Vikings. Saints. Tonight. First game of the season.

There has been a lot written about the supposed troubles of the Vikings: receiver Sidney Rice out for six weeks, quarterback Brett Favre turning 40, running back Adrian Peterson being prone to fumbles, receiver Percy Harvin having migraines, the secondary is too thin, and so on and so on and so on.

So because this game is in New Orleans again, it seems the entire sports world is picking the Super Bowl champion Saints to beat the Vikings tonight.

Why even play the game?

Wait! Let’s not forget this:

In the NFC Championship in New Orleans last January, the Minnesota Vikings, with nearly the same team they have now, outplayed the New Orleans Saints. Favre passed for 310 yards. Peterson rushed for 122 yards. Receiver Bernard Berrian gained 102 yards. It was a game for the ages, an overtime contest won by a field goal at the end.

Turnovers are what lost that game for the Vikings. The Saints won the game, but they didn’t beat the Vikings. The Vikings beat themselves. Our Vikes had five turnovers in that game. The Saints had one.

And Minnesota still has a stifling rush defense.

If anything, we’re betting the game tonight will be a showcase for the Vikings to let the national sportswriters see how good the team is and how wrong the sportswriters have been.

Our prediction for the game is Vikings 28, Saints 24.