WK 05 ~ vs SAINTS ~ Discussion, Pressers, News, Etc.

#Vikings QB Kyler Murray says he believes the offense is “ascending” after a slow start to the season:

“I feel like as an offense, we’re ascending. I think we caught a stride there at the end of that second half there.” pic.twitter.com/XjNVvISpnc

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 8, 2026

#Vikings return specialist Myles Price this season:

• 423 Kick Return Yards (1st)
• 181 Punt Return Yards (1st)
• Only player with a punt return TD

ALL PRO FOUR pic.twitter.com/kCvKr8IqxJ

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 8, 2026

The FOX announcer crew for Sunday's Vikings-Saints game is Adam Amin, Drew Brees, and Kristina Pink.

At halftime, Brees will leave the booth to be inducted into the Saints' Ring of Honor.https://t.co/sh1tDtkpq4

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 8, 2026

Did he just say that Jennings has the same body makeup as Jordan Addison? https://t.co/YmB8jnYTro

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) October 8, 2026

The hurricane is missing New Orleans completely and they are on the clean side (hardly any wind or too much rain on the west side of a hurricane), so the game should be good to go without any issues.

It’s a 10 hour drive for me and I’m off on Monday. Club level seats are around $250. I’m tempted.

Vikings at Saints Week 2019 Playoffs - The very last Viking win I covered with the media before I retired from it (was at SF the next week. Kirk Cousins shows he could come up big in a big game. Adam Thielen are key in the 26-20 Viking upset overtime win. pic.twitter.com/jjHn3C3scA

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) October 9, 2026

Well, here's a familiar face! I sure do miss his content here.

Vikings at Saints Week 2019 Playoffs Bonus #1 - My post game report from the very spot where Kyle Rudolph hauled-in the game winning TD. pic.twitter.com/z7YVFGaA65

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) October 9, 2026

Vikings at Saints Week 2019 Playoffs Bonus #2 - My post game locker room interview with Safety Anthony Harris, who made a key pick off of Drew Brees and returned the ball 30 yards in the Viking win. pic.twitter.com/bjjkiwRIxR

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) October 9, 2026

Vikings at Saints Week 2022: In London, the game was a fiercely-fought close game. MIN kicker Greg Joseph kicked 5 FGs with his 47 yards in OT being the game winner. The Saints kicked a 60 yd FG to send the game to OT and a 61 yd FG in OT hit the crossbar & bounced out. pic.twitter.com/bUg9rE3ztj

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) October 9, 2026

👀

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/Vikeologist/status/2108295885969031360?s=20

They’re both male.

Vikings (4-0) at Saints (1-3)

MIN -2.5 (41.5 O/U)

What we're hearing on the Vikings: RB Aaron Jones Sr. is entering what is likely the final week of the heaviest early-season workload in his career. He has taken 72 carries through four games, seven more than his previous high (65 in 2020) and nearly double his previous nine-year average. Backup Jordan Mason's fractured thumb, and the slow introduction for rookie Demond Claiborne, has left Jones as the Vikings' only reliable runner. Mason is expected to return after the Vikings' Week 6 bye, and while coaches have lauded Jones' grit and stamina, he will benefit from the reduced workload. -- Kevin Seifert

What we're hearing on the Saints: The Saints are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Falcons on Monday, but they believe the team has responded well in the days since. The Saints will have to figure out how to jump-start their run game and correct some defensive mistakes to rebound. Saints edge rusher Chase Young said players are upset with how they played in Week 4. "And that's what you want to see. Dudes who have a sour taste in their mouth, dudes who are mad about it. I hope you mad, you get punched in your mouth, hopefully you ain't smiling," he said. -- Katherine Terrell

Stat to know: The Vikings' defense is allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game, their best mark through four games since 2016 (12.5). -- ESPN Research

Bold prediction: The Saints will win by double digits. As remarkable as the Vikings' defense has been, it's hard to win week after week with a struggling offense. Kyler Murray has been at the helm only part of the time, but he ranks last in the league in QBR (27.6). I think this is the week it finally catches up with Minnesota. -- Walder

Why you should watch this game: The Saints are 4-for-4 on watchable games this season. There were late comebacks against the Lions (loss) and Ravens (win), a barnburner against the Raiders and a hilariously bad run defense against Falcons last week. This is the tune-in team of the season! -- Solak

Injuries: Vikings | Saints

Fantasy nugget: Jones has seen at least 22 touches in three consecutive games with Mason sidelined. He now faces a Saints defense allowing the most fantasy points per game to RBs. Minnesota's offensive line ranks third in run block win rate and should be able to impose its will on New Orleans' defensive front. See Week 5 rankings. -- Moody

