Matt Vensel: Graham will do some damage, but no touchdowns

No player has scored more touchdowns since the start of the 2013 season than Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who has 18 in his past 18 games, including two already this season. But the Vikings, who kept Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski from denting the TCF turf with one of his ferocious spikes, will find a way to keep Graham out of the end zone, too. Sure, Gronk's unspectacular stat line was largely the product of a run-oriented Patriots game plan and a score that quickly got out of hand. But safety Harrison Smith and the Vikings will find a way to shut out another top tight end.
Mark Craig: Quarterback controversy begins this week

With the running game greatly diminished -- to say the least -- Matt Cassel will be stuck in too many third-and-long situations. And that has disaster written all over it when you're playing in the Superdome. Cassel will have a pick returned for a touchdown as the Vikings lose and add quarterback controversy to their growing list of issues. Let the Teddy Countdown begin.
Master Tesfatsion: Vikings lose by 30

Even if running back Adrian Peterson played, the Vikings would still lose. Without Peterson, it's hard to see the appeal to this game. The Saints are 0-2, losing both games by a combined five points. The Saints are desperate for a win and all signs are pointing to a blowout in the Saints home opener at the Superdome.
Chris Miller: And we will … see you tomorrow night!

A true upset isn't when a team that is a 3-point dog wins. A true upset is when no one sees it coming, when people say "there's no way Team X can lose," and someone ends up shouting, "Do you believe in miracles? Yaaaaa-ESSSS!" The Vikings pull off a true upset today, one that involves no bus crashes by the Saints or Drew Brees injuries. And if that doesn't happen, then I'll be 0-3 this season and trail the Saints by a game. If it does … "I don't believe what I just SAW!"