PLAYER NOTES
–QB Drew Brees has not thrown an interception in a regular-season game since the 2017 finale, the longest such streak of his career, which covers a span of 262 passes.
–G Andrus Peat, who missed last week’s game because of a concussion, practiced fully Wednesday and said he’s “ready to go” Sunday.
–G Josh LeRibeus, who started in Andrus Peat’s place Sunday, then left the game for good in the second quarter because of an ankle injury, did not practice.
–C Max Unger (hand) did not practice.
–OL Jermon Bushrod, who missed last week’s game after the death of his infant daughter, did not practice.
–S Marcus Williams (groin), who was injured late in the game last week, practiced fully Wednesday.
–LB Craig Robertson (hamstring) was limited Wednesday.
–DT Taylor Stallworth (ankle) was limited Wednesday.
–T Terron Armstead (knee) was limited Wednesday.
–WR Cameron Meredith (knee) was limited Wednesday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: S Marcus Williams was the player who missed an open-field tackle, enabling WR Stefon Diggs to score the game-winning touchdown as time expired in the playoff loss to the Vikings last season. Williams will be a key player not just because of the connection to last season’s outcome, but also because he’s a key member of a Saints secondary that has been struggling and will be tested by one of the NFL’s top passing games. On Wednesday, Williams replied “it’s just another game” to each of a series of questions about last year’s experience.
GAME PLAN: For the second consecutive week, the Saints have to contend with one of the top pass rushes in the NFL. Last week they faced the NFL leaders in sacks – the Ravens, who were coming off a game in which they had 11 sacks. New Orleans allowed just one sack. The Saints were patient with the running game and had enough success to keep Drew Brees in manageable down and distances so he could avoid slower-developing pass routes. A similar approach is likely against the Vikings – be patient with Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara in the running game and utilize them in the passing game as well as quick routes to wide receiver Michael Thomas and tight end Benjamin Watson to help the offensive line with its task of slowing down the pass rush.
The Saints secondary will have a figurative bull’s-eye on it. Minnesota is seventh in the NFL in passing offense and Kirk Cousins has passed for the second-most yards in the NFL. New Orleans’ secondary has been vulnerable, ranking 28th in pass defense, and the team is also 28th in sacks. The Saints will have to generate consistent pressure, even if they don’t get a lot of sacks, in order to help the defensive backs.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Saints CBs vs. Vikings WRs. Marshon Lattimore hasn’t played as well this season as he did last season when he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but he’s still New Orleans’ clear-cut No. 1 cornerback. In fact, the Saints traded with the Giants this week to acquire Eli Apple and upgrade the cornerback position. It’s unclear how much Apple will play this week, but the Saints are hopeful he’ll be better than Ken Crawley and P.J. Williams, who have been beaten frequently this season. The group will be challenged by the most productive receiving tandem in the NFL in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Thielen has the most catches ever through seven games (67), has seven 100-yard receiving games and three games with at least 10 catches. Diggs, who made the game-winning touchdown reception on the final play of the playoff game against the Saints in January, is tied for seventh with 48 catches.
–Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk vs. Vikings LDE Danielle Hunter. Ramczyk has been solid in his two seasons with the Saints, but this will be one of the better ends he has encountered. Hunter is the only player in the NFL to have made at least a half a sack in every game this season. He’s tied for second in the NFL with 7.5 sacks. The Saints did a solid job against the Ravens’ outstanding pass rush last week.
