Minnesota Vikings Week 5 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New Orleans Saints on Sunday 23-13. It really wasn’t that close. The Vikings are undefeated at 5-0 as they enter their Week 6 bye. Here are some of the players that made the big win over the Saints possible. 

Offensive Player of the Game

Kyler Murray, QB

The Vikings quarterback finally gets “player of the game” recognition. It’s a very welcome development. Kyler Murray finally looked comfortable and played in rhythm. 

24 completions

30 attempts

229 yards

1 TD

10 carries

51 yards

He converted first downs with his arm and with his legs. There’s a lot of room for improvement but Murray’s play against the Saints is close to the hope that many had when the Vikings signed him in March.

Honorable Mention:

Aaron Jones Sr., RB

Aaron Jones Sr.’s game must be mentioned.

25 carries 

113 yards 

1 TD

Through the first five games, Jones has been the Vikings offensive MVP. With the Week 1 injury to Jordan Mason, the Vikings have leaned on Jones in the run game. And he’s done it while dealing with a knee injury. 

Defensive Player of the Game

Byron Murphy Jr., CB

Once again, the Vikings defensive player of the game can be any of several players. Jalen Redmond, Blake Cashman, Dallas Turner, Eric Wilson. Take your pick. This really is a team defense. Despite all of that, Byron Murphy Jr. is an easy choice. He intercepted two of Tyler Shough’s passes. 

Special Teams Players of the Game

Jake Golday

Jeshaun Jones

Through four games, one of Myles Price and Will Reichard, and often both, were easy special teams choices each week. After ending the first half with a field goal, the Vikings special teams opened the second half with one of the plays of the game. On the second half’s opening kick return, Jake Golday forced a fumble and Jeshaun Jones recovered the football. Just like that, the Vikings had a scoring opportunity on the Saints 37-yard line. Six plays later, Justin Jefferson had a touchdown and the Vikings had a 13-7 lead. 

Vikings - Saints

The Minnesota Vikings dodged any possibility of a “trap” game by handling the New Orleans Saints by a score of 23-10. The game felt a bit more one-sided than a 10-point margin. The Vikings defense completely shut down the Saints offense. The Vikings offense finally showed some life. It was a welcome sight. The win bumps the record to 5-0 as the Vikings enter their Week 6 bye.

The Vikings defense and special teams were the main reason for the first four wins. The offensive support was so limited that the only points scored in two of those wins came from field goals. That changed yesterday against the Saints as Kyler Murray showed some comfort in the Vikings offense. He finally played with some rhythm. 

Murray’s game:

24 completions

30 attempts

229 yards

1 TD

10 carries

51 yards

It’s easier to get comfortable and play with rhythm in an offense when Justin Jefferson is a part of it. Due to injuries this was Murray’s first full game with Jefferson. If this is Murray’s baseline play moving forward, the Vikings should be a tough out each week. 

The Vikings defense continues to stifle offenses. 

Some stats against the Saints:

9 first downs

43 total plays

142 total yards

2 interceptions

Last week, the Dolphins ran 37 plays against the Vikings defense. This week, the Saints ran 43 plays. That’s a pretty light load. So light that it’s as if the Vikings played about one full game over the past two weeks. 

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough entered this game averaging about 300 passing yards. Yesterday, against the Vikings defense, Shough threw for 97 yards and two interceptions. The Saints had eight drives. Five went three-and-out. 

Despite being completely shut down for much of the game, the Saints did manage two touchdowns. Each originated from Vikings fumbles in the red zone. After kicking a field goal on their first possession of the game, the Vikings looked like they were driving for another score on their second possession. On third-and-one from the Saints 10-yard line, Aaron Jones Sr. gained enough to move the chains. Unfortunately, he fumbled the ball before he hit the ground. Saints defensive end Chase Young recovered the ball and returned it 27 yards to the Saints 34-yard line. The big play briefly flipped the momentum. For the only time the entire game, the Saints offense played with a spark and some purpose. 66 yards and a two-yard Kendre Miller touchdown. The next fumble was even more sudden. Late in the third quarter, receiver Myles Price fumbled as the Vikings were driving for another score. Saints safety Jonas Sanker recovered the football and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown. On each occasion, the Vikings were on the verge of putting some scoreboard distance between them and the Saints. Each time, the Vikings generously put the ball on the ground. Credit the Saints for taking advantage of that generosity. If the Vikings were more secure with the football, the score of this game is probably 33-0 rather than 23-13. 

While it was considerably improved, the Vikings offense still has a lot of room for growth. With Kyler Murray’s growing comfort in the offense, that growth appears within reach. If they can get some players healthy, the growth feels nearly certain. Receiver Jordan Addison, running back Jordan Mason, and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw should be back after the Week 6 bye. Tight end T.J. Hockenson left yesterday’s game after only two plays with a concussion. He should also be back. That’s a lot of offensive talent returning the next time the Vikings takes the field. 

