Who: Packers at Saints
Where: The Superdome
Spreads: Packers -1.5, O/U 52
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser

Monday Night Countdown Segments:

ESPN the Magazine's "For Love or The Game:" Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian

Saints running back Reggie Bush and his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, reality TV star - will be the subject of Monday's "For Love or The Game," a Countdown segment that pairs a player or coach with a family member or girlfriend and a teammate to find out which person knows more about him. Kardashian, who stars on the E! reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, will battle Bush's teammate Bobby McCray to see who really knows Bush better.

“Soundtracks:” Charles Woodson

In his 11th year in the NFL, Charles Woodson remains one of the league's top cornerbacks - tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with five. Woodson is wired for in-game sound in this week's edition of "Soundtracks."

EA Sports Virtual Playbook: Packers Quarterback Aaron Rogers

In EA Sports Virtual Playbook, Jackson breaks down how Aaron Rodgers' quick slants could create problems for the Saints defense.

AA's Prediction:

Due to not being able to move a weekly engagement away from Monday nights, I'll probably be going with open threads the rest of the season unless something changes. I'll be recording and checking in later tonight with vids though, so if you have anything to share, feel free to do so in the comments.

Saints 31 - Packers 24

Man that game was a wild one. If you're waking up today, and you missed it, I hope this video and set of quotes helps. If you played along with the live-blog, enjoy them a second time!

"The strong hand wins the contest."- Ron Jaworski

"Maybe he should have dated supermodels?"- Tony Kornheiser after comparing Drew Brees to Brady and Manning

"They were in position to score a million times." - Tony Kornheiser

"They were dooing for Deuce McAllister."- Mike Tirico
"Dooing?"- Tony Kornheiser
"Deucing."- Mike Tirico

"Heath Shuler is a congressman and Gus Frerotte is still playing Football! It's phenomenal!!!"- Tony Kornheiser

"He [Hochuli] drops in my fantasy referee draft."- Tony Kornheiser

"In some countries these guys are picking out furniture."- Tony Kornheiser on Brees and Sean Payton
"Brees' relationship to Sean Payton has been described by everyone as perfect" - Tony Kornheiser

"Well under the average inside the redzone."- Ron Jaworski
"They're last!"- Tony Kornheiser

"This could be three or seven."- Tony Kornheiser on a FG attempt

"Penetrate and get the arms up!"- Ron Jaworski

"So far what we've seen from Reggie Bush is warning track power. At USC he was a home run hitter all the time. If he does that in the pros, he is a star of stars"- Tony Kornheiser

"There's a rule that pertains to foot tangling?"- Tony Kornheiser
"No footsies."- Mike Tirico

"I know you're critical of Sports Radio but that's the topic tomorrow. Why would you kick to Bush a third time."- Tony Kornheiser
"I would ask the same question."- Ron Jaworski
"I'll give you the call-in number."- Tony Kornheiser

"They not making no moves offensively."- Tony Kornheiser on the Vikings

"That was great video of Drew Brees hyping up his team. It looked like he went to Ray Lewis Summercamp."- Tony Kornheiser

"We got to get Jaws to a cold tub because he's completely exhausted" - Tony Kornheiser

Ed [Hochuli] sounds like my 5 year old daughter in a spelling contest...shaky voice and wet pants...wow... (Via Anon)

An absolute cluster**** of a 1st half in terms of decisions by the refs and teams....and yet, I'm entertained. (Via SS)

I agree wholeheartedly.

Score: Vikings 20 - Saints 10
Total Net Yards: Vikings 120 - Saints 251

10:35- Vikings ball to start and they'll get it at the 20. Jaws continues the praise of the Saints and we're underway with half two. Peterson for five and Berrian follows with 12 and a first down.

Frerotte runs for a solid gain of five, but a screen to Berrian goes for just one. 3rd and four....incomplete. And the Vikings will punt to Reggie Bush....who runs backwards to his own five. Dumb idea there.

