Ah! The NFL Season Begins!

The NFL season kicks off tonight and did the schedule makers ever present us with an early gift...a rematch of last season's NFC Championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints.

As I provided last season, I will once again preview each and every NFL game for the upcoming season.

Minnesota Vikings v. New Orleans Saints
8:30 PM/NBC/Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andrea Kremer

Minnesota: Of course most of the off-season was centered around #4. Would he come back or wouldn't he? I thought there was very little doubt to Brett Favre returning especially when you consider his last play during last season's NFC Championship game. It wasn't a pleasant memory. Favre will look to exorcise that demon, but the Vikings as a whole must eliminate their turnovers...did you hear that, Adrian Peterson?

Peterson's a stud. To that point, there's no doubt. But AD has lost 20 fumbles over the last three season, leading the NFL in that stat. And the Vikings offense is at another disadvantage, no Sidney Rice. Oh and add the health status of Percy Harvin. Harvin will play, but for how long will he be able to go is question. One last "minus" on the offensive side...no Chester Taylor. I know the Vikes drafted Toby Gerhart, but he's not Chester Taylor. Plus, Gerhart is on the injury report as questionable with a knee issue.

During that NFC Championship. I thought the Vikings defense did an incredible job of containing the Saints explosive offense. There is a plus for this game, the "addition" of linebacker E.J. Henderson. Henderson was unable to go due to recovering from a broken left femur. He's back and has looked good in the short amount of time he's played in the preseason.

The secondary has always been a bit of a crap shoot for me. Cedric Griffin (questionable - knee) may not go and rookie corner Chris Cook (knee) is out. DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee) will also not play. Kennedy is valuable because he helps keep Pat and Kevin Williams fresh. If Griffin can't go, that leaves the Vikings with Asher Allen and Lito Sheppard to play opposite Antoine Winfield. With the receivers the Saints possess, that scares me if I'm a Vikings fan. The D-line must create havoc for the Vikings to succeed.

New Orleans: The biggest thing for the Saints to overcome tonight will be the huge cheer that will erupt when the Super Bowl Championship banner is unfurled during pregame festivities. Imagine how loud it will be inside the Superdome. Earlier in the week, head coach Sean Payton prepared his guys by running a simulation during practice, but it would have been impossible to duplicate the noise level. Still, nothing gets by Payton.

We know the Saints can and will explode offensively. There aren't a whole lot of questions there except for the departure of Jammal Brown who was the protector of Drew Brees' blind side. Drafting Charles Brown from USC may make the Saints hopeful forget Brown. It will only take time for the former Trojan to find his way. Until Brown can develop, Jermon Bushrod will be charged with protecting Brees.

The questions, just like last season, are on the defensive side of the ball. S Darren Sharper was placed on the PUP list and will be out 8 games. LB Scott Fujita left for Cleveland and there's not one Saints player that would tell you Fujita was not instrumental in the Saints defensive scheme last season. The leadership Fujita provided last season will sorely be missed.

The one area that I feel the Saints will be unable to duplicate is the forced turnovers. Sharper was the champion of that for New Orleans last season. The Saints will turn to Malcolm Jenkins, the 2009 first rounder from Ohio State converted to safety, to help fill the massive void left by Sharper. If there's one thing that Favre will find is the area in which Jenkins will be operating...and Favre will attempt to exploit that.

One last thing about the Saints. I sense a feeling of credibility issues. There aren't getting it. That alone will serve as a motivational tool and we all know the Saints can use motivation as well as any team in any sport.

The Vikings win if...
No turnovers. Sustain drives. No big plays by the Saints offense.

The Saints win if...
Force turnovers. Reggie Bush produces one big play. Be physical with Favre and the Vikings O-line. Keep the crowd loud.

I really don't see the Saints losing this game. I have far less questions about the Saints than I do the Vikings.