Saints grind out 14-9 win over Vikings in opener
Football Betting Lines
09/10/2010 -
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans Saints opened their title defense by winning with defense.
Jonathan Vilma intercepted Brett Favre, and the Saints allowed the Minnesota Vikings only two first downs and no points in the second half of a hard-fought 14-9 victory in the NFL's regular season opener on Thursday night.
How unusual was that kind of result for New Orleans?
In Sean Payton's first four seasons as head coach, the Saints led the NFL in offense three times and had never won when scoring fewer than 19 points.
With Favre being held to 171 yards passing, the Vikings relied heavily on Adrian Peterson, who had 122 yards rushing and three touchdowns when these teams last met in the 2009 NFC title game. In the rematch, he managed only 87 yards on 19 carries and did not score.
``To hold a team like that with a damn good quarterback and probably the best running back in the league and a really good offensive line, we did some special things,'' said Saints defensive end Alex Brown, who joined the team as a free agent after their Super Bowl win. ``It's going to take a hell of a team to beat us. We're just 1-0, but we are a really good team here.''
Drew Brees completed 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown, a 29-yarder to Devery Henderson. That was far from Brees' best, but good enough.
``We're not used to 14-9 victories, but we're used to winning,'' said Brees, the reigning Super Bowl MVP. ``So we like the W.''
Pierre Thomas added a 1-yard TD early in the second half that put the Saints ahead for good.
Payton said he ``was proud of the way we came through and made enough plays to start the season 1-0.''
``Defensively we did a very good job of holding against the run and still taking some of the downfield throws away,'' the coach said.
This latest meeting of the Vikings and Saints was far different from the turnover-filled, back-and-forth overtime thriller that the Saints pulled out, 31-28, for the NFC title last January.
There wasn't nearly as much at stake this time, and while the game was competitive, the energy on the field and in the stadium wasn't the same - perhaps because fans were tired from a day filled with festivities that included a concert in the French Quarter, a parade and the unfurling of the 2009 Super Bowl championship banner before kickoff.
The only turnover of the game came on Favre's interception - the result of a ball thrown under duress on Roman Harper's safety blitz.
Also unlike their previous meeting, the Saints owned most of the statistical advantages, outgaining Minnesota 308 yards to 253.
New Orleans might have won more easily if not for two missed field goals by Garrett Hartley, who kicked the game-winning field goal in the last meeting and was one of the Saints' playoff heroes.
Still, New Orleans was able to kneel on the ball to run out most of the last two minutes after Thomas capped a 71-yard performance with a 10-yard, first-down run right after the 2-minute warning.
The 40-year-old Favre, who decided to return for a 20th season after an ankle operation, looked out of synch or inaccurate at times. The fact that Minnesota was without star receiver Sidney Rice may have had something to do with that, although Favre said, ``I just missed on some throws I should have made.''
Favre's best sequence came on Minnesota's only touchdown drive late in the first half, when he found Vinsanthe Shiancoe on precision down-the-middle completions of 33 and 20 yards, the second for the Vikings' only TD.
That gave Minnesota a 9-7 halftime lead.
``We were right where we wanted to be at halftime, then it was three-and-out, three-and-out,'' Vikings coach Brad Childress said. ``There were not a lot of throws to be made downfield. They were going to hold us down and make us bleed slowly.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
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Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
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