Minnesota
Vikings
3-1
31
FINAL
7
New Orleans
Saints
1-3
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a dominant performance, the Minnesota Vikings topped the New Orleans Saints 31-7 in Week 5 of the 2026 season. This victory solidifies the Vikings' status as a formidable contender, while the Saints will need to regroup after a tough outing at home.
Vikings quarterback Taylen Green led the charge with an efficient 187 passing yards and two touchdown passes, showcasing his poise under pressure. On the ground, Demond Claiborne was a force, racking up 129 rushing yards and helping to control the tempo of the game. Justin Jefferson also made his mark, contributing 80 receiving yards to keep the chains moving.
Defensively, the Vikings were relentless, with Jakobe Thomas snagging an interception that shifted momentum firmly in Minnesota's favor. Jake Golday's presence was felt with three total tackles, helping to stifle the Saints' offensive efforts. The turning point came late in the second quarter when Thomas's interception set up a quick touchdown, giving the Vikings a commanding lead they would not relinquish.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylen Green | QB | 18 | 10 | 56% | 187 | 2 | 0 | 128.7 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 18 | 8 | 44% | 128 | 1 | 2 | 47.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demond Claiborne | HB | 7 | 129 | 18.4 | 7 | 2 | 65 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 13 | 34 | 2.6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | HB | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | — | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| T.J. Hockenson | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taylen Green | QB | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | WR | 3 | 80 | 26.7 | 74 | 1 | 60 | 0 |
| Jordan Addison | WR | 2 | 59 | 29.5 | 40 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | 2 | 48 | 24.0 | 25 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Bryce Lance | WR | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Chris Olave | WR | 1 | 23 | 23.0 | 20 | 1 | 23 | 0 |
| Demond Claiborne | HB | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| T.J. Hockenson | TE | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Tai Felton | WR | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Noah Fant | TE | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Jordyn Tyson | WR | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakobe Thomas | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Isaiah Rodgers Sr | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Stutsman | MIKE | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Golday | WILL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Reid | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison Smith | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kool-Aid McKinstry | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Andrew Van Ginkel | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jonas Sanker | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Milano | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BJ Shanks | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kyle Van Noy | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Josh Metellus | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Young | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Byron Murphy Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dallas Turner | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caleb Banks | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Julian Blackmon | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamal Adams | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quincy Riley | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marshon Lattimore | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Blake Cashman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Carlson | K | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Will Reichard | K | 1 | 1 | 4 | 44 |

