NEW ORLEANS (7-9) at MINNESOTA (8-8)
Monday, 7:10 p.m. EDT, ESPN
OPENING LINE – Vikings by 3+
SERIES RECORD – Vikings lead 20-11
LAST MEETING – Saints beat Vikings 20-9, Sept. 21, 2014
AP PRO32 RANKING – Saints No. 23, Vikings No. 15
SAINTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (1), RUSH (16), PASS (1)
SAINTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (27), RUSH (14), PASS 32)
VIKINGS OFFENSE – OVERALL (28), RUSH (32), PASS (18)
VIKINGS DEFENSE – OVERALL (3), RUSH (20), PASS (3)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Saints have won four straight in series, starting with NFC championship game after 2009 season. … RB Adrian Peterson makes Saints debut after 10 seasons and 11,747 yards rushing with Vikings. … Saints coach Sean Payton and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer were both assistants on Cowboys staff from 2003-05. … Saints QB Drew Brees 4-1 vs. Vikings, with 12 TD passes, four interceptions, four sacks, 69 percent completion rate and average of 294 yards passing per game. … Saints DE Cameron Jordan, son of former Vikings TE Steve Jordan, coming off fifth straight season with 7+ sacks or more. … Saints have lost three consecutive season openers, starting 1-3 and finishing 7-9 each season. … Brees first player to lead NFL in passing yards seven times, with 5,208 last season that rank as fourth-most in history. … Saints could have new starters in more than half of defensive lineup, with free agents DE Alex Okafor and LB A.J. Klein and draft picks CB Marshon Lattimore and FS Marcus Williams the headline acquisitions. … With Peterson departed, rookie Dalvin Cook will start at RB for Vikings. … Pat Elflein will be first rookie to start at center for Vikings since Pro Football Hall of Fame member Mick Tingelhoff in 1962. … Vikings DE Everson Griffen has 30+ sacks since 2014, fifth-most in league during that span. … Former Vikings WR Randy Moss, one of ESPN’s broadcast analysts, will be inducted in franchise’s Ring of Honor with halftime ceremony. … Fantasy Tip: With Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes likely matched with Saints WR Michael Thomas, Saints TE Coby Fleener and Saints WR Ted Ginn could be good plays with young Vikings CBs Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in elevated roles this season.
—
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
25% Bonus via Western Union
