--The Vikings are 2-1 against the Saints in the playoffs, having beaten New Orleans in an NFC wild card game in 1987 (44-10) and in the NFC divisional playoffs in 2000 (34-16).

--Former Vikings WR Anthony Carter set an NFL record in that 1987 postseason game, finishing with a total of 143-total punt return yards. That included an 84-yard return for a touchdown.

--RB Adrian Peterson set a team record for most rushing touchdowns in a playoff game with his three in the 2009 NFC title game. Peterson's three total touchdowns also tied a team playoff record with Sidney Rice and Leroy Hoard. Peterson's 122 rushing yards ranks third in franchise playoff history, trailing Robert Smith's 140 in 2000.

--Peterson's 4,484 rushing yards in his first three regular seasons were more than all but four running backs gained during their first three years in the NFL. Peterson trails Eric Dickerson (5,147 yards), Earl Campbell (5,081), Jamal Lewis (4,757) and LaDainian Tomlinson (4,564).

--Fourteen of the Vikings' 20 victories over the Saints have been by 10-plus points and seven of them have been by 20-plus points.

--The Vikings have opened the regular season against the Saints twice previously, beating New Orleans 40-9 in 1976 and losing 31-24 in 1978.

--Vikings coach Brad Childress is 3-1 in season openers, having beaten Washington (19-16) in 2006, Atlanta (24-3) in 2007 and Cleveland (34-20) in 2009. The Vikings lost to Green Bay, 24-19, in 2008.

--Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar played defensive tackle for the Saints in 1992 and '93.

--Vikings coach Brad Childress and Saints coach Sean Payton are both graduates of Eastern Illinois.

BY THE NUMBERS
28-20-1 -- Vikings record in season openers over their first 49 seasons.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm sure they are reading the papers and looking on the Internet, seeing we have only three corners, so we can expect that." -- Cornerback Antoine Winfield when asked if he believes the Saints will throw a lot of multi-receiver sets at the Vikings on Thursday night. Minnesota had only three healthy cornerbacks two days before the game.

Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.