The New Orleans Saints will meet the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and it feels like ages ago since their Week 1 regular-season meeting.
In the first Monday night contest of the season, the Vikings handled the Saints 29-19, but much has changed since that game.
For one, the Vikings are no longer quarterbacked by Sam Bradford, rookie rusher Dalvin Cook is on injured reserve, and Adrian Peterson isn't taking up space in the Saints' backfield.
"It's night and day," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said, according to Joel Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate.
"You're still trying to find yourself, you're still trying to establish your identity, so that feels like ages and ages ago."
The Vikings went on to finish the year 13-3 and with the No. 2 seed in the NFC while the Saints went 11-5 to win the NFC South.
While the next meeting between the two teams will take place in the same venue as their Week 1 encounter, Sunday's playoff game will have a much different feel.
- With h/t to NFL.com
