AM/105.3 FM and local affiliate stations

Betting

BetMGM (Saints by +7.5, over/under at 49.5)

Extras

Connect with us on our Facebook page and Twitter account  (@TheSaintsWire)

Follow our friends over at Vikings Wire on Twitter (@TheVikingsWire), Facebook, and VikingsWire.com

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Updated Saints-Vikings over/under still climbing, highest of wild-card round games

Updated betting odds favor the New Orleans Saints over the Minnesota Vikings, but the over/under has climbed as the injury report improved.

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We might have a barn-burner when the New Orleans Saints kick off against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, in the second leg of the NFL’s wild-card games. According to updated odds from BetMGM, the Saints are still favored to beat the Vikings by 7.5 points — but the over/under has climbed up to 49.5, the highest projected total of the week. It suggests a finish in the neighborhood of Saints 29, Vikings 21.

The over/under totals set for the three other wild-card round games range from a week-low between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans (43.5, with the Texans favored by 2.5) to a middling game with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots (44.5, Patriots by 4.5), and a next-best finale when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Philadelphia Eagles (45.5, Seahawks narrowly favored by 1.5). Expectations are that the Saints and Vikings will produce some fireworks in an otherwise quiet weekend.

And that’s probably due to the health of players returning from injury on both sides. Minnesota is welcoming starting running back Dalvin Cook and his backup, rookie Alexander Mattison, into the lineup. They’ll be playing with all-star wide receiver Adam Thielen who has dealt with his own injury issues this season; altogether, they should give a powerful shot in the arm to the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings offense.

As for the Saints: their injury report listed starting safeties Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams as having put in a full practice on Friday, which suggests they’ll each take the field on Sunday. They’ve been good for a turnover almost every week they’ve played (Bell lead the team with 5 fumble recoveries in the regular season, while Williams did the same with 4 interceptions), with Bell chipping in the Saints’ first defensive touchdown of the year in his scoop-and-score fumble return against the Seahawks back in Week 3. They can both inject some real play-making ability at the perfect time for New Orleans.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Just 3% of NFL experts pick Vikings to upset Saints

The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings are ready for their wild-card round playoff game, but NFL experts picks don’t think it’s close.

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The biggest game in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs may be Sunday’s matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings, but the latest NFL expert predictions don’t agree.

According to the expert picks surveyed over at NFL Pickwatch, the Saints have earned 97% certainty of beating the Vikings to advance into the divisional round, which would mean a trip to Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

This Saints-Vikings game is the only match during the wild-card round that experts appear to have real confidence in deciding. The next-best consensus came in for the New England Patriots (80% of picks choose them over the Tennessee Titans), while the Houston Texans (64% ahead of the Buffalo Bills) and the Seattle Seahawks (61% over the Philadelphia Eagles) round out the pack. Compared to that, the Saints are picks to win in a landslide.

It’s worth remembering that while these are educated guesses, they are just guesses. These same experts picked the Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons with 100% certainty earlier this season; instead, the Saints got run off the Superdome field in a lopsided loss.  It was a painful reminder that anything can happen in the NFL. Uneven as this matchup looks on paper, the Vikings are not a team the Saints can take lightly.

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