After some of the comments by the crew in the first half, I think the Madden cruiser dropped some Johnny Walker off on the way to SD. (Via JG)

Bush for a few on first down, another play to him on second for nowhere and it's 3rd and 7....Brees hits Moore....first down. McAllister for two.....Brees deep to Henderson! Terrible pass into double coverage. Vikings blitz on third down....incomplete. Saints punt and we're slowing down now.

saints should go shotgun, 5 wide and just throw the damn...put bush in the slot..fuck... (Via Anon)

Did anyone else catch Chris Berman say the Red Sox were up 22-0? (Via SS)

No...dammit.

10:49- Taylor picks up a chunk and Wade gets the first. That's five catches for Wade. Peterson for three, incomplete on second and incomplete on third. Vikings punt.....Bush back again....close but he's knocked out.

Tex on first, Masterson coming in (Via Anon)

Let's switch over then, shall we? Vlad up, 2-0 Boston, runner on first, Top of the eighth. 0-2 quickly and the Sox fans are into it....1-2 on a slider outside....2-2 Fastball up....3-2 high again with the fastball....Walk. Tying runs are on base....Torii Hunter up.

Strike one, strike two on a foul ball.....WILD PITCH! Masterson crossed up Tek and that's not good. Runners move up and both are in scoring position.

(Saints driving in Vikings territory)

Fouled off. 1-2 still...2 outs....2 in scoring position. 2-2...high. SINGLE!!!!!! One in.....Vlad in! We're tied.

"Listen to the deafening silence in Boston."- Chip Caray

Okay enough of that nonsense. Back to Football....Saints are punting and we have a timeout. 3:25 left in the third and we're back to Baseball....

1-2 to Napoli....pop up and that's the inning. Onto the bottom of the eighth...2-2

And we're back. Vikes ball at their own 22. Peterson loses about five and he isn't doing anything tonight. Frerotte incomplete and it'll be 3rd and 14....Gus hits Wade but he's well short. Vikings to punt to Reggie Bush once again....

GONE! Bush to the house and there was an f'ing ridiculous block to spring him down the right side!!!!!

20-17 Vikings. WOW! Dunbar just destroyed Henderson. That'll be up shortly.

SEE!.. YOU!.. LATER!... was Tirico stealing Bob Carpenter's homerun call? (Via Anon)

Hahahaha good catch. I was too busy yelling to hear it.

11:09- Hicks out to the 30 and the Vikings will takeover from there. Play action....incomplete. FUMBLE! Vikes get it back. 3rd and 8.....Frerotte sacked! Wait, no play....false start. It's loud as hell in the Superdome. 3rd and 13....timeout Vikings.

"They not making no moves offensively."- Tony Kornheiser on the Vikings

Frerotte to Taylor and he's well short! P.I. on the offense is declined and Minnesota is punting....Bush back there again....

NO! Not again!!! Okay....wow. Bush trips at the 50, but still another great return.

Reggie Bush to the critics: Eat this BEE-YOTCH! (Via SS)

Okay....one punt return TD doesn't make up for still being down 3 to the Vikings, 29 yards on 9 carries and 2 fumbles (1 lost). But yes....very entertaining.

"It's only been 30 years since a crowd chanted Reggie...Reggie. You know Mr. October."- Mike Tirico

Oh and the third quarter ended somewhere in there as well. Brees to Henderson for a first, but Bush loses a yard on the next first. Allen bats down the pass on second down and it'll be third and long....

Almost picked off! Incomplete and the Saints will be attempting a 53 yarder with Gramatica?!?!?! Ummm....

WOW! He killed that one....that would have been good from 60....

20-20 Tie.

Angels try a squeeze and Varitek tags Willits, but loses the ball. He's called out and the Angels are arguing. Good call though....the ground caused the fumble on that one. Going to the bottom of the ninth tied at two.

11:23- Vikings ball from their own 28. Gus and A.P. get mixed up but the back still picks up seven. False start. And another one....2nd and 13 now. Incomplete after being pressured and it's 3rd and 13....

Dropped by Berrian over the middle and here comes Reggie Bush again....

