Scouting report: Vikings at Saints

Friday: 3:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Superdome (Ch. 9 and KFAN-FM 100.3)

ABOUT THE SAINTS

• The Saints (10-4) dropped a second straight game Sunday in a 32-29 loss to the Chiefs, when quarterback Drew Brees returned from rib injuries that kept him out for four weeks. They got off to a slow start with a trio of three-and-outs and an interception in the first four drives.

• It was New Orleans' first game since Week 8 without receiver Michael Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve due to a lingering ankle injury. Without Thomas, veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders led with four catches for 76 yards – including a 51-yard deep ball – among 10 different Saints targeted.

• Running back Alvin Kamara's workload has been managed, but his 6.2 yards per touch this season would be his most since his rookie year. He's dealt with a foot injury and hasn't reached 20 touches in a game since Week 8. But his 14 touches went for 94 yards and a score on Sunday.

• The Saints' third-ranked defense is solid, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards (95.6), fifth-fewest passing yards (211) and sixth-fewest points (21.2) per game in the league. Only three defenders – T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa and Aaron Donald – have more quarterback hits than Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson's 24.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT | QB Drew Brees

• Brees, the NFL's all-time completion percentage leader, didn't complete a pass until the second quarter against the Chiefs, saying afterward he's still not healed from 11 broken ribs and a collapsed lung suffered last month.

• Brees, 41, has lost three of his last four games against the Vikings, including two playoff exits via game-winning touchdown passes on the Saints defense. He was playing well in his 21st NFL season before the rib injury Nov. 15, when 49ers defender Kentavius Street landed on him.

• Saints head coach Sean Payton said Brees is healthy enough to "give us a chance to win," adding: "You've got to be better on third down and when you're not, you don't have those attempts, those snaps, that time of possession – all the things you need against a good offensive team like [the Chiefs]."

• Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer on Brees' return: "He looked like Drew Brees to me. He hit a deep ball [to Sanders]. You'd have to ask him how he was starting out, but the Chiefs are a good defensive team as well. They probably had some new wrinkles for him initially."

COACH SPEAK | Sean Payton

• Payton is in his 14th season as Saints head coach with a 141-81 record (.635) in the regular season and 8-7 (.533) in the playoffs and one Super Bowl championship. They've clinched a fourth straight playoff spot and can secure a fourth straight NFC South title on Friday by beating the Vikings.

• Payton's unconventional call to replace Brees with gadget quarterback Taysom Hill, instead of backup Jameis Winston, paid dividends as the Saints went 3-1 while averaging 362 yards and 24.3 points in those four games.

• Payton on whether he uses playoff exits to Vikings as motivation for his players: "Honestly, I don't. And I say this because I feel like the team is dramatically different. It's just different in the NFL. It's an important game, obviously. We're trying to win our division and get the best seed possible, so I think it really becomes more of an internal focus."

• Payton on the Saints' No. 3 defense: "So much is staying healthy, and then you gain some confidence in some big wins. They're playing really well. Now, we went to Philadelphia and we didn't play well in any of our phases there. Quarterback [Jalen Hurts] got outside the pocket and we struggled. But last week [vs. Kansas City], there were a number of things on tape we did well defensively."