After three consecutive 7-and-9 seasons, the Saints are preparing to play in a playoff game for a third consecutive year. Coach Sean Payton says this year’s squad dealt with more adversity…
cut 17 (19) “…would be the comparison”
The Saints will host the 10-and-6 Vikings at noon on Sunday. New Orleans is an eight-point favorite. For the Vikings to have a chance, they will need a healthy Dalvin Cook. The running back has been out with a shoulder injury.

The N-F-L Network reports that if Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale gets a job as a head coach, his top choice as offensive coordinator is LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady.

Yahoo Sports National College Football reporter Pete Thamel is reporting Louisiana Tech will lose its offensive and defensive coordinators. Thamel tweets that offensive coordinator Todd Fitch is finalizing a deal to be next O-C at Vanderbilt. And Tech D-C Bob Diaco is heading to Purdue. The Bulldogs had the second-best red zone defense in the country.

Louisiana Tech basketball opened Conference USA play last night with an 80-49 victory over Southern Miss. It’s the Bulldogs biggest win over the Golden Eagles since 1972 and it’s the biggest Conference USA road win in program history. DaQuan Bracey had 17 points.

The Pelicans have won four in a row and Brandon Ingram has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week. During the win streak, Ingram averaged 25 points a game. Also, Lonzo Ball is now getting credit for a triple-double in Sunday’s win over Houston. Ball was credited with two more assists than what the box score originally showed.