SERIOUSLY?!?!?! Gone again! 27-20 Saints....why are they even kicking to him?!?!?!?

SOX WIN! Lowry singles in Jason Bay and you're ALCS is Boston and Tampa!!!!

11:31- Wow...that was a crazy ten minutes of Sports there wasn't it? Okay...let's settle back into this game. Screen to Peterson for nine, he gets none on second and it's 3rd and one....

"I know you're critical of Sports Radio but that's the topic tomorrow. Why would you kick to Bush a third time."- Tony Kornheiser
"I would ask the same question."- Ron Jaworski
"I'll give you the call-in number."- Tony Kornheiser

Frerotte deep to Berrian and he has it in Saints' territory! Gus is hurt and he looks to be in a ton of pain.

They have speed guns on the ball carrier? Weird. (Via Esse)

Yeah there was no way that Reggie Bush was running 20mph+ while jogging into the endzone. Jackson is in at QB and the Vikings run it of course....for nothing. He loses some yardage actually. 2nd and 13 from the 30. Jackson over the middle for a few and it's 3rd and 7. Make that Frerotte...he's back in...

First down Allison, but there's a flag on the play....OFFENSIVE P.I.! On Allison again. That was pretty blatant there. 3rd and 17 now....

Frerotte hit again but somehow he hits Berrian in the endzone for six!!! He even ran into Allison on the catch. Insane....

27-27 with 7:10 left.

Tonight is just weird. Reggie Bush is going to return a punt in overtime to win it. Calling it now. (Via Anon)

11:42- Seriously. The Saints should really just put Reggie Bush back for the kick. They don't and Pierre Thomas is SMACKED at the fifteen. Bush loses two on first down and a false start puts it at 2nd and 17. Brees hits Meachem for ten and it'll be third and seven....

Brees to Miller for a huge gain.....OHHHHHHHH! Ced Griffin destroys him downfield and I have no idea how Miller hung onto that ball.

"There are millions of moms out there saying you're not playing Football."- Tony Kornheiser

Whoooo man that was huge. Deuce for six on first down in Vikings territory and Bush picks up another two.....4 minutes left. 3rd and 1 here, the crowd is yelling for Deuce and he's in....he looks to have fallen forward past the mark....and he'll have it.

Deuce up the middle and he picks up one....under three minutes now. Second and nine....timeout Saints. After the stoppage, Brees throws incomplete and it'll be third and eight....

Blitz! Henderson doesn't come back and that's incomplete. Gramatica back out for a 46 yarder....

NO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that's the two minute warning!

Vikings ball at their own 37....Peterson for two and the clock is running. Wade gets a few and it's 3rd and 3. Frerotte deep to Berrian!!!! Pass interference on the Saints and that one takes it all the way down to the Saints' 14! Amazing. Going bold....

Peterson up the middle for two and the Saints call timeout. One left for New Orleans with 1:05 left. Peterson loses a yard and the Saints call their last timeout with 1 minute even to go. Peterson up the middle to the 12 again and it looks like there will be about 15 seconds left on the clock after a Longwell FG attempt.....

Make that 16 seconds and the attempt will be a 30-yarder....BANG! Right down the middle....13 seconds left....30-27 Vikings. Reggie Bush goes back and there's no way that they're kicking this to him. Stecker downs it at the 24 yard line and that should do it.

Brees deep, picked....and that will do it. What an unbelievable and ridiculous game. I think I hit record about 40 times tonight, so I'm going to go through all of those and try to get a video up for those who were watching Baseball. Thanks for hanging around tonight.

Final: Vikings 30 - Saints 27

"We got to get Jaws to a cold tub because he's completely exhausted" - Tony Kornheiser (Via JFein)

Me too.

Another Monday.....another live-blog. Tonight we get a seemingly explosive matchup between two NFC teams that are looking for their first signature win of the season. The Vikings need a win badly and beating the Saints in N.O. would be huge. The Saints need to hold serve to keep up with the other teams in the NFC South. It should be a good one.....see you around 8:15pm or so.

