This wasn’t how the season was supposed to begin for the New Orleans Saints. Winless heading into the team’s home opener has local media questioning what they saw during the offseason and training camp practices, and fans not yet in panic mode but definitely not happy.

Cleveland handed the Saints their second straight last minute loss as the Black and Gold defense failed to hold on to a late lead. The Saints failed to record a single quarterback hit or a tackle for loss. Offensively, after a slow start the Saints got going as TE Jimmy Graham scored twice but they failed to pick up points on a 6:13, 11 play drive.

Minnesota won their home opener but got crushed last week. QB Matt Cassell was sacked six times by a Patriots defense that forced four turnovers! Oh yea and then there is that whole Adrian Peterson thing. We’ve hashed that out enough right? He’s not playing that’s about as important as he will be in this preview piece.

KEYS TO THE GAME

At the top of the list is the New Orleans Saints defense. Wait I literally wrote the same exact sentence last week. It is though especially since they average giving up 446.0 yards of offense in two games. Confusion is the reason why the defense isn’t making plays says coaches and players. Pre-snap miscommunication was the reason for the blown coverage that set up the Browns game winning field goal. It’s puzzling right? Same defensive coordinator, same players other than the addition of S Jairus Byrd and was supposed to be an upgrade.

The defense seems to be missing that edge. Where’s the nastiness? Also miss a Kenny Vaccaro bone jarring hit, or big play behind the line of scrimmage? Heck has there been any taunting, smack talking, or plain old aggressiveness? My theory is that because of that confusion it’s what’s doomed the defense in 2012. The players are thinking and not reacting. The result is poor angles, delayed reaction and way too many arm tackles.

Vaccaro this week said that S Malcolm Jenkins was the guy that gave passionate speeches before or during games and that he nor Byrd are those type of players. That brings up the biggest question and problem. Who is the team’s vocal leader? Who’s the guy that steps up and stops momentum with a big hit, tackle of forced turnover?

SAINTS RUN GAME

Saints RB Mark Ingram broke his hand last week and reports have him out for about a month. Ingram has had a solid start to the season picking up 143 yards on 24 carries scoring three times. Kihry Robinson will take up the workload along with Pierre Thomas. The run game will be just fine I think. Robinson is more than capable and Thomas could play every down and I’d be happy as far as I’m concerned.

SAINTS MENTAL MAKE UP

Five teams have started 0-3 and gone on to make the playoffs. 1998 was the last team to do so. A loss Sunday and well who knows what this season may look like. Head coach Sean Payton this week didn’t hold back in saying that Sunday is a big game and in his time here for him to say that is basically saying it’s a must win and the season is on the line. The Saints need to come out with passion and play like a team that wants to be in post-season contention.

MY TAKE

Sunday is really about the Saints. Minnesota has had turmoil to deal with this week and man for man are not as talented as the Saints. The Vikings will be looking forward to getting on the field though because of those distractions and the Peterson deal could galvanize the locker room. New Orleans must be ready.

I see it 34-13. The Saints have the offensive power and I have to imagine that the home crowd and energy will be enough to wake up this defense and get them rolling in the right direction. A win could be the first of three straight. The Cowboys are next in Dallas next Sunday night and then Tampa comes to town before the bye week and the Bucs are dreadful. Sunday though is indeed a must win.

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