The Vikings enter their bye week undefeated. 5-0 with a two game lead over their three division foes. It’s a nice place to be. Two of the five wins were against two of those division foes (Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears). Undefeated and two weeks to get some players healthy. It’s going to be a nice and welcome week off. 

Flea Flicker Week 5 Predictions

It’s Already October. It’s already Week 5 of the NFL season. Here are some guesses at the games. 

Week 5 brings the first byes:

Byes: Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings must go into their Week 6 bye at 5-0.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jaguars

Another idiotic international game. London is a second home for the Jaguars so the ridiculous logistics often work to their advantage. Plus, it looks like the Eagles are going through some things. 

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Bears

It feels like the media and fans have finally stopped wrongly calling this the league’s oldest rivalry. For the record, it’s the third oldest after Bears-Cardinals and Packers-Cardinals. Anyway, the Packers are a mess.

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Texans

The preseason Super Bowl contender finally gets their first win. 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Bengals

The plucky Dolphins remain winless.

Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

After a surprising 3-0 start, the Raiders take another step back to reality. 

Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets

Pick: Browns

The Browns continue their surprising run.

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Colts

The clown show with Aaron Rodgers continues.

New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Commanders

The Giants are a couple losses away from J.J. McCarthy starting. 

Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

Sean Payton’s playcalling won’t help. The Chargers finally get their first win. 

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Lions

Lions roll.

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: 49ers

49ers roll.

Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Falcons 

With Lamar Jackson, this could’ve been a real fun game. Without Lamar Jackson, who knows? 

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Bills

Some have circled this as a Super Bowl preview. Both teams have only occasionally looked the part. Its still so early but the Bills have shown a bit more fight than the Rams. 

New Orleans Saints All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings play the Saints in New Orleans tomorrow. The Saints entered the league as an expansion team in 1967. They were terrible for most of their first twenty years. Fans even covered their heads with paper bags due to the team’s ineptitude. It was bad. It was so bad that Archie Manning barely survived the 1970s. Under the guidance of former Vikings architect Jim Finks, the Saints got better in the late 1980s. They made the playoffs for the first time after the strike-impacted 1987 season. The Vikings quickly dispatched them from those playoffs. It was in the 2000s that the Saints truly started to rise. Head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees led them to consistency and success. The Saints got some degree of revenge when they robbed the Vikings of a Super Bowl appearance in the 2009 NFC Championship game. The Saints went on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Since the conference championship robbery, the Vikings and Saints have developed something of a rivalry. On the eve of the big game, here’s a look at some of the best players in New Orleans Saints franchise history. 

New Orleans Saints All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

Drew Brees

Running Back

Alvin Kamara

Fullback

Chuck Muncie

Wide Receivers

Marques Colston

Joe Horn

Tight End

Jimmy Graham

Offensive Tackles

Willie Roaf

Stan Brock

Offensive Guards

Carl Nicks

Jahri Evans

Center

Joel Hilgenberg

Defense

Defensive Ends

Cameron Jordan

Wayne Martin

Defensive Tackles

La’Roi Glover

Derland Moore

Linebackers

Rickey Jackson

Sam Mills

Pat Swilling

Cornerbacks

Marshon Lattimore

Dave Waymer

Safeties

Tom Myers

Roman Harper

Special Teams

Kicker 

Morten Anderson

Punter

Thomas Morstead

Returner

Tyrone Hughes

Minnesota Vikings 2027 Draft Picks

With trades often involving future draft picks, it can be difficult to keep track of which picks a team has in an upcoming NFL Draft. After the trade of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick, I was wondering what picks the Minnesota Vikings currently held in the next draft. Fortunately, the team’s website had the answer. 

Minnesota Vikings 2027 Draft Picks

First Round

Second Round

Third Round

Third Round (from Philadelphia Eagles in the Jonathan Greenard trade)

Fifth Round

Fifth Round (from Carolina Panthers in the Adam Thielen trade)

Fifth Round (from the New York Giants in the J.J. McCarthy trade)

Sixth Round (from the New England Patriots in the Walter Rouse trade)

Sixth Round (from the New York Jets in the Harrison Phillips trade)

***

The Vikings currently hold nine picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. It could bump to 10 draft picks if the Vikings receive a compensatory pick for the loss of receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency. 

The Vikings currently don’t hold picks in the fourth and seventh round. It’s nice to have two picks in the third and three picks in the fifth but it isn’t nice to sit out the first round of Day 3. 

That trade for Adam Thielen before the start of the 2025 season sure was expensive. It felt expensive at the time. It feels even more expensive with the loss of that fourth-round pick on the horizon. Having an extra fifth from that trade does offset a little bit of the pain of not having a fourth. It was nice to have Thielen back in Minnesota but he didn’t do much and was eventually sent on to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The sixth-round pick from the New England Patriots for Walter Rouse originally belonged to the Vikings. That pick was sent to the Patriots during the 2026 NFL Draft in the trade that put the Vikings in position to select Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne. Last summer’s trade of Rouse returned the pick to where it belongs. 

