Minnesota Vikings (+6.5) at New Orleans Saints
Two of the biggest letdowns from week 2 — The Saints falling to 0-2 at the hands of the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota getting dismantled by the Patriots — square off in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon. While the controversy about what to do with Adrian Peterson has swirled in Minnesota, the talk all week surrounding the Saints has been one-dimensional — universally, they are considered the 0-2 team most capable of making the playoffs.
But, what if they’re not?
If the Saints are simply an average team — that is, not the world-beaters everyone always expects from a team led by Drew Brees and Sean Payton — they have no business being an almost double-digit favorite. They are, however, playing for their ‘statistical’ playoff lives.
0-2 starts are difficult to overcome. 0-3 is nearly impossible. The Saints pull out the four-point victory but the Vikings beat the spread.