Betting insight: The under is 7-2 in Saints home games under coach Kellen Moore. Minnesota's relentless pressure can overwhelm New Orleans' depleted offensive line, leaving Shough little time to find WR Chris Olave downfield. Minnesota's own protection issues and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson's potential absence should make scoring difficult for Murray, too. Read more. -- Maldonado

Maldonado's pick: Saints 23, Vikings 17
Moody's pick: Vikings 26, Saints 23
Walder's pick: Saints 23, Vikings 13
FPI prediction: MIN, 55.1% (by an average of 1.3 points)

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/SeifertESPN/status/2108546562385494186?s=20
Vikings (4-0) at Saints (1-3)MIN -2.5 (41.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Vikings: RB Aaron Jones Sr. is entering what is likely the final week of the heaviest early-season workload in his career. He has taken 72 carries through four games, seven more than his previous high (65 in 2020) and nearly double his previous nine-year average. Backup Jordan Mason's fractured thumb, and the slow introduction for rookie Demond Claiborne, has left Jones as the Vikings' only reliable runner. Mason is expected to return after the Vikings' Week 6 bye, and while coaches have lauded Jones' grit and stamina, he will benefit from the reduced workload. -- Kevin Seifert
What we're hearing on the Saints: The Saints are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Falcons on Monday, but they believe the team has responded well in the days since. The Saints will have to figure out how to jump-start their run game and correct some defensive mistakes to rebound. Saints edge rusher Chase Young said players are upset with how they played in Week 4. "And that's what you want to see. Dudes who have a sour taste in their mouth, dudes who are mad about it. I hope you mad, you get punched in your mouth, hopefully you ain't smiling," he said. -- Katherine Terrell
Stat to know: The Vikings' defense is allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game, their best mark through four games since 2016 (12.5). -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Saints will win by double digits. As remarkable as the Vikings' defense has been, it's hard to win week after week with a struggling offense. Kyler Murray has been at the helm only part of the time, but he ranks last in the league in QBR (27.6). I think this is the week it finally catches up with Minnesota. -- Walder
Why you should watch this game: The Saints are 4-for-4 on watchable games this season. There were late comebacks against the Lions (loss) and Ravens (win), a barnburner against the Raiders and a hilariously bad run defense against Falcons last week. This is the tune-in team of the season! -- Solak
Injuries: Vikings | Saints
Fantasy nugget: Jones has seen at least 22 touches in three consecutive games with Mason sidelined. He now faces a Saints defense allowing the most fantasy points per game to RBs. Minnesota's offensive line ranks third in run block win rate and should be able to impose its will on New Orleans' defensive front. See Week 5 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The under is 7-2 in Saints home games under coach Kellen Moore. Minnesota's relentless pressure can overwhelm New Orleans' depleted offensive line, leaving Shough little time to find WR Chris Olave downfield. Minnesota's own protection issues and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson's potential absence should make scoring difficult for Murray, too. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Saints 23, Vikings 17
Moody's pick: Vikings 26, Saints 23
Walder's pick: Saints 23, Vikings 13
FPI prediction: MIN, 55.1% (by an average of 1.3 points)

The sports media is just waiting for the other shoe to drop and have Minnesota's lack of offense cost them a game. Will they be right?

New Ep of @AlecLewisShow with @PeteBercich talking Vikings offense, Kyler, Saints matchup, what impressed him the most about the defense and more: https://t.co/GAZJy6ZV47

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) October 9, 2026

No one should ever talk bad about Aaron Jones. The guy is a warrior. https://t.co/Y0IR0nzIjv

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) October 9, 2026

Good morning Vikings fans, it’s time to invade New Orleans and paint the city PURPLE! 💜💛 Let’s show up, get loud, and support our boys! Who’s rolling to New Orleans? Drop a SKOL! 🏈 #skol pic.twitter.com/8hl5UpROgz

— Jake Reed (@JakeReed86) October 9, 2026

The Saints' passing game is legitimately good. Tyler Shough is playing at a high level. Olave is awesome. Vele and Johnson are nice complementary weapons.

But with Etienne out, they can't run the ball. And when you can't run the ball against the Vikings, you're probably in…

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 9, 2026

Whatever they do quit wearing white socks with white pants. Looks like yoga pants. Socks should always be a different color than the pants. https://t.co/Sx8mbTeRyn

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) October 9, 2026

Let’s get back to this! #BringBackWobby https://t.co/mtGVdDtCmr

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) October 9, 2026