Now, back to thinking about the 2026 season. 

Another Vikings Roster Move

The Minnesota Vikings made several roster moves on Tuesday. None of the moves garnered much attention across the league. That changed on Wednesday. The Vikings signed a couple receivers to the practice squad. 

Jeshaun Jones 

Odell Beckham Jr. 

Jeshaun Jones spent the first three weeks of the season on the league’s suspended list. He joined the 53-man roster last week after his suspension ended and was released from the roster on Tuesday. Now, he’s back on the practice squad. 

Jeshaun Jones joining the practice squad wasn’t the move that received league-wide attention. That was the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad. At 33, and a few years removed from impacting games, Beckham still gets attention. I guess it’s an indication of the star that he once was and personality that he still is. The New York Giants selected Beckham 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He ripped up the league immediately with postseason honors each of his first three seasons. After five years in New York, Beckham bounced to Cleveland for 2.5 years. He joined the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. There, he met and played for then Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Beckham quickly established a role with that stacked Rams team. It was a role that contributed to the team rolling to Super Bowl LVI. Just as it looked like Beckham was going to contend for MVP of the big game, he tore his ACL. It’s an injury that ended his Super Bowl and took away his 2022 season. It was the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024. No team in 2025. He returned to the New York Giants for the 2026 season. The reunion lasted three games. The last time Beckham played near a Beckham-level with the Ravens in 2023. At 33, his days are behind him. Perhaps he can still flash the freaky talent that he once had. Perhaps playing with long-time Louisiana and LSU pal Justin Jefferson will rekindle some of the magic that he once had. Perhaps his familiarity with O’Connell will ease the transition to a new team. 

The Vikings signing Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad is no great commitment. It’s probably more like a prolonged job interview. His veteran presence can be a benefit. He’s a playful individual and his long-time friendship with Justin Jefferson could be fun. I think that he’s too far removed from his impact days for his sometimes problematic personality to be a problem. Some have speculated that Beckham’s signing might be an indication that Jefferson’s ankle injury is more serious than reported. Why does there always have to be a negative reason for a move? I believe that Beckham’s signing is more an opportunity to see if a player still has some magic left. The Vikings offense could use a boost. I think it’s far more likely that Jauan Jennings finally makes an impact as a third receiver than Beckham seeing the field as the fourth or fifth. While it’d be fun to see two Louisiana and LSU legends on the field together, I believe that signing Beckham to the practice squad is simply an opportunity to see if he has anything left. I believe that expectations have been set low. 

Vikings Roster Moves

A 4-0 start to the season doesn’t keep an NFL team from roster moves during the week. As they look toward Week 5, the Minnesota Vikings made several tweaks to the roster on Monday and Tuesday.

The Moves:

Placed G Donovan Jackson on Injured Reserve

Waived:

WR Jeshaun Jones

Released from Practice Squad:

P Johnny Hekker

RB Devin Neal

CB Natrone Brooks

Signed to Practice Squad:

OT Tristan Leigh

Waived from Injured Reserve:

CB Tyreek Chappell

Of course, the most significant of the roster moves is the loss of guard Donovan Jackson with a torn meniscus. He will have surgery and is expected to miss the season. Those that lean optimistic might hope to see him return for a long playoff run. While the Vikings offense has mostly struggled through the first four games, Jackson has been a solid and consistent presence on the offensive line. Paired with Christian Darrisaw, the Vikings have one of the best left sides in the league. Jackson’s loss is significant. Formerly undrafted and in his second season, Joe Huber is first up at left guard. He played well as a rookie least season against a talented Cleveland Browns defensive front. He held up when forced on the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Whether he can handle the job full-time for the rest of the season remains to be seen. He’s the top internal option. Perhaps, the Vikings will look around the league for an additional option.

As for the other roster moves, I was glad that Johnny Hekker was available when rookie punter Brett Thorson came out of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury. Hekker punted in Week 3 and Week 4. He started both games well but didn’t finish them well. It’ll be good to see Thorson back on the field. When Devin Neal was signed to the practice squad last week, I had some hope for him. I really like him coming out of Kansas when he was in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Jordan Mason on short-term injured reserve, the Vikings needed some running back depth. I thought that Neal could provide it. Apparently not. The Vikings signed offensive tackle Tristan Leigh as a priority undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. Through offseason workouts and training camp and bringing several desirable tackle traits, he projected as a roster long-shot. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster but was immediately signed to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad the next day. A month later, he’s back. Maybe he can play guard. 

The roster moves this week leave the Vikings with two open spots on the 53-man roster and two open spots on the practice squad. More roster moves are expected.