Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

2017 · Week 1

Final

Saints

New Orleans

QB Drew Brees

19·29

Vikings

Minnesota

QB Sam Bradford

U.S. Bank Stadium · dome · sportturf

Closing spread

MIN -3

Total

47.5

Model margin

+2.9est.

MIN perspective

Push chance

7.5%est.

the line sits on a key number

Win probability

  • Vikings
  • Saints

How each play moved the game.

Vikings winsSaints wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Saintsedge mapVikings
  • +0.092EPA / play+0.026
  • 45.3%Success rate42.5%
  • +0.140EPA / dropback+0.155
  • +0.026EPA / rush-0.142
  • 12.4%Explosive rate8.8%
  • +4.74CPOE+3.66
  • 38.5%Third-down rate44.3%
  • 65.9%Red-zone TD rate63.1%
  • 2.37Points / drive2.02
  • 1.6%Turnover rate1.3%

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

MIN lead 10–7 since 1999

MIN have won 2 straight. Meetings average 52.1 points. MIN are 9-8 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2023 · W10NO @ MIN1927MIN
2022 · W4MIN @ NO2825MIN
2020 · W16MIN @ NO3352NO
2019 · playoffsMIN @ NO2620MIN
2018 · W8NO @ MIN3020NO
2017 · playoffsNO @ MIN2429MIN
2014 · W3MIN @ NO920NO
2011 · W15NO @ MIN4220NO

Box score

Individual performances

Saints

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Drew Brees27/3729110

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Adrian Peterson6183.00
Alvin Kamara7182.60
Mark Ingram6172.80
Ted Ginn155.00

Vikings

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Sam Bradford27/3234630

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Dalvin Cook221275.80
Latavius Murray263.00
Jerick McKinnon351.70
Sam Bradford2-3-1.50
Stefon Diggs1-6-6.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Adam Thielen9101570
Stefon Diggs78932
Jerick McKinnon33320
Kyle Rudolph33261
Jarius Wright12210
Dalvin Cook35100
Laquon Treadwell1170

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +33.9%6.9%7.5%3.1%4.8%3.1%2.7%

Positive margins favour Vikings; negative favour Saints.

Half-point at risk

7.52%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

56.9%

Expected total

44.9est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+1.59
  • Home-field advantage+1.74
  • Quarterback adjustment-0.42
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+2.91