NFC Championship Game

2. Minnesota Vikings
1. New Orleans Saints

Well, so much for Jerry Jones' dream of having the NFC title game in his home palace against the defending champion Cardinals. Both Minnesota and New Orleans not only dismantled their opponents on Divisional weekend, they both had time to rub salt in the wounds. Final combined score: 79-17!

Even after all the late season struggles these two teams experienced heading into the playoffs, we still get the matchup that looked so appetizing a few months ago.

Two franchises with a propensity to fail when the lights are brightest. Two quarterbacks who would relish at a shot of redemption from their last taste of the championship game. While the theater of the Packers/Cardinals Wild Card extravaganza will be difficult to replicate, these two teams paired in the loudest venue in all of sports, with a trip to Miami on the line, well, let's just say it is going to be a fun 60 minutes of football.

After a 31 point drubbing of Mike Petry's Cowboys, the Vikings come into the Superdome with new-found hope of an unstoppable balanced offense with a defensive front four to strike fear in any offensive line. Throw age out the door, Brett Favre is playing the best, and smartest, football of his illustrious career.

While all-world RB Adrian Peterson struggled to a mediocre 2.7 yard per carry average, the Vikings still managed to put up 34 against what many speculated was the hottest unit coming into the playoffs, the Cowboys defense. If Tim Hightower can break away from this defense, imagine what A.P. is staring at in this game.

I'll say this much Minnesota. Ten years ago you were drubbed 41-0 in the title game by the Giants. You will most certainly be on the scoreboard early and often in this one.

The few downsides for the Vikings in this one starts with Percy Harvin's health as he can be the x-factor for big plays, and also the Vikings having lost three straight road games. Not quite the place you want to go coming in with road struggles.

For the Saints, it all starts and ends with Drew Brees. When the offensive line is protecting his backside, Brees is unstoppable, and showed his precision last weekend with his dissection of a porous Arizona defense. Let's face it, Brees is not only the MVP of the team; he is the MVP of the entire New Orleans area. Everyone is banking on trading in those famous disgraced losing paper bags for plane tickets to Miami.

For as much as the national media rips fellow NFC quarterbacks Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb for coming up short in the big game, Brees still has plenty to prove in the biggest game of his career. His first go around in the title game three years ago, he faced a similar pressure-style defense that neutralized his weapons, and the Saints lost 38-17 to the Bears. The winner of course went on to face the Colts in Super Bowl 41. Now four years later, the Saints may have that same opportunity.

The Vikings defense MUST be able to get pressure with their front four against Brees, or the overrated Vikings secondary will be exposed to Brees and his prolific passing attack.

Conversely, the Saints defense must force turnovers behind the raucous home crowd. Favre and Peterson both have careers marred by critical turnovers, and the Saints defense must force the duo to make mistakes, because they simply do not have the talent to get off the field otherwise.

Prediction: Vikings. Let's be clear. The home crowd will only go so far in this game. For the man who could never win in a dome, suddenly Brett Favre thrives in them. For the man plagued by turnovers in the big games, Favre isn't making them. It took Peyton Manning four tries to get into the Super Bowl, and it will take Brees another year to finally get over the hump. While the heart is hoping the Saints win, the head goes with the better defense and more balanced offense.

Favre and Manning in the Super Bowl. Get your popcorn ready!


Fantasy Start/Sit

START:

MIN RB Adrian Peterson- He certainly has not been the focal point of the offense, which is why I love him in this game. Double team Sidney Rice? Fine, we will just pound you with the best running back in the conference.

NO TE Jeremy Shockey- I firmly believe Minnesota will get pressure on Brees, making Shockey a valuable target, especially in the red zone where the Vikings defense is stingiest.

SIT:

MIN WR Sidney Rice- Had the game of his life last weekend, but if it is true that the Saints will double team him, Favre will go elsewhere. Go with Wayne or Colston before Rice for this week.

NO RB Reggie Bush- Sure I started him last week, and was well rewarded with his best game as a pro. However, everytime we get excited about him and his all-pro talent, he goes back into his shell. The hard hitting Vikings defense will take him out of his game.