The Saints walked into the season looking like one of those teams everybody wanted to believe in. The defense was overachieving, Tyler Shough was part of the optimism, and the whole thing had a little bit of momentum around it.
Then came the embarrassing loss to the Falcons, and a lot of the same problems that have followed New Orleans all year showed up again. At this point, with injuries still hanging over the roster, it’s hard to see those issues suddenly disappearing.
That’s the backdrop for a Week 5 trip into a brutal matchup with the 4-0 Vikings.
Minnesota’s defense has been the engine here. It’s been one of the best in the league, and Brian Flores keeps proving why he’s one of the top play callers around.
His blitz packages can wreck an offense before it gets into rhythm, and that’s exactly the kind of pressure the Saints have struggled to handle. The Vikings offense hasn’t been as dominant as the defense, but it hasn’t been a liability either.
And while Minnesota hasn’t been tested by the strongest competition yet, the Saints don’t exactly come in looking like a safe bet to flip that script.
There is one big boost for Minnesota this week: Justin Jefferson is back from injury. That’s a bad development for a Saints pass defense that already looks vulnerable.
The area where New Orleans might have a shot is against the run, where slowing down Aaron Jones could at least force Minnesota into a tougher night. Jones has gotten off to a good start, though, so that’s easier said than done.
On the other side, the Saints’ offense may have its hands full from the opening snap. The Vikings’ blitz pressure is the kind that can take over a game, especially when the offensive line is struggling.
Flores has a real chance to dictate everything. Still, if New Orleans can buy Tyler Shough enough time, there are openings against Minnesota’s secondary.
That could look a lot like what happened against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter - or it could look like the rest of that game for the Saints.
That’s why the pick is hard to make if you’re trying to back New Orleans. The Vikings’ strengths line up too cleanly with the Saints’ weak spots.
The prediction here is a 30-10 Vikings win, with Minnesota’s defense finishing with 8 sacks. It’s the kind of matchup that feels like too much for the Saints to overcome.
In Other News...
Former Saints Kicker Suddenly Has A New Chance To Prove Himself
Harrison Mevis brief run with the Rams ended after their Week 5 loss to the Bills, when Los Angeles moved on from the kicker and made a change that carries a familiar name for Saints followers. The Rams turned to Blake Grupe, adding him to the active roster from the Jets practice squad as they continue sorting out the position.
For New Orleans, it is another reminder of how quickly the kicker market can turn, especially for a former Saints specialist trying to get back into the mix. Grupe has already worked through stops with the Saints and Colts before landing on the Jets practice squad, and now he gets another chance with a team that clearly needed help in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Telling Week 6 Test With Skid Suddenly Growing
A Week 6 meeting with the Giants arrives at a tricky moment for the Saints, who are trying to steady themselves after a rough stretch and avoid letting the season tilt any further. Even with New Orleans listed as a slight road favorite, the numbers around this matchup speak to how uneven the start has been, especially with the defense failing to make life easier and the overall performance trending in the wrong direction.
The Giants bring their own storyline into the game, staying atop the NFC East after a tie with Washington while Jameis Winston remains under center because of Jaxson Darts injury. For the Saints, the bigger question is how they respond on both sides of the ball, because the recent offensive sputter has left little margin for error against a New York defense that has been forcing mistakes and looking opportunistic. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Pressure Just Reached Gayle Bensons Level
The early-season frustration around the Saints has now reached the top of the organization, with owner Gayle Benson using a public appearance to make clear how dissatisfied she is with the teams 1-4 start. Speaking at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club Luncheon, Benson put the spotlight on coach Kellen Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis, making it plain that the results have fallen short of what the franchise expects.
Benson also framed the issue as one of accountability, saying she shares responsibility for making sure the organization is held to a higher standard. For a team trying to steady itself after a rough opening stretch, the message carried obvious weight, especially with the owner signaling that the current level of performance cannot simply be absorbed as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]