Viking Vs. Saints: Can it Live Up to the Hype?

The Vikings vs. Saints game is here, but will the results live up to the hype? The Vikings vs. Saints game not only kicks off the 2010 NFL season, but it serves as a re-match for the two teams that played in the NFC Championship Game last season. The last game was extremely intense, with the Saints finally winning it in overtime on a field goal that followed a late Brett Favre interception. The game even led to the NFL changing its overtime rules for this season's playoffs, showing just how involved the football world was in that outcome. Now we get to see those two teams take the field again.

There are some inherent problems with the re-match, the first of which being that these aren't exactly the same teams. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is still recovering from offseason surgery, and now he has lost one of his best wide receivers in Sidney Rice. Last season, Rice went for 1,312 yards on 83 catches and scored eight touchdowns for the team. The Saints will also be missing one of their defense weapons in Darren Sharper, who is on the unable-to-perform list for New Orleans right now. It is a wash? It's hard to say, but the Saints sure have the look of a dynasty in the making.

For those interested in how the 2010 preseason turned out for these two franchises, it was pretty interesting. The defense for the Minnesota Vikings was one of the best, only giving up 59 points in their four games. The New Orleans offense was one of the best as well, scoring 122 points in their four games. It sets up the great defense of Minnesota against offense of New Orleans in a battle that could play out all season in the NFC. Are these two teams destined to make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game again? Or is someone like Dallas or San Francisco going to finally step up to the challenge?

Thursday night's Vikings vs. Saints game will be live on NBC, will full coverage taking place on NBC. It is s nice primetime showing for East Coast viewers, and the game will be taking place in the Superdome. It's a tough break for both teams that someone has to start out the 2010 regular season with a loss, but the winner is going to get a huge push into their week two game. Next week, Minnesota hosts Miami, while New Orleans travels to play San Francisco in the Monday night game on Sept. 20. Both are also good opponents, so neither team wants to lose on Thursday night. The hype has arrived, and now it's up to Favre and Brees to fulfill.

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