Aaron Feldstein - AccuScore Analyst

Monday Night football features a battle of two teams with high expectations. Minnesota was considered a favorite for the Super Bowl while New Orleans was thought to be the bounce back team and win the NFC South.

But after four weeks, the Saints are a mediocre 2-2 and the Vikings have only one win, causing head coach Brad Childress to make a change at quarterback. A loss by either team will put them in a hole, two games behind their division leaders.

For the Vikings, they will have to get behind their key player Adrian Peterson. Peterson has been held under a hundred yards the last two games, but this week the Oklahoma alum plays against a defense that is 20th in the NFL against the run. The Saints are allowing 122.8 rushing yards per game and the running back that holds the single game rushing record should have a field day. AccuScore projects Peterson to finish the game 131.6 yards and as a 57.2 percent chance to score one or more touchdowns.

Minnesota may have one of the top ten rushing offenses in the league, but New Orleans has the No. 1 passing team in the NFL. Drew Brees and company have been able to move the ball through the air despite their best receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey watching the game from the sidelines. Lance Moore and Robert Meachum have emerged as go to guys for Brees, as they have both received for more than 75 yards in the last two games. If his receivers are covered, Brees has another target to throw to coming out of the backfield, No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft Reggie Bush.

This high-powered passing offense may struggle to pass against the sixth ranked defense in the league. Minnesota is allowing 207.5 yards per game in the air and only 279.2 yards total. AccuScore forecasts Brees to throw for at least 298 yards and nearly two touchdowns. The Purdue alum is also projected to throw one interception against the Vikings defense that has Darren Sharper playing safety. Sharper leads the NFL in interceptions since 2000 with 48.

Monday’s pivotal match-up will come down to the defenses, and AccuScore projects the Saints, who held the 49ers to 17 points last week, to hold the Vikings to 21 points. New Orleans’ offense is projected to score 25 and have a 61 percent chance of winning in primetime. That means the NFC South will have four teams over .500, while the NFC North will have three teams under .500.

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