Overreaction Friday: What We Learned from Last Night’s Opener

It’s that special time when I deduce what will happen for this entire season by watching one football game in September.  But in all sincerity, there are some things that can be said about last night’s Vikings–Saints game that have relevance moving forward.

1. The Saints' offensive line is either that damn good or the Vikings' defensive line is not quite what it was last year.  The Saints decided to air it out in the first half, so you would think Jared Allen would be on the lips of the broadcasters all night, but we hardly heard his name mentioned.  I don’t think I heard them call out "Kevin Williams" either.  In the second half the Saints pounded the ball on the ground, utilizing a cutback run where the offensive line moved the Williams wall to one side allowing the runningback to cut the other direction for a big gain.  The Saints do have a great offensive line, but still, nobody is supposed to run against the Vikings.  Pierre Thomas gained 71 yards on the ground, virtually all in the second half.  Usually the Vikings don’t allow close to that amount of yardage in one game.  Perhaps 37-year-old Pat Williams is wearing down, or it could be a one game aberration. 
2. Sean Payton is a much better coach than Brad Childress.  I expected the Saints to come up blitzing like crazy, but for most of the night they rushed three or four guys and dropped the rest into coverage.  The Vikings could not adjust to this.  Childress even said after the game that the Vikings, “didn’t have an answer” to the Saints' scheme.  Well Chilly, that is your job, to make adjustments and find an answer.
3. Brett Favre needed training camp and the preseason.  Sure, the Vikings may just need some time to get all on the same page, but a team can’t afford to work its way into a rhythm once the games count for real.  Favre was a bit off and the Vikings just didn’t have the belief that they could move the ball up and down the field. 
4. The Vikings miss Sidney Rice.  Percy Harvin operates best out of the slot because of his quickness, but he struggles as an outside receiver.  Rice bailed Favre out of a lot of situations last year, and made all the other recievers better.  Favre is still looking for a go-to guy, and if that guy is Visanthe Shiancoe, the Vikings are in trouble.

This was not a beautiful game by any means, but it was real football damnit and I loved every second.   The Vikings have to be concerned because they are a team that appears to be looking for answers, and their upcoming schedule will not lend itself to self-discovery.  In their next six games they play the Jets, Packers, and Patriots on the road, and the Dolphins and Cowboys at home.  They could be in deep trouble early in the season if they don’t figure out a better gameplan.

--from Adam