Justin Jefferson wasted no time making his presence felt again, and Aaron Jones cleaned up his own early mistake with a touchdown that helped keep Minnesota perfect.
Those two plays bookended a 23-13 Vikings win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the Superdome, a game in which Minnesota leaned on big moments, a sturdy defense and enough ball security from Kyler Murray to improve to 5-0. New Orleans dropped to 1-4 and suffered a third straight loss at home.
Jefferson, back after missing Week 4 with an ankle injury, hauled in six catches for 79 yards and turned Murray’s 15-yard strike into a touchdown by climbing over three defenders in the back of the end zone. Jones finished with 113 yards on 25 carries and answered an early fumble by scoring in the fourth quarter.
Murray threw for 229 yards and a touchdown without a turnover, while also rushing for 51 yards. Will Reichard gave Minnesota breathing room by drilling all three of his field-goal tries from 40 yards or longer, including a 55-yarder that pushed the Vikings ahead by 10 in the fourth quarter and effectively slammed the door.
The Vikings did most of their damage against a Saints team that never could get comfortable with the ball. New Orleans managed just 142 yards of offense and got only one offensive touchdown. Tyler Shough was picked off twice and finished with 96 passing yards.
Turnovers kept flipping the game around all afternoon.
Minnesota lost control of a drive when Jones fumbled at the New Orleans 7, and the Saints recovered through Chase Young before Kendre Miller finished the possession with a 2-yard touchdown run to give New Orleans a 7-6 halftime lead. Reichard answered before the break with a 54-yard field goal.
Then the second half turned messy fast. On the opening kickoff, Saints returner Jayden Price was stripped, and Minnesota took over at the New Orleans 37. That led to Jefferson’s touchdown catch.
Not long after, Shough tried to escape to his right and was intercepted by Byron Murphy Jr. near midfield. Minnesota’s Myles Price then fumbled it back to Jonas Sanker, who took it 87 yards for a Saints touchdown. Daniel Carlson missed the extra point, leaving the game tied at 13.
The Saints’ other touchdown came from Sanker’s return, but the Vikings’ defense still limited New Orleans to one offensive score and kept the pressure on all game.
Minnesota, which entered the day allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game, made that number look real again.
Halftime also brought a celebration for Drew Brees, who received his Hall of Fame ring and was added to the Saints’ Ring of Honor. Brees was greeted with a loud ovation when he came onto the field in his gold Hall of Fame jacket, then got his ring from Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to represent this city, this community, this fan base and our organization,” Brees said. “I will always love you, New Orleans. I will always represent you.”
The Vikings also had a scare when tight end T.J. Hockenson was helped off after hitting his head hard on the turf while being tackled during a 7-yard catch.
New Orleans visits the New York Giants next Sunday.
In Other News...
Vikings Defense Is Starting To Look Like Every Offenses Nightmare
Minnesotas defense spent Sunday looking like the kind of unit opposing offenses would rather avoid altogether. In a 23-13 win over the Saints, Byron Murphy Jr. turned in a strong night in the secondary, while linebacker Blake Cashman and the rest of the group helped keep New Orleans out of rhythm and fed a Vikings team that went into its bye week without a loss.
What made it stand out was how little the Saints were able to build, even with a young quarterback trying to settle in. Tyler Shough never found much room to operate, and Minnesotas coverage and pursuit kept the pressure on from start to finish. Murphys two interceptions were the headline, but the bigger story for the Vikings is that this defense is starting to look consistent enough to carry real weight as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Stay Unbeaten As Their Defense Sends A Clear Message
The Vikings kept their unbeaten start alive Sunday with a 23-13 win over the Saints, and once again the story was about a defense that keeps making life miserable for opponents. Minnesotas offense did enough to stay in control, but the tone of the game was set by a unit that never let New Orleans find much rhythm and helped push the Vikings to 5-0 heading into their Week 6 bye.
Aaron Jones gave Minnesota an important fourth-quarter cushion with an 8-yard touchdown run, and Will Reichard later added a 55-yard field goal to help close it out. For a team that keeps stacking wins while waiting for its next test, the bigger message is getting harder to miss: the Vikings are not just surviving the early season, theyre dictating how games are played. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jefferson Just Lost A Record To A Vikings Rival
Justin Jefferson has long been the benchmark for early-career production at wide receiver, but one of his records has now been overtaken by a familiar NFC North rival. Amon-Ra St. Brown has kept piling up catches since entering the league in 2021, and his steady output has put him in position to pass a mark that once belonged to Jefferson.
The new standard arrived during the Lions Week 5 game and was later confirmed by Detroits public relations account, underscoring just how consistent St. Brown has been from the start. For the Vikings, it is another reminder that the divisions top pass catchers are still trading blows, and Jeffersons place atop that list no longer looks quite as secure. [Read more 🡒]