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The Call: Vikings at New Orleans

By Matt Vensel

September 20, 2014 at 10:47PM

One man's prediction: Wait, the Vikings are playing a football game this weekend? What's that? It's against Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham and the high-octane Saints? And it's at the Superdome, one of the NFL's toughest road venues? Yeah, this probably won't go so well for the Vikings — who had their attention diverted by the Adrian Peterson saga this week — especially if Matt Cassel plays like he did last Sunday. Saints 28, Vikings 16

Three keys

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

(Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With Peterson placed on the exempt list, the Vikings are counting on a trio of inexperienced runners to carry the load. Matt Asiata, who started last week and averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, will start and should get the majority of the carries. Rookie Jerick McKinnon will also take on a larger role. Joe Banyard could also get a few carries. Will one emerge? If not, the Vikings might be forced to bring in a veteran.

PRESSURE ON THE PASSER

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

In a normal week, much more attention would have been paid to Cassel, who threw a career-high four picks in the loss to the Patriots. After that game, coach Mike Zimmer was quick to say that Cassel still would be his starting quarterback against the Saints. But if Cassel has another turnover-filled afternoon, Zimmer might think about handing the huddle over to rookie Teddy Bridgewater.

THIS WON'T BE A BREES

(Brian Stensaas — ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Zimmer's defense, which held its own against the Patriots, will be tested again today. Their 0-2 record might not suggest it, but Brees and Saints are off to a good start offensively. The Saints are second in the NFL at 29.0 points per game, and only two teams have piled up more yards. Brees threw for 570 passing yards in the first two weeks and the balanced Saints rank sixth in the league in rushing.

Player to watch

JIMMY GRAHAM

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Few, if any, of the league's players are a tougher matchup than Graham, the towering, uber-athletic Saints tight end who lines up all over the field. He's too tall for most defensive backs to cover, and linebackers can't keep up with him in space. Graham, who led the NFL with 16 receiving touchdowns last year, shook so many goalposts with his end-zone dunks that the league banned the celebration.