A third consecutive game in the Superdome awaits the New Orleans Saints when they host the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday. The Saints lost their first two of those home games to fall to 1-3, including a humiliating defeat to the Atlanta Falcons last Monday night. The Vikings roll in at 4-0, overcoming some glaring offensive shortcomings in the process.
Minnesota ranks 31st in total offense coming into Week 5. The Vikings have won two games without scoring a touchdown and have scored only one touchdown in their last 32 offensive possessions. However, the Saints have slowed opponents little so far this season. They are particularly weak against the run, where we focus today's analysis.
Minnesota Vikings running game
- 106.8 yards per game (17th)
- 3.7 per carry (24th)
- 2 touchdowns (22nd)
Minnesota prefers a two-back system with Jordan Mason and Aaron
Jones, but Mason (thumb) is on injured reserve. That leaves backfield duties to Jones, who has 297 and 4.1 per carry so far after 548 yards for the Vikings last season. A ten-year veteran with four 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, Jones is a rugged inside runner with still enough burst to get outside or pull away from defenders. Without Mason, Deejay Dallas and rookie sixth round pick Demond Claiborne assumes backup duties. Neither have gotten many touches in the three games Mason has missed, combining for 9 rushes and 23 yards. However, both are shifty backs that offer a nice change of pace from Jones.
Minnesota is a little banged-up along their offensive line. Second-year guard Donovan Jackson, their first round choice in 2025, is on injured reserve. Additionally, left tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion) is ruled out for Sunday while right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee) is listed as questionable after being limited in practice.
Saints run defense
- 147.8 yards per game (30th)
- 5.1 per carry (29th)
- 9 touchdowns (32nd)
If not for Baltimore forgetting they had Derrick Henry in the second half of Week 2, the Saints would statistically be the worst rushing defense by a wide margin. This team has not stopped anyone on the ground, most recently allowing 205 yards rushing to Atlanta on Monday night. Linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf) will miss his second straight game on Sunday, but the team's problems go far deeper.
New Orleans has been unable to seal off rushing lanes or get any penetration up front. Starters Vernon Broughton and Nathan Shepherd have had some moments, but not enough. Behind them, there's been zero competent depth. Hopefully rookie second round choice Christen Miller can create some disruption in the middle, but he's been in and out of the lineup with injuries. At the nose, Miller has been the only one not to be easily pushed around.
New Orleans linebackers haven't been helped by their putrid line. However, Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman need to make more plays in the gaps to limit gains. Both can struggle in space, making the loss of Elliss more painful, but that can be negated a bit with better anticipation. The entire front seven must play with more urgency and far more physicality. They've been consistently manhandled.
New Orleans must tackle better in the secondary and along the edge. Cameron Jordan, along with safeties Julian Blackmon, Justin Reid, and Jonas Sanker, have proven themselves as run defenders in the past. They'll need that level of play against Minnesota to cut down runners on the edge or turn plays back inside, where the Saints must get at least a competent level of run defense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Underachieving Saints defense must stuff Vikings run game in Week 5
