Minnesota Vikings finally got what they needed on Sunday from the offense, and Kyler Murray stole the show
The Minnesota Vikings have started 5-0 on the season, and their impressive 23-13 win over the Saints gives a lot of reason for hope.
The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 after a 23-13 win over the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, and every phase of the game contributed. Quarterback Kyler Murray kept building on his recent progress, running back Aaron Jones carried the offense, and Brian Flores’ defense suffocated New Orleans for four quarters.
The score could have been far more lopsided. Ball security on offense handed the Saints all 13 of their points. Jones fumbled in the first quarter, and New Orleans followed with a 15-play, 66-yard drive against a defense that made it earn every inch. Then, on a third-and-long screen in the third quarter, Saints linebacker Pete Werner punched the ball away from wide receiver Myles Price. Safety Jonas Sanker returned it 87 yards for a touchdown, and the game was tied at 13.
Minnesota answered with a Jones touchdown run and a Will Reichard field goal to put the game away. It never felt like the Saints were going to win, but at times it felt like the Vikings might lose. The reasons behind that are worth digging into.
Kyler Murray is getting comfortable with the Minnesota Vikings
Patience with Murray was always going to be required. Getting acclimated to a new building, a new system, and new personnel takes time, and everyone knew the talent was there. The priority was comfort, and once he found it, the results would follow.
They first showed up in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, when Murray posted 0.588 EPA per play, ranking fourth in the league. The decisiveness carried over to New Orleans. Murray opened 11-of-11 for 106 yards and finished 24-of-30 for 229 yards and a touchdown to Justin Jefferson, who caught six passes for 79 yards.
It wasn’t flawless. Murray missed tight end Gavin Bartholomew on a leak route early in the second half that would have gone for a touchdown. Bartholomew may have run the route a little long, and a play like that requires precision. With T.J. Hockenson in there, it’s probably a catch, which makes it more frustrating because Hockenson suffered a concussion on the second play of the game.
Murray’s legs also mattered for the first time. The Vikings ran for 153 yards, and 51 of them belonged to Murray at 5.1 yards per carry. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell hasn’t asked him to run much, but there’s a difference between designed runs and creating when the play breaks down. That was necessary because the Saints got pressure, especially with Ryan Van Demark and Joe Huber struggling on the left side. Van Demark also wiped out a first down by lining up improperly, adding to Minnesota’s ongoing list of procedural penalties.
Now the Vikings get a bye to heal up before hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. Christian Darrisaw should be back after the bye, and Hockenson and Jordan Mason could return as well.
Aaron Jones is the engine of this offense
The run game has been inconsistent, and Minnesota has worked hard to make it more explosive. Jones delivered with 25 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown.
His first-quarter fumble was costly. The Saints scored on the ensuing drive, and the Vikings went 2-of-4 in the red zone. Without the two fumbles, that number likely looks a lot better.
There’s a fair concern that Minnesota doesn’t have anyone to pair with Jones and is leaning on him too heavily. He runs with a controlled abandon, willing to put his body at risk, and that could catch up to the Vikings down the line. Jones keeps creating space anyway, and he’s thriving in these conditions.
The context makes it more impressive. Jordan Addison didn’t play, and with no Donovan Jackson or Darrisaw, Huber and Van Demark held down the left side. The Vikings still piled up 364 total yards, another 300-plus yard performance.
Brian Flores’ defense bullied Tyler Shough
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough never had a chance. Pro Football Focus’ initial charting credited Minnesota with nine pressures on 45 plays, but the Vikings controlled the ball so well that New Orleans had run just 10 plays in the second half at one point late in the fourth quarter.
Shough finished 16-of-25 for 96 yards and two interceptions, both by cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Murphy stayed with Chris Olave all day and attacked the football. The Vikings forced quick decisions, and the Saints’ receivers weren’t always on the same page. Tight end Juwan Johnson, normally the outlet, caught four passes for just 16 yards.
New Orleans finished with 142 total yards and it felt like a lot less. Flores’ unit attacked linebackers, challenged receivers, and contested passes even when it didn’t come away with the ball, like on a fourth-and-1 slant.
The most telling part is that this wasn’t a big Dallas Turner day. He had just two pressures in initial charting, and he was barely noticeable. This defense isn’t built around one player. It’s built on collective pressure, and that approach looks sustainable.
Overall, the Vikings head into the bye at 5-0 with reinforcements potentially on the way. It’s hard to ask for much more than that.
