NFL Preview: Minnesota @ New Orleans

There’s always a great deal of hype for the first game of the NFL season, and this one, between the Minnesota Vikings and the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, just might actually live up to it all. The two teams meet Thursday night in New Orleans, in one of the loudest venues in the country.

The last time these two teams played each other, Minnesota very nearly came away with the victory. It was the NFC Championship game, and only a bunch of Minnesota turnovers lost them the game. You can bet they’re determined not to beat themselves this time.

This is definitely a contest with plenty of aerial acrobatics. Between Drew Brees and Brett Favre, two of the best quarterbacks in the game today will be showing the world that they’ve still got it in 2010, especially Favre, who is coming off left ankle surgery at age 40. Their arsenals include a bevy of wide receivers, though you’d have to give New Orleans the edge in this category for the sheer number and skill of players they can put out there at once. However, Percy Harvin looks to have another stellar year for the Vikings, and he’s a threat anywhere you put him on the field.

It’s the running attack of the Vikings that the Saints have had trouble stopping. They’re not alone, though. Adrian Peterson, despite some trouble hanging on to the ball, managed to rush for 122 yards and three touchdowns last year against the Saints. New Orleans can’t afford to give up those kind of numbers this time around. Can the new defensive starters make the difference?

Overall, the edge in the stats has to go to the Vikings. If they can play with the tenacity they seem to be showing in their pre-game comments, they have a good chance to knock off the Saints on their home field.