"I look for Adrian Peterson to either bust open this defense, wide open, for a big 200 yard day, or the Saints are really going to slow him down."- Emmitt Smith

Way to go out on a limb there Emmitt. Here's my prediction for the night....either the Vikings will win....or they won't.

"You look at the Washington Redskins. They haven't turned the ball over....on offense....yet this year."- Keyshawn Johnson

As opposed to the elusive, defensive turnover? Ooooh we get that new Kanye song as our bumper music tonight. Interesting.

Bryant McKinnie being back + the Saints rotten defense = Vikings start their winning streak (Via GMoney)

I may be one of the few that sees this game going lobsided for New Orleans. Brees and the Saints will get off to a big lead early and the Vikes won't be able to keep up in a shoot out. (J Fein)

Uh oh, we've got some dissension in our ranks. I'm pretty sure I've seen this Adrian Peterson "Unmasked" thing about eight times now. It's not bad, but you can only hear about someone's "Diesel" tattoo so many times.

"Diesel fuel is expensive, but that's worth it."- Chris Berman

"Heath Shuler is a congressman and Gus Frerotte is still playing Football! It's phenomenal!!!"- Tony Kornheiser

"Very few want to come back inside and take that blow."- Emmitt Smith

And that came from a former Cowboy.....I kid. Looks like the Rays have their Series wrapped up, so that's exciting. Griffey up, Griffey down, and complete with sweatshirts on....the Rays celebrate their first postseason series win in franchise history! Onto the ALCS for Tampa Bay.

"When we come back we will pick the game. Who will be jazzed tonight in Nawlins?"- Chris Berman

Picks:

Ditka- Vikings
Key- Saints
Cris- Saints
TJ- Saints
Boomer- Saints
Steve- Saints
Emmitt- Saints
Stuart- Saints

"Maybe he should have dated supermodels?"- Tony Kornheiser after comparing Drew Brees to Brady and Manning

Pretty sure that means the Vikings will win. Kickoff coming shortly and whoa Drew Brees is a pretty good motivator before the game. His whole "THIS IS NEW ORLEANS" thing gave me goosebumps.

Was I the only one disturbed by the dancing of those production guys? Um...party time is generally after the game... (Via JFein)

Haha....that was special.
____________________________

"That was great video of Drew Brees hyping up his team. It looked like he went to Ray Lewis Summercamp."- Tony Kornheiser

8:41- Kind of funny. Saints ball first and a huuuuuge hole for Pierre Thomas and he's into Minnesota territory on the kickoff. Great start. A reverse to Devery Henderson picks up seven on first down and Brees hits Bush for a first down.

"He could find you and me if he had to."- Tony Kornheiser to Jaws

He's probably right. Brees to Miller for six, Deuce up the middle for five and it's 3rd and one....Brees runs it and slides for the first. Incomplete though on first and second down and it's 3rd and 10 for the Saints....

"There's a rule that pertains to foot tangling?"- Tony Kornheiser
"No footsies."- Mike Tirico

Brees to Henderson. And it's six just like that for the Saints and boy was that easy.

7-0 New Orleans

When Tony says "you just can't overstate this" that means he will overstate it all night long. (Via Mal)

The Vikings: I'm so excited! I'm so...so scared. (Via SS Reporters)

Never gets old. Time to see if Frerotte is Fr'real and Tirico and Tony freak out about a lady sticking her hand into the mouth of a gator. Vikes ball at their own 33.

"She is about to perform animal dentistry and take the wisdom tooth out of the crocodile"- Tony Kornheier (Via Esse Quam Videri)

8:53- Peterson up the middle for two. Gus then hits Shiancoe over the middle for a first down. Good time there....McKinnie already helping out. Play action, and Berrian makes a nice grab and goes into Saints' territory. 1st down....

Incomplete on first down, Peterson for three on second down and it'll be third and six.....incomplete. Vikings to punt. Into the endzone and a touchback.

