Galette sacks Hoyer: New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns, September 14, 2014

New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette (93) gets the lone sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) during the game between the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 14, 2014. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)

(Michael DeMocker)

New Orleans Saints (0-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

Kickoff: Noon CT on Sunday, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans

Coaches: Saints' Sean Payton (73-41 career), Browns' Mike Zimmer (1-1 career)

TV: WVUE-FOX 8; Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale.

Radio: WWL (870 AM and 105.3 FM), Spanish broadcast on 107.5 FM

WHERE THEY RANK

Offense-passing-rushing, Defense-passing-rushing

Saints: 2-6-5, 30-32-21

Vikings: 29-32-16, 7-8-18

KEEP AN EYE ON:

KHIRY ROBINSON

It's easy to forget how far Robinson has come since he was a little-known undrafted rookie in training camp just over a year ago.

An injury to Mark Ingram last week offers Robinson a chance to play the largest role in the Saints' offense this week since his arrival. He's likely to get more carries than any other time in his short career (his current high is 13 rushes for 57 yards in the playoffs at Seattle) while sharing the load with veteran Pierre Thomas.

"I'm very confident in his ability to do that," said quarterback Drew Brees. "From the first time he stepped foot in our building until now, he is light-years in improvement in every facet of his game."

Both Brees and coach Sean Payton singled out pass protection as the area Robinson had grown the most. That improvement doesn't necessarily manifest itself in more carries or yards, but it does lead to more snaps. And it also makes the Saints more comfortable with using Robinson as an almost-every-down back, which is what he'll be on Sunday.

SAINTS' SECONDARY

Fans who have made cornerback Patrick Robinson the target of all their frustration for the failures of the Saints' defense may finally get their wish. It appears highly unlikely that Robinson will start on Sunday against the Vikings. There's at least a chance he won't even be active (although recent injury additions could render that point moot).

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas (83) makes a catch in front of New Orleans Saints cornerback Corey White (24) during the game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, September 7, 2014. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)

So what will the Saints' secondary look like?

Robinson effectively lost his starting job to Corey White in the first quarter last week in Cleveland. White joined corner Keenan Lewis and safeties Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro in the base defense, and Robinson returned to the field in nickel sets.

This week, the Saints could choose to make Rafael Bush their nickel back. That would limit Robinson's role to rare dime situations. If Robinson were listed as inactive, rookie corner Brian Dixon would likely be that dime back.

CORDARRELLE PATTERSON

The Saints no longer have to worry about running back Adrian Peterson, but if they're like the rest of the NFL, they likely spent a lot of time worrying about Cordarrelle Patterson this week.

Patterson might not be the best pure receiver in the NFL, but he's among the most dangerous. He's been relatively quiet through two weeks, though he had 104 yards on sweeps and end-arounds in the opener. Big plays are his forte.

"You see some of the SportsCenter highlights (of Patterson) and last night I put on a little (video) cut-up," Payton said. "He is as explosive player with a ball in his hands as there is in this league. They do a great job of getting him in position to touch balls, not just in the passing game, but in the running game."

At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, Patterson isn't easy to bring down, either.

"He's extremely physical. He's rangy," Payton said. "I would say the other thing you can see on tape is that he loves to compete and play. We have to be well aware of where he is, when he goes in motion, all of the places they put him."

KEY MATCHUP

SAINTS' D-LINE VS. MATT CASSEL

After beating out rookie Teddy Bridgewater with a solid preseason, Cassel struggled in Week 2, forcing his coach to immediately reaffirm that his job was safe after the game. (That battle has been drowned out since the Peterson news reemerged as a national story).

Cassel, an NFL veteran entering his second season with the Vikings, has four interceptions and fewer than five net yards per attempt, in part because he's been sacked six times.

The Saints defensive line is hungry for sacks, with only two through two weeks. The line did a better job of getting pressure on the quarterback and Cameron Jordan has had a couple of crucial pass bat-downs. But even when aided blitzes, the Saints have struggled to get sacks.

"We're just try to affect the quarterback in any way, shape possible that we can," Jordan said. "I'm sort of disappointed right now. I'm not sitting where I want to be, and as a team we're not sitting where we want to be."

BY THE NUMBERS

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) watches the replay after a failed drive during the game between the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 14, 2014. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)

412: Yards passing by Drew Brees in the Saints' last meeting with Minnesota, Dec. 18, 2011, in Minneapolis.

25-0: Saints' record when not committing a turnover under Sean Payton.

32:41: Saints' average time of possession through two games, second-best in the NFL.

57.7: Percentage of third downs converted by the Saints in 2014, best in the league.

8,447: Career receiving yards by Marques Colston, who was shut out on Sunday in Cleveland.

WORTH REPEATING

"He understands that he's a relic." -- Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, referring jokingly to his father Steve, a six-time Pro Bowler for the Minnesota Vikings

"Shoot, no." -- Saints coach Sean Payton, when asked if he had reached out to call his friend and former colleague Mike Zimmer, the coach of the Vikings. Payton said he assumed Zimmer had his hands full this week

"You don't prepare for this happening. You don't anticipate it. I wish there was a manual on all these different situations. Really, you just do what you think is right." -- Zimmer, on the Adrian Peterson saga this week

UNIFORM WATCH

The Saints will wear their white jerseys and black pants on Sunday. The Vikings will wear purple jerseys and black pants.

LAGNIAPPE

Kenny Stills' father Ken played his final NFL season with the Vikings in 1990. ... Marques Colston politely declined to speak to reporters for a second consecutive week. ... Vikings offensive line coach Jeff Davidson played for the Saints in 1994 and was an offensive assistant in 1995 and 1996. ... Saints linebacker Ramon Humber grew up in suburban Minneapolis.