The Minnesota Vikings are still unbeaten, but the offense has not exactly looked like a group that’s cruising. As New Orleans gets ready for Week 5, Christopher Gates of Daily Norseman says the biggest issue has been the play under center, with the passing game failing to find much rhythm even though the offensive line has held up reasonably well and the run game has done its part.
Through four games, the quarterback spot has been the trouble point. Gates pointed to both Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray as part of the problem, saying the aerial attack simply has not gotten going.
Justin Jefferson missed most of the Tampa Bay game and all of the Miami game with an ankle injury, but Gates said there has still been enough talent at the skill positions to move the ball without him. Minnesota did show a few late signs of life against the Dolphins, and the question now is whether that carries into Sunday.
Jefferson remains one of the biggest names to watch heading into the matchup. His status is still up in the air, though he has said the plan is to play in front of fans in his native Louisiana for the first time.
His only other appearance in the Superdome came during the COVID year, his rookie season, when attendance was limited. He was limited in Wednesday’s first practice, so his week bears watching.
There are other health concerns for Minnesota, too. Jordan Addison did not practice Wednesday because of a hamstring issue, though it is being described as minor and not expected to keep him out.
The bigger question is on the left side of the line. Christian Darrisaw is in concussion protocol after leaving the Dolphins game and did not practice Wednesday, while Donovan Jackson is done for the year after tearing his meniscus on Sunday.
That could leave the Vikings without both players on the quarterback’s blind side, a spot New Orleans would likely try to attack.
The quarterback situation has also become a major storyline with J.J. McCarthy officially out of the picture.
Gates said he has “never been particularly impressed” with Murray, dating back to his time in Arizona, and described his first 8 1/2 quarters with Minnesota as mostly rough. He noted that Murray has flashed mobility, even if the Vikings have not leaned into it much with rollouts or similar concepts.
Murray did come alive in the fourth quarter against Miami, and Minnesota is hoping that version shows up again on Sunday. Still, Gates said he would not be eager to commit standard franchise-quarterback money for the next 3-4 years, adding that the ideal path would be finding a draft pick who could solve the position for the next 10-12 years.
If New Orleans is looking for a name beyond the obvious stars, Gates pointed to defensive lineman Jalen Redmond. He said Redmond may still be under the radar outside Minnesota, but Saints fans should know him by the end of the game.
Redmond does the inside work that helps free up the bigger names on the defense, and he can pressure the quarterback from the interior while also being strong against the run. Gates said the interior of the Saints’ offensive line will have its hands full trying to slow him down.
As for how Sunday plays out, Gates expects a low-scoring game and said the under at 42.5 is the strongest bet. He acknowledged that New Orleans has allowed the most points in the league through four weeks, but he does not see Minnesota turning this into a shootout.
Gates believes the Vikings defense will make life difficult for young Tyler Shough, and while the Saints may score some points, Minnesota should do enough to get out with a win. His final call: Vikings 17, Saints 13.
In Other News...
Saints Are Putting Tyler Shough In A Dangerous Spot
The Saints rushing problems have become impossible to ignore, and they are bleeding into everything else on offense. In the latest game, New Orleans managed only 2.6 yards per carry and 50 rushing yards, numbers that leave the passing game working uphill from the opening snap. For a team trying to settle in around Tyler Shough, that kind of imbalance makes life harder before the quarterback even gets to his second read.
Shough felt the effect in real time, facing pressure on nearly half of his dropbacks as the pocket kept shrinking around him. When a run game cannot force defenses to back off, the hits pile up, the timing gets rushed and the margin for error disappears. For the Saints, improving that ground attack is not just about staying on schedule, it is about giving Shough a chance to stay upright long enough to develop and keep the offense functional. [Read more 🡒]
Saints DC Fires Back After Falcons Loss Sparks Defensive Criticism
Brandon Staley did not spend much time letting the criticism linger after the Saints loss to the Falcons. The defensive coordinator pushed back publicly on ESPN commentator Troy Aikmans assessment of New Orleans defensive issues, saying the comments were false and arguing the performance did not reflect what the unit is supposed to be.
Staley framed the setback as an outlier and pointed to the kind of game-changing mistakes and missing pieces that can tilt a divisional matchup. He said he still believes in the players in the room and in the defenses ability to bounce back, which matters for a Saints team trying to steady itself after a frustrating loss. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have A Tyler Shough Concern They Cant Ignore
Tyler Shoughs first injury note as the Saints quarterback is one the team would rather not be dealing with this early, but all signs point to him being available for Week 5 against the Vikings. The left hand issue showed up after the Week 4 game against Atlanta, and it was enough to make him a limited participant in practice as New Orleans started turning the page to Minnesota.
The bigger concern on the practice field may be the collection of other absences around him, including Alvin Kamara sitting out with a back issue and several other Saints missing work ahead of Sunday. Chris Olave was back on the sideline but only resting, which is at least a healthier kind of quiet for New Orleans, though the offense still has a few moving parts to monitor as the week goes on. [Read more 🡒]