8:59- BREES TO HENDERSON! And that's a quick 50 yards to start a drive. All the way to the Vikings' 28. Brees tries Henderson again....incomplete. Reggie Bush off tackle for about nine and it'll be third and short....Bush outside and he'll get the first....flag....holding. Great run though by Bush. It'll be third and 11 after a Saints' timeout.

With all the gushing over Brees, can a Favre comparison be far away? (Via Mal)

Tony will do one out of spite.

"There are quarterbacks who can't do that against air"- Ron Jaworski talking about Drew's 30+ yards 72.7% completion average (Via Esse Quam Videri)

Interesting choice of words there. 3rd and 11....Brees with the pump and go to Meachem....he drops it. FG attempt for Gramatica....

BLOCKED! Wow....and Antoine Winfield is going to take it to the house. How about that for a change of momentum....

7-7.

"So far what we've seen from Reggie Bush is warning track power. At USC he was a home run hitter all the time. If he does that in the pros, he is a star of stars"- Tony Kornheiser

AA - Can we just save time typing and put Tony's comments from the game transcript on line, call it absurd and avoid carpal tunnel. (Via Mal)

I would love to be able to buy a transcript from ESPN each week. That would be fun to read through.

9:09- Thomas again to the 50 on the kickoff!

"Penetrate and get the arms up!"- Ron Jaworski

Sure thing Ronnie! Brees to Campbell for nine and then back to him again for the first. It's a tight end party as Billy Miller grabs a screen....how many TEs do the Saints have? 2nd and 3....Bush goes for 17. First down at the Vikes' 16.

Incomplete to Moore on first and Winfield nails Stecker on a second down screen for no gain. Third and long....Brees to Moore! Knocked away by Gordon!!! Great D there....Gramatica again....

Good! 10-7 Saints...three minutes to go.

ONSIDE KICK ATTEMPT! Vikings keep it. Wow that was tricky.

"This could be three or seven."- Tony Kornheiser on a FG attempt (Via 49er16)

Or two with a safety, Tony.

9:17- Vikings ball at the Saints' 40. A holding penalty on first down will put that at the 35, and Tony is giving us the Gus Frerotte "running into the wall" recap. I still laugh everytime I see it.

Peterson goes nowhere and the Saints D actually looks pretty good so far. That can't last. 3rd and 11....timeout Saints. Incomplete pass and Longwell will attempt a 53 yarder....

Nails it! We're back to even....10-10.

9:23- Vikings ball at their own 19 and Reggie Bush picks up three on first down.

Anyone else notice Tony is awfully easy with the "love" word. If MNF were Pee-Wee's Playhouse and the word of the day was "love" there would be crazy shit going on every five minutes. (Via Esse Quam Videri)

Hahahaha....Chairry's arm rests would be flailing all over the place.

That's the end of the first....10-10.

"That's 5,000 pounds of Williams' on the front line" - Tony Kornheiser (Via SS)

And what a way to start the second! Winfield just grabs the ball away from Drew Brees and it'll be Vikings' ball! Brees is shaking his hand a bit. Wow. Another momentum swing. 1st and goal from the five....

Eddie Gunz actually let the play go this time!!! (Via JFein)

Chester Taylor loses yards on a draw. Horrible play call there.

"Well under the average inside the redzone."- Ron Jaworski
"They're last!"- Tony Kornheiser

Hahahahaha. Got you!

3rd and goal now....incomplete but Will Smith was offsides. 3rd and Goal again from the 4 yard line....

Chester Taylor to Shiancoe?!?!?! Umm okay? It's still six though....

17-10 Vikings

9:33- And Pierre Thomas again to almost midfield! Just kick it out of bounds....jeez. Brees first down pass is batted down, but hits Moore for a first on second. Fumble....Brees gets it back. 2nd and 10 from the Vikings' 41....

"In some countries these guys are picking out furniture."- Tony Kornheiser on Brees and Sean Payton

That's something Tony might be apologizing for later in the game.

"Brees' relationship to Sean Payton has been described by everyone as perfect" - Tony Kornheiser

You know you're an awful announcer when you're analysis reads more like soft core porn than actual football analysis. (Via JFein)

Bush for another first and the Saints are moving it once again......

