5 Bold Predictions: Vikings vs. Saints – NFC Wild Card
By Chris Schad
Thielen will torture the Saints with a 100-yard game
Another reason to predict a big game for Kirk Cousins on Sunday is the performance of their receivers. For the first time since the early weeks of the season, the Vikings will have both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen at 100 percent. This is encouraging news considering the track record they have against New Orleans in their careers.
For Diggs, he’s coming off a season where he recorded a career-high in receiving yards (1,130) in a year where the Vikings refused to throw the ball for the first month of the season. Although he’ll be primarily matched up with Marshon Lattimore, Diggs’ history of success against the Saints includes 116 yards per game and four touchdowns in three meetings (including one touchdown that you’ve probably heard of).
But the biggest beneficiary on Sunday will be Thielen as he’ll get to go up against the combination of Janoris Jenkins and P.J. Williams. Jenkins is third in the NFL among cornerbacks with five interceptions, but he’s also given up four touchdowns on the season, meaning he can be beaten for big plays.
Meanwhile, Williams should be the guy that the Vikings attack the most. As the Saints’ primary slot corner, Williams has allowed the second-highest QB rating when defending in the slot at 133.7. While Thielen hasn’t been used in the slot as much as past seasons due to the Vikings’ preference to use two tight ends, he has had success there in the past, recording the most receptions in the slot (68) back in 2018.
If the Vikings can switch things up and get Williams on one of their two star receivers, it will make for a big game from the passing attack, helping them catch up with Drew Brees and company.