Untimely errors and an all-around sluggish performance by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday resulted in their third straight loss.
The Saints offense netted only 142 yards of total offense and nine first downs in their 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Tyler Shough completed 16 of 25 passes for 96 yards and two interceptions, while the running corps recorded 55 total yards on 17 carries. Kendre Miller led all rushers with 30 yards on 10 carries. Chris Olave led the Saints receivers with four catches for 46 yards. In addition, the Saints offense and special teams combined for three total turnovers.
Kyler Murray was exceptional in the Superdome, completing 24 of 30 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 51 yards on 10 carries. Justin Jefferson was Murray’s primary target, catching ball seven times for 79 yards and one touchdown. Aaron Jones led the Vikings in rushing, picking up 113 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
The Vikings defense also played superbly. The Purple People Eaters held the Saints to their its lowest offensive output of the season, their first sub-200-yard output in two years, and their first sub-150-yard performance since Week 2 of the 2021 season (a 146-yard output in a losing effort to the Carolina Panthers). In all, the Vikings defense recorded six tackles for losses, four quarterback hurries, and one sack.
The Vikings struck first, though the Saints defense did just enough to keep Murray and company out of the end zone. Despite Murray completing six consecutive passes, a sack and an illegal formation penalty forced the Vikings to settle for a 40-yard Will Reichard field goal following a nine-play, 51-yard drive.
The Vikings lost a key piece of their offense on that drive. Tight end T. J. Hockenson left the game after the third play from scrimmage. He was diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out from returning.
After regaining the ball via a Saints punt, Murray and the Vikings offense continued to gash the Saints defense, with Murray extending his streak of consecutive completions to 11 to help the Vikings get inside the 10-yard line.
The Saints defense then forced a takeaway. Defensive lineman Khristian Boyd punched the ball free from Vikings running back Aaron Jones. Edge Chase Young recovered the loose ball and returned it to the Saints 39-yard line to give the Black-and-Gold decent field position entering the second quarter.
The Saints quickly pushed the ball past midfield, but they soon found themselves on fourth down at the Minnesota 41. Shough connected with Olave for a five-yard gain to pick up the first down. Three plays later, the Saints attempted another fourth-down conversion, and, again, Shough connected with Olave to keep the drive alive at the Minnesota 23-yard line. The Saints then went to their ground game. Kendre Miller ran the ball on five consecutive plays to pick up the final 23 yards, scoring the game’s first touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the first half.
The teams traded punts, and the Vikings made the most of their return. Myles Price returned Ryan Wright’s punt 43 yards to give Minnesota possession just inside New Orleans territory. A holding call on the first play of the drive and the Saints’ blitz doomed the Vikings, forcing Murray to throw his first incompletion of the day and, ultimately, another Brett Thorson punt.
Minnesota quickly regained possession after a Saints three-and-out, taking over with 1:56 left in the first half. Murray led his team into Saints territory, but Young and Charles Granderson sacked Murray to stall the offense’s advance. Still, Murray recovered from the sack to connect with Justin Jefferson for an 11-yard gain to put the ball at the Saints’ 36. That set up Reichard’s second field goal of the day, a 54-yarder as the second quarter clock expired.
Mistakes from both teams highlighted the third quarter.
The Saints gave away the ball to begin the second half when Jayden Price fumbled during his kickoff return. Jeshaun Jones recovered to give the Vikings a make-it-take-it opportunity to open the frame. The Vikings took full advantage of the Saints’ mistake, scoring a touchdown nearly three minutes later. Murray found Jefferson in the zone for a 15-yard scoring pass, capping off a six-play, 37-yard drive to give the Vikings a 13-7 lead after the extra point.
The Saints promptly gave the ball back to Minnesota when Shough threw an interception to Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., giving the Vikings possession inside the Saints’ 40-yard line. Nine plays later, Myles Price fumbled the ball at the 12-yard line. Jonas Sanker picked up the ball and ran 87 yards for the touchdown, allowing the Saints to tie the game at 13 with 2:49 to go in the quarter.
Minnesota regained the lead at the start of the fourth quarter. A 32-yard pass from Murray to Jones and a 19-yard Jones run put the ball in the red zones. Jones capped off the drive four plays later with eight-yard touchdown run to put the Vikings ahead 20-13 after the extra point.
The Saints nearly took the ball away from Minnesota for a second time in the half on the ensuing drive. Defensive lineman Colby Wooden allowed an interception to slip through his hands on a backward pass from Jefferson on a trick play. Murray covered the loose ball to preserve Minnesota’s drive, which resulted in a 55-yard Reichard field goal.
The teams traded possessions: the Saints turned the ball over on downs, and the Vikings punted. The Saints then gave the ball right back to Minnesota when Murphy intercepted Shough for the second time. Minnesota then drove the ball past midfield before kneeling out the clock.
The Saints (1-4) play at the New York Giants next Sunday. The Vikings (5-0) have a bye next week.