FUMBLE!!!! Bush drops the ball but he was taken down with a facemask! The Vikings picked it up and it will be their ball. Amazing that there was no call there and Sean Payton is flipping the hell out. As would I and Ed Hochuli is having yet another bad night.

9:44- Hoch and Co. miss another call and Sean Payton challenges it, but I'm sure Ed is hearing about the previous play more than this one. 2nd and 10 for the Vikings....and a screen is knocked down. 3rd and long....

Offsides on the Saints. We'll redo it at 3rd and 5....Berrian with the nice catch and that's a first down in Saints' territory.

"He [Hochuli] drops in my fantasy referee draft."- Tony Kornheiser

Ugh. Peterson gets his sixth carry and gets two yards and Wade drops an easy one. 3rd and long....incomplete. Vikings to punt and justice is somewhat served. Although I do lose 3pts in a fantasy league.

Ed Hochuli and crew badly blow yet another call... gee, what a shock. On Tuesday from his office he might as well already start writing an apology letter to all Saints fans; Ed, references to Bourbon Street and gumbo can only help. (Via Anon)

"You gotta take shots while the box is being loaded." - Ron Jaworski (Via SS)

9:52- Nice crotch shot of some guy dressed up like a luchador. And Jared Allen is hurt. Not Good....Brees hits Campbell over the middle for 22. Bush with another five and the Saints are at midfield in a hurry....8 minute to go. Brees throws incomplete on second down and it's 3rd and five....false start....3rd and 10....

Brees to Bush for a first....FUMBLE! Oh man....bounces right to the Saints. What a lucky mofo. 1st and 10 at the 41....

"They were dooing for Deuce McAllister."- Mike Tirico
"Dooing?"- Tony Kornheiser
"Deucing."- Mike Tirico

Hahahahaha. Deucing doesn't make that line better. 2nd and 10 for the Saints....Screen to Lance Moore but there's a hold on the play. 2nd and 20 now with 6 minutes to go. Brees to Bush and he's going backwards for a loss of four. 3rd and 22....Brees hits Meachem over the middle and he is juuuuuuust short of the mark. And Payton is obviously going for it....

Brees to Reggie Bush on play action and that was just too easy. 1st and goal at the nine. Vikings call timeout. Winfield takes out McAllister on first down.....

Interception! Moore hands the ball to Lieber and Minnesota takes over. Good lord....the Saints are killing themselves tonight.

10:05- Peterson for two on first down but Wade picks up a hard fought first on second. 251-48 yards for New Orleans and Minnesota is leading by seven. Insane. That's the 2-minute warning.

"They were in position to score a million times." - Tony Kornheiser

Hyperbole personified. Frerotte gets nailed but hits a wide open Bobby Wade for 17. Draw to A.P. and he gets a few, but Wade gets a first....or not. Terrible spot and it'll be third and one right at midfield.

Peterson up the middle and he just gets crushed by Vilma and fumbles! RULED DOWN!!! No way and the Saints are going to get screwed again here.....and now the fans see it. Wait...that's actually kind of close. He loses it...gets it back and then it goes out. Here comes the review....

Still the Vikings ball. Hochuli says that Peterson's hand was still under the ball and the Saints' fans are pissssssed.

"The strong hand wins the contest."- Ron Jaworski

Is that a bible quote I'm not aware of? Chester Taylor up the middle for five and Frerotte hits Wade for a first. The Vikings are playing for a FG and didn't they learn their lesson against the Colts??? Bad move....

Or not. Gus hits Allison for another first and he's out of bounds at the 19. And here's a run with Taylor up the middle and if I was a Vikings fan, I'd be losing my mind right now. :18 seconds left and no timeouts for Minnesota....

Gus to Berrian in the endzone....out of bounds. 3rd and 6....incomplete and almost picked off. Well at least they tried right? Here comes Longwell for another FG attempt....

Good and that'll make it 20-10 Vikings with :04 left in the half, which will for all intents and purposes. I'm going to catch up on some Baseball and see you in a new thread shortly.