Saints’ football fever sweeps N.O.

Tailgating began near sunrise around the Louisiana Superdome today, though the New Orleans Saints’ season-opening NFL game with the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t scheduled to start for more than 12 hours. While the Saints prepared to open the defense of their Super Bowl title, the city was in Mardi Gras mode: schools set to close early and concerts and a parade planned in the French Quarter. Even City Hall closed for the day. Faren Verdin of Houma said he, his cousin Sac Verdin and their wives, Jenn and Melissa, were up at 4 a.m. to get ready for the 70-minute drive. “Pretty much our whole week goes with the Saints,” Sac Verdin said. “If the Saints win, it’s great. If they lose, it’s miserable.” The game matches two of the league’s top quarterbacks—the Saints’ Drew Brees and Mississippi native Brett Favre of the Vikings. The two teams played in last season’s dramatic National Football Conference championship game, won in overtime by the Saints. The Super Bowl victory banner was to be installed at the sold-out Superdome tonight, making the game even more important, Faren Verdin says. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.