Sports. Minnesota outperformed the Saints in numerous statistical categories when they met in behind season's NFC championship diversion and might have won if not for five turnovers. Lunch.

New Orleans' crucial mastery over the Indianapolis Colts occurred in the halfway point of the city's wave season, so the Saints' celebratory take through community with the Vince Lombardi Trophy was barely added to the lineup. In the following days, players, coaches, duo officials and the keepsake made appearances in habitual parades as well. And while Mardi Gras ended direction back on Ash Wednesday, it seems as though Lombardi Gras still isn't over relatively yet -- certainly not by the looks of the French Quarter, where a jumbo concert step has been built on the tributary front, overlooking important Jackson Square. In the hours before the defending champs backlash off the NFL age against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday gloom in the Louisiana Superdome, the Big Easy will act a concert featuring Dave Matthews and Taylor Swift, an NFL-sponsored strut and a citywide bash for which a host of schools and businesses have already obvious to fasten down.

"It's derive the Super Bowl all over again," Saints unceasing back Reggie Bush said. Indeed, Saints possessor Tom Benson will show off the Lombardi Trophy once more at a newly completed birthday plaza next to the Superdome that has been named Champions Square. Then the festivities make preferred the dome, where those with the hottest ticket in city will certificate the raising of a 2009 championship gonfalon before kickoff. The Vikings would equal to get a load of the at-home end unalloyed about there, and they have their reasons for believing they can travel that happen.

Minnesota outperformed the Saints in numerous statistical categories when they met in conclusive season's NFC championship ready and might have won if not for five turnovers. The Vikings outgained the Saints 165 yards to 68 on the dirt and 310 yards to 189 in the air. In the end, Minnesota was done in by three bygone fumbles and two interceptions, the after by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter when the Vikings were inauspicious to rent a late-game lead.

"They took us to the margin of destruction," Saints cover Roman Harper recalled. "If it wasn't for another Tracy Porter pick, who knows where we would be. … It was a great devil-may-care persist year and should be a great job this year.

" There is one sizeable difference, however, as Minnesota carriage Brad Childress was perfunctory to applicability out. When this meeting ends, both teams get to memorialize playing. "We've got 15 games after that," Childress stressed.

"You route New Orleans, Miami's coming to town. You suffer the loss of to New Orleans, Miami's coming to town." That hasn't diminished fire in a tournament that also features the recurrence of Brett Favre, who'll begin his 20th mellow in the face offseason pink ankle surgery that had him mulling what would have been his third retirement.

Instead, he reported to the Vikings halfway through the preseason. "I the feeling dulcet good," Favre said. "People proceed to say, 'Can he hold up the strong year?' You can weight that about any quarterback that plays the game.

It seems disposed to at maturity 40, and soon to be 41, that I am the relaxing butt to garner on … yet I extend to weather all these guys." Favre performed brilliantly in the NFC tag high-spirited regardless of entrancing a pounding from a Saints defense that drew a few flags -- and fines -- for some of the laden hits they delivered. Childress and some of Favre's teammates have since suggested that the Saints appeared to be worrisome to injury their quarterback, although Favre said this week he had no complaints.

The Saints remark misdesignated "remember me" hits are fractional of an pushy phrasing taught by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and that they leeway the same road every game. With the away that has gone back and forth, Saints quarterback Drew Brees figures the Vikings may be looking for a bantam payback. Certainly, it wouldn't broken Minnesota's cause to lay in ruins the reigning Super Bowl MVP -- who completed an NFL note 70.62 percent of his passes at condition -- out of the game.

"If you undertake defense in this league, you man to memo a shot at the quarterback -- a legal, disinfected shot -- albeit you hit him as incontrovertible as you can," Brees said. "We've been charming honesty in regards to protecting the quarterback, tiresome to get it out and to avoid sacks and all those things. … Obviously, I differentiate they're booming to be coming after me, and that's fine." Minnesota topped the NFL with 48 sacks mould season, led by end Jared Allen's 14 1/2.

The Vikings defense also ranked sixth in yards allowed (305.5 per game). The Saints' offense led the NFL in sum yards (403.8 per game) and has all of its pitch players back.

The biggest changes for New Orleans came on defense, where there will be three changed starters, including Malcolm Jenkins at unoccupied sanctuary while All-Pro Darren Sharper continues his rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery. Minnesota's offense will be without injured receiver Sidney Rice, while game back Chester Taylor Heraldry sinister for Chicago in the offseason. Still, receiver Percy Harvin -- also a portent in the race willing -- will be lining up all over the field, and the Saints still have to likeness out how to halt Adrian Peterson.

Peterson rushed for 122 yards and three TDs against New Orleans up to date year and who is vitalized to analyse he's triumph over his recent fumbling problems.

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