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Posted at 11:00 AM EST.

8:25 PM EST. Storylines on Sunday Night Football are beaten into the ground, as that game is often the most high profile and most watched of the week and this one is no different. You've seen the play, heard the call and watched all the fan reactions to the "Minneapolis Miracle" last January and for the Saints, this Week 8 contest was circled as soon as the schedule came out. You're going to hear a lot about "revenge" and how New Orleans has been seething since that 61-yard catch and run by Stefon Diggs ended their season. Don't buy into that tired old angle.

Drew Brees and therefore the Saints really need no introduction here, as he has been a staple of offensive consistency through his Hall-of-Fame career. Brees has already broken the all-time passing yards record in high profile fashion in front of the football world on a Monday night in Week 5 and he has the much-coveted touchdown mark of 539 in his sights as well, as he (501) and Tom Brady (504) are both chasing down Peyton Manning.

It's probably fair to call the Saints defense out for a sophomore slump after they finally broke out last season and were the biggest reason New Orleans was able to turn a bad start into a postseason run. The Saints had some impact rookies in 2017 with Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams leading the way. However, theirs and the defenses over-performance was bound to lead to some regression, as expectation were high for that young unit after the Saints finished last season in the top five of many defensive categories. Before last season, New Orleans was either last or second last in defensive DVOA in four of the five prior years. Here in 2018, they are right back in familiar territory ranking just 25th. Williams was the defensive back that got burned on that franchise-defining play. He and the Saints pass defense ranks 30th according to Football Outsiders, right in front of the Raiders and Bucs.

After an early-season stumble, the vaunted Vikings defense is back, as they now rank fourth in the league in sacks. The return of  Everson Griffen will also be a huge boost, as he is one of the best pass rushers in the league. Giffen is not returning from injury, but needed some time away from the team to take care of his personal issues. If Griffen's head is in the right place, watch out.

Offensively, the Vikings have thrived under Kirk Cousins, save for that a no-show at home to Buffalo in Week 3, but that was the same weekend that Griffen had his troubles and who knows what mindset the team was in after watching their brother in arms suffer. Cousins has made an instant connection with Adam Thielen and the undrafted wideout from Minnesota State has been called the best WR in the game after posting a ridiculous 75% catch ratch and a least 100  yards receiving in every game he's played this season.

Like we stated off the top, there is no shortage of storylines here, but there is only one thing that really matters and that is the point-spread. Firstly, the Vikings have wholly been disrespected by oddsmakers here, as this line opened at -1½ in favor of the home side, which is nowhere near the three points that most teams get in a coin-flip spot. Secondly, that line has been moving in the Saints direction and now New Orleans is road chalk in the North Star State and that is not right. In the playoffs last January, the Saints were a 5½-point pooch and the Vikings have upgraded significantly at the league's most important position since then. This line tells you all you need to know, as the Vikes are still trading much lower than they should be. Minny is still a legit Super Bowl contender, but it is not currently in the conversation with the Rams, Patriots, Chiefs and even these Saints. It's not often we get to back a home pooch this good and we're not going to miss it. Skol, Vikings!

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