On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in the Caesars Superdome. The NFC South squad’s season has been up and down as they come into the game with a 1-3 record. Their offense has shown decent production so far this season, averaging 367 yards per game and 26.3 points per game, good for 9th and 10th in the NFL, respectively. The reason for this production, however, is due in large part to the abysmal play of the defense, which often results in negative game scripts and base
coverage by opposing defenses. On the defensive side of the ball, the Saints rank dead last (or first, depending on how you interpret the metrics) in points allowed per game at 32, with the Lions at a close second with 31.8.
The table is set for a big day
Coming off a contest where they gave up 45 points to the Atlanta Falcons, I foresee this team coming into Sunday one of two ways: deflated after an embarrassing divisional loss on national television, or as a team that is fired up with their backs against the wall, playing to avoid a 1-4 start. No matter how you slice it, this should be a game in which the Vikings’ offense gets a rhythm and is able to build momentum going into the bye week.
The Vikings are in an excellent position to execute a 5-0 start for the 10th time (in the modern NFL era). Out of the nine 5-0 starts in modern franchise history, the Minnesota Vikings have made the playoffs in seven of those nine seasons. Fun fact: history actually favors the 4-1 start for Minnesota, as they have reached the playoffs 100% of the time in seasons where they start with a 4-1 record.
I will never forget
History doesn’t matter to me as much as ABSOLUTELY CRUSHING THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS. I know it’s been almost two decades, but I still haven’t forgiven this franchise for what it did to our most (or second-most) promising Super Bowl Season of my lifetime. It’s crazy to me to think that there are Vikings fans who have never felt an intense hatred or anger toward the New Orleans Saints. I know holding grudges is bad for you, but I don’t care. I don’t care that this is a completely different team with an all-new coaching staff and players. I will be singing the skol song with an emphasis on “run up the score” as I will always be craving more points against the Saints. I want to use more colorful language in describing our Week 5 opponent, but I will refrain to avoid getting fined.
A rune for your thoughts
Instead, I will ask a rune. I am only pulling one rune from my pouch while asking the question, “What are we going to see this weekend when the Vikings play the Saints?”
The rune, which presented itself face-up and in an upright position, was Hagalaz. What does that mean, you might ask? Well, what we are going to see on Sunday, according to the mythical stone, is “hail, wrath of nature, uncontrolled forces, destruction.” That, my friends, is what is in store for the New Orleans Saints.
It is time for the offense to take a significant step
This will be the game where the offense gets rolling. With Justin Jefferson (as of Friday morning) potentially suiting up, I can see a hailstorm of bombs and dimes raining all over the New Orleans defense. This should be a game in which Kyler Murray can throw for 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. Now, this hasn’t been the style of our favorite football team so far this season.
It could also be a game in which we see the running game be more efficient than it has been so far in 2026. Many of us witnessed the Falcons bully the Saints into giving up 5 rushing touchdowns last week, so look for a big game from Aaron Jones. However, I feel like many teams, when an aspect of their defense gets thrashed in a game, focus intensely on that unit going into the next week, so I think a pass-first approach is the way to go this week.
A new kind of monster
The Saints have been playing with negative game scripts and in high-scoring contests all season. They may have an advantage if the game turns into a shootout. However, they have not met this defense full of savvy veterans and the students of Young Nasty University. The wrath of nature will come from the mind of Brian Flores and his defense. The uncontrolled forces include the likes of Dallas Turner, Jalen Redmond, Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Andrew Van Ginkel, Levi-Drake Rodriguez, Caleb Banks, and Big Citrus. Look for this defensive front to wreak havoc and Shough a quarterback named Tyler into oblivion.
There will be nothing left
Destruction will come in the form of the hopes and dreams of New Orleans Saints fans. I respect them for what they have gone through, but they aren’t blameless here. They didn’t tell Greg Williams to put a bounty on Brett Favre, but they sure as hell cheered it on when he was getting crushed on every other play. Ever since that season, the Saints have had terrible luck in the postseason, including, but not limited to, miracles and no-calls. Good. They deserve it, and I wish them the worst of luck going forward.
The frustration of watching this offense fail to score touchdowns in two of four contests so far this season is still in the back of my mind. With our history of kickers in big games, we need to save as many field goals for the postseason as possible. Will Reichard may go down in history as the best kicker in Vikings franchise history, but in order to reach G.O.A.T. status, we will have to see success in the playoffs. He has to emulate Adam Vinatieri’s postseason clutch gene.
To do that, we have to get to the playoffs and put him in situations where he can make those legendary kicks. Field goals against the 0-3 Miami Dolphins are a waste of his talent and skill. Let’s save those for when we really need them against division opponents and in NFC Championship games (or Wild Card games).
I am very much looking forward to Sunday and am hoping we can relax during the bye week as one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the NFL.
Until Next Skol.
