Minnesota
Vikings
1-3
20
FINAL
27
New Orleans
Saints
0-4
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a hard-fought battle in Week 5 of the 2026 season, the New Orleans Saints topped the Minnesota Vikings with a final score of 27-20. The victory was crucial for the Saints, as they look to solidify their position in the playoff race, while the Vikings aimed to bounce back after a tough start to the season.
Kyler Murray had a standout performance for the Vikings, throwing for 215 yards and two touchdowns, connecting frequently with star receiver Justin Jefferson, who amassed 122 receiving yards. However, it was Travis Etienne Jr. who stole the show for New Orleans, rushing for an impressive 197 yards, consistently breaking through the Vikings' defensive line and keeping drives alive.
Defensively, the Saints made key plays that shifted momentum in their favor. Bryan Bresee recorded a crucial sack, while Kaden Elliss secured an interception that thwarted a potential game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. Justin Reid led the team with four tackles, contributing to a defensive effort that stifled the Vikings when it mattered most, ultimately sealing the victory for New Orleans.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray | QB | 18 | 9 | 215 | 2 | 2 | 90.9 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 25 | 12 | 174 | 1 | 0 | 84.4 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 16 | 197 | 12.3 | 2 | 68 | 0 |
| Kyler Murray | QB | 8 | 57 | 7.1 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Aaron Jones Sr | HB | 4 | 14 | 3.5 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Jordan Mason | HB | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oscar Delp | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | WR | 4 | 122 | 30.5 | 2 | 59 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 2 | 51 | 25.5 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| Oscar Delp | TE | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Jordan Addison | WR | 2 | 36 | 18.0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| T.J. Hockenson | TE | 1 | 32 | 32.0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Jordyn Tyson | WR | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Chris Olave | WR | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Bryce Lance | WR | