Return to Minnesota No Big Deal for Reed

New Orleans Saint wide receiver Jake Reed is an expert on the noise level expected in the Metrodome this week. He learned all about it first-hand during his nine years as a member of the Vikings.

Not that Reed will feel any tugging on his heart strings when he steps on the field for the first of the weekend’s four playoff games.

“This is not like a homecoming or a family reunion or a pleasure trip for me,” Reed said. “This is a business trip. When I get in, I’m going to do the same thing that I do . . . before every game. I’m not going out to any dinners. I’m not going by anyone’s house.”

For Reed, a third-round draft choice in 1991, there are many memories. He caught 386 passes for 6,124 yards and 32 touchdowns in nine seasons in Minnesota, including 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1994-97. He appeared in nine playoff games while with the Vikings. At one point, Reed and Cris Carter were among the NFL’s most dangerous receiving duos.

So Reed spent this week quickly dismissing questions about his return. The trip to his old hometown is important only for one reason: It takes his new team a step closer to the Super Bowl.

“Playing up there in the preseason is probably the best thing that could have happened,” Reed said. “I got it out of my system. It’s not a distraction. We’re going to go up there and play football and I’m going to do my thing. I have a lot of friends up there--players and coaches and people on the staff. I had a great time up there. But it’s over.”

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Tight end Andrew Glover played in Minnesota the last three seasons, catching 95 passes for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns, including career highs of 35 catches, 522 yards and five touchdowns in 1998, when the Vikings scored an NFL-record 556 points. He started four of seven playoff games for the Vikings.

Glover left after being asked to take a pay cut.

“After being told, ‘We no longer need your services,’ then to come to a team that was 3-13 last year and go from worst to first,” Glover said, “then to get a chance to go back to Minnesota and try to knock them off? That’s exciting. It’s what you dream about.”

CAPSULE

* The line: Minnesota by 8 1/2.

* Story line: If there has ever been a favored team ripe for the taking, it is the Vikings. Minnesota has been outscored, 104-67, in its last three games and hasn’t won a game in more than a month. Meanwhile, the Saints have won six consecutive road games with mostly castoffs. This could be the most interesting game of the weekend.

* Keys to the game: Robert Smith: Everything the Vikings do revolves around Smith and the running game. Minnesota’s gargantuan offensive line should be rested and ready to go against a Saint defensive line that has been vulnerable to the rush at times. Daunte Culpepper and Aaron Brooks: Even though Culpepper had a great season and led the NFL with 33 touchdown passes, he has started as many playoff games as Brooks had before last week--zero. Saint secondary vs. Cris Carter and Randy Moss: While New Orleans shut down the Ram receivers for most of last week’s game, doing the same to the Vikings at home is a different story. The Saints will get their share of sacks, so look for the Vikings to keep in an extra blocker to allow Culpepper more time to find Carter and Moss on outside routes. Terry Allen: Because the Saints have been unable to sustain any kind of ground attack, the Rams almost came back in the fourth quarter last week.

* Injury report: NO-FB Terrelle Smith (back,out); WR Joe Horn (ankle, doubtful); RB Ricky Williams (fibula, questionable). MIN-None.

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THE MATCHUPS NO MIN Points scored 22.1 (T10) 24.8 (5) Points allowed 19.1 (10) 23.2 (24) Passing Off. 208.1 (14) 239.5 (7) Rushing Off. 129.3 (8) 133.1 (6) Passing Def. 191.9 (10) 244.6 (28) Rushing Def. 104.5 (10) 111.8(15) Time of Poss. 31:27 (10) 29:35 (19) Turnover Ratio +9 (8) -10 (T25) Red Zone TD% 50.0 (T13) 54.4 (T8) 3rd Down Con. 42.7 (6) 45.7 (3) Opp. 3rd Down 39.2 (T20 ) 45.5 (30) 3 & Out 22.0 (10) 22.4 (9) Opp. 3 & Out 23.7 (19) 16.5 (31) Sacks 66 (1) 31 (T23) Sacks Allowed 39 (17) 35 (T13)

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--Capsule by ROY JURGENS

* Robyn Norwood’s pick: Minnesota: The Saints have made a marvelous run, but the Vikings’ talent pool on offense runs too deep. Of course, we said that about St. Louis too.