Breathtaking from the sidelines...

New Orleans can't get the yards and they have to kick it away. It's a decent punt and the Vikings will get the ball back on the 20 yard line.

A fourth penalty flag for New Orleans now backs them right up and they've got a lengthy third down to try and keep the drive going.

Right then, what can back-up Saints quarterback Andy Dalton do to reply...

Image source, Rex Features

This time it counts! Alexander Mattison scores with a 15-yard touchdown reception.

Cousins threw the short pass and the running back looked to have nowhere to go before a huge gap opened up and he just strolled into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.

Touchdown! No, a flag in the end zone is against Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and the touchdown is ruled out as the Vikings are pushed back to the 15 yard line.

Cousins has had two goes but the Vikings can't punch it in - it's now third down and their final attempt at scoring a touchdown.

Another flash of yellow floats down onto the synthetic Tottenham turf and it's another big flag against the Saints defence that brings up a fresh set of downs for the men in purple.

Crucial penalties these.

Huge penalty against the Saints, who had another third down for the Vikings but that gives them a first down at the 27 as Minnesota approach the red zone.

First third down of the day is converted by Cousins as he finds tight end Irv Smith Jr to keep the chains moving.

Solid start this from Minnesota.

Nice quick, safe start by Kirk Cousins, with a short pass to receiver Justin Jefferson and a first down on the opening play for the Vikings.

The Saints will get us under way as Wil Lutz kicks the ball to the Vikings and Kirk Cousins, who will get the first possession of the game from the 25-yard line.

Wow! After some powerful, and lengthy, anthem singing, the fireworks shooting out from the stadium roof means we're ready for kick-off...

Image source, Reuters

It's looking a bit bleak for New Orleans on the injury front, as they're without their starting QB, running back and wide receiver for this game.

Michael Thomas was ruled out early, Alvin Kamara will join him on the sidelines and quarterback Jameis Winston is an unsurprising scratch as he hasn't trained all week due to a back injury.

Former Cincinnati Bengals man Andy Dalton steps in at QB.

The Saints have lost Drew Brees and Sean Payton - their Super Bowl-winning quarterback and coach from 2010 - in the space of 12 months.

Last year was the first time in five years they failed to make the play-offs and, beset by injuries (more on that shortly), they have started this season slowly too.

They have played their three divisional rivals in their opening three matches and squeezed by the Atlanta Falcons 27-26 on opening weekend.

Since then, though, the Saints have lost to Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the previously-winless Carolina Panthers in an underwhelming start.

Image source, Getty Images

New Orleans wins the coin toss - but they defer possession and will kick off, meaning Minnesota will get the ball first.

Opera singer Phoebe Haines now performing the United States' national anthem.

And Kelly Mathieson follows with 'God Save the King'.

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the models of consistency in the NFL over the past few seasons - either reaching the play-offs or narrowly missing out.

The latter has been the case the past two years, finishing with a 7-9 record in 2020 and 8-9 in the newly-expanded 17-game season in 2021.

They have beaten two of their NFC North divisional rivals already, stunning the Green Bay Packers on opening weekend before edging out Detroit Lions last time, but losing to the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles in between.

Kirk Cousins is their 'Steady Eddie' quarterback but it's wide receiver Justin Jefferson who is arguably their biggest star, as these three fans will clearly attest to.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite derby defeat on Saturday, Harry Kane is all smiles as he's a huge NFL fan.

Kane will be doing the coin toss today.

Image source, Getty Images

It really is a superb atmosphere here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and plenty of fans cheering on the two teams today too.

It's down as a Saints home game, but there's plenty of purple out here in the stands, and a huge ovation when former Minnesota receiver Cris Carter is announced pitchside for some analysis..

Today's game marks the first of three NFL matches in London during October.

Whether you're gridiron crazy or an NFL newbie, our resident American football expert Ben Collins has put together this handy guide about what to expect.

Check it out here.

Image source, Getty Images