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New Orleans Saints: Complete roster breakdown vs. Minnesota Vikings

By Jason Reed

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates the touchdown of running back Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter against Tennessee Titans in the game at Nissan Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates the touchdown of running back Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter against Tennessee Titans in the game at Nissan Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – New Orleans Saints
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – New Orleans Saints /

The offense:

Quarterback: Advantage, New Orleans Saints

I will say, Kirk Cousins has had a much better 2019 than most people probably expected and definitely did not hold the Vikings back from having any success. However, there is the narrative of Cousins not winning any big games for a reason and the same cannot be said for Drew Brees.

Brees is already the better quarterback than Cousins and it is not even close. The fact that he can perform under the bright lights makes it an even bigger mismatch.

Running backs: Advantage, Minnesota Vikings

At good as Alvin Kamara is and as good of a backup as Latavius Murray is, I have to give the edge to Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota rushing attack. Cook had 1,135 rushing yards in 14 games this season, which is 401 yards fewer than Kamara and Murray had combined.

The Vikings had almost 400 more rushing yards as a collective unit than the Saints and Cook is a much bigger part of the Vikings’ success than Kamara is for the Saints.

Wide receivers: Advantage, Minnesota Vikings

The New Orleans Saints have the best wide receiver on the field in this game in Michael Thomas, but as a collective unit, the Vikings have the better wide receiver corps. Minnesota has two guys in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs that would be number one options on most teams, while the Saints’ receiving corps is not that deep past Thomas.

Tight ends: Advantage, New Orleans Saints

Jared Cook did not get out to a hot start on the New Orleans Saints but he finished the season as one of Drew Brees’ biggest targets and is going to have a huge role in the Saints passing game in the playoffs. Cook ended up finishing the season with 705 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Offensive line: Advantage, New Orleans Saints

The Minnesota Vikings have a really good offensive line, but it is not quite as good as the Saints, who have one of, if not the, best offensive lines in the entire league.

With Andrus Peat returning and Terron Armstead healthy, the Saints offensive line is at full strength for the first time in weeks.

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