The 2-2 Saints will have to contend with one of the NFL's best running backs when they meet Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) on Monday night in the Superdome.
Though he Saints have have surrendered 1,499 yards -- fifth highest total in the league -- through four games, they have been better against the run, limiting opponents to 122.8 per game. They held the 49ers to a season low 312 yards -- 91 0n the ground -- in a 31-17 victory last Sunday. They held the 49ers' Frank Gore in check and must stop Peterson this week. he carried 238 times for 1,341 yards as a rookie last season and is showing no signs of a sophomore slump. ranking second in the league with 420 yards, two less than Atlanta's Michael Turner.
Peterson rushed 18 times for 80 yards in a 30-17 loss at Tennessee last Sunday, his second straight game under 100 yards.
"We've seen some real good runners, but this guy us the best we've seen to date," said Saints coach Sean Payton.
While the Vikings' offense revolves around Peterson and the run, the Saints pin their hopes on quarterback Drew Brees, the NFL's third-highest passer (106.9). The Saints are averaging a league-best 327.3 yards passing per game.
The Saints have been hit by injuries, but Deuce McAllister helped pick up the slack last week by carrying 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
"It was great to see Deuce back in there," said Payton. "Those were some tough yards he was getting for us." Deuce said he hated to see the game end and felt like playing another quarter.
McAllister hasn't been too successful in his career against Minnesota, totaling 50 carries for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns in four games. The Saints haven't fared well against the Vikings either, losing 17 of 24 regular season games.including 6 of the last 7.
Playing at home didn't provide the Saints too with much of an advantage last season as they went 3-5 at the Superdome, but hey are undefeated in two games there this season.
Sedrick Ellis, the team's No. 1 draft choice, has nine tackles through four games and recorded his first sack against the 49ers. His right knee clicked on him in practice Thursday and was sent inside to get it checked. Saints out for this game are Marques Colston (thumb), David Patten (groin), Jeremy Shockey (hernia), and Aaron Glenn (ankle).
One disappointing stat for the Vikes one month into the season is they have only seven sacks. That's simply not enough impact from Jared Allen and the Williams boys.
Though the Saints are 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games, I'm picking them to cover the 3 and win by 10.
Tulane is hosting Army at Ted Gormley Stadium on Saturday and is favored by 19 points although the Cadets defeated them last season. Army is one of the three remaining teams without a victory this season. The Black Knights of the Hudson almost pulled one out in Texas A&Mland last week North Texas, Army and Washington are the only remaining winless teams. The Green Wave will cover the 19 in this one.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS: Colts -3 over Texans, Ravens -3 over Titans, Dolphins +6 1/2 over Chargers, Chiefs + 9 1/1 over Panthers, Eagles -6 over Redskins, Bears -3 over Lions, Seahawks +7 over Giants, Broncos -3 over Bucs, Pats -3 over 49ers, Cardinals-1 over Bills, Bengals +17 over Cowboys, Jaguars -4 over Steelers..
College picks: Ole Miss -2 1/2 over South Carolina, Florida -24 1/2 over Arkansas, UL-Lafayette -2 over L-Monroe, USM -8 over UTEP, Alabama -16 1/2 over Kentucky and Texas -14 over Colorado.
Bottom 10: 1, North Texas. 2, Idaho. 3, Army. 4, Virginia. 5, Clemson. 6, WashingtonState. 7, Washington. 8, Eastern Michigan. 9, Syracuse. 10, Central Florida. Waiting list: KentState, Miss.State, SMU. Toledo, UAB, UtahState. Note: North Texas is No. 119 in scoring defense, allowing 54.8 points per game. The Mean Green falls behind early and stays there.
Check out the U.S. News & World Report's annual best college rankings and you'll find that in the top 25 that have Divison 1-A football teams, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Notre Dame, Vandy and Cal have combined for a 24-7 record. Tulane is ranked No. 51 in tjhe poll and LSU is No. 130, but defending national champions.
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YOU: The Saints have brought back Joey Harrington as their third quarterback. He was signed originally by the Saints on Sept. 19, but was released before the Denver game when injuries left the team short at other positions. He'll be backing up Brees and Mark Brunell. Harrington was a first-round draft choice by the Lions in 2002 and has played for Miami and Atlanta. Sean Payton said the quarterback figures in his team's future. To make room for Harrington on the active roster, the Saints waived tight end Buck Ortega and later re-signed him for the practice squad...Les Miles on if Charles Scott would be distracted by Heisman Trophy talk: "No. He's pretty focused. That's what has given him success. He understands that you don't look at your press clippings. that winning is the first goal. What our team asks him to do, he'll do."...Is Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski's job safe? He chocked on a 76-yard field goal attempt last Sunday. The kick was caught at the 2 yard line...Raiders owner Al Davis repeated his accusation that ousted coach Lane Kiffin was "not the guy I hired." And as the NY Times pointed out, Davis did call him :Lance: at his introductory news conference....
I was amused at how Paul Newman's obits and tributes kept referring to him as the consummate Hollywood actor. He was anything but that. He didn't live in Hollywood and he didn't have anything to do with La La Land. He made his home in Connecticut and the public left him and his family alone. His widow, Joanne Woodward, has a master's degree from LSU. I worked with Newman as an extra in "The Long Hot Summer," filmed in Clinton in 1958. He starred in "Blaze" here. He said Jackie Gleason, who played Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler," was a real pool hustler. Newman said he beat Gleason three straight games at pool for a dollar while they were filming. They played he next game for $100. Gleason won. I will miss Newman's films...Former LSU safety LaRon Landry said his two role models growing up were Ronnie Lott (49ers) and Sean Taylor (Redskins). "I watched Ronnie as a kid,: Landry told Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. "Then in high school at Hahnville, I locked in on Sean. I was recruited by everyone. I really wanted to go to Miami because of Sean. But when I got there, they had Sean, who was a junior. I wanted to play as a true freshman. As much as I wanted o go to Miami, it wasn't going to happen for me there. So I went to LSU, where I could start as a true freshman." Landry started four years at LSU and waited four years for the chance to play alongside Taylor But the tandem lasted only nine weeks. Taylor was fatally shot in Miami in a home invasion. "I want to be one of the top, elite safeties ever," said Landry. "That's all I want to do. I want them to be afraid to cross the middle. I want them to know that I can go sideline-to-sideline and make plays. Just like Sean."...Ed Staton can be reached at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.
The 2-2 Saints will have to contend with one of the NFL's best running backs when they meet Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) on Monday night in the Superdome.
