New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore has words with field judge Jabir Walker (26) during the first half of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The New Orleans Saints (1-3) host the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) Sunday at noon at Caesars Superdome. Here are four key factors it will take for Saints to get back in the win column.
**Bouncing back**
The Saints have to put forth a better effort than they did Monday in loss to the Falcons. We’ll learn a lot about the Saints. Yeah, it’s just the fifth game. But this could be a season-defining one. Are the Saints really as bad as they looked six days ago? Or was that just a bad day at the office? How the Saints respond will provide some much-needed answers. Players admitted this week how embarrassing the Atlanta last loss was. “We didn’t play to our standard,” DE Chase Young said. Now it’s time for them to prove it. The effort, especially on defense, will have to be better.
**Keep Shough clean**
If the Saints have any chance of handing the Vikings their first loss, they will have to keep Tyler Shough upright. He has been sacked 12 times this season (an average of three times per game). Now he faces the team that leads the NFL in sacks (16). Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves to bring the heat, so the Saints’ offensive line will be tested like they’ve never been tested before. The Vikings’ pressure rate (47.4 %) leads the NFL. Their blitz rate (67.9%) also is tops in the league. It could make for a long afternoon if Shough doesn’t have time to throw.
**Ground attack**
Sorry if you’ve heard this one before, but the Saints must get the ground game going. They rank 27th in rushing (88.5 yards per game). If the Saints can run effectively, it can keep them out of third and long situations. The Vikings’ defense feasts on obvious passing downs. The Saints rushed for just 50 yards last week (2.6 yards per carry). That won get it done against the league’s stingiest defense. The Vikings are allowing just 12.8 points per game. They held the Chicago Bears to a field goal in a 9-3 Week 2 win. Points will be hard to come by, especially if the Saints can’t run.
**Keep Vikings’ offense in check**
The Vikings’ offense is far from potent. Despite their 4-0 record, they have two wins where the offense didn’t score a touchdown. So they are far from invincible, although Destrehan High alum Justin Jefferson could return from his ankle injury. Jefferson has played just 19 snaps with QB Kyler Murray. Last season while playing with the Arizona Cardinals, Murray threw for 163 yards and two TDS and rushed for 38 yards to beat the Saints in the season opener. Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson caught 13 passes last week against Miami. Tight ends have given the Saints problems. Saints must limit the big plays.
_This Saints coverage is presented in part by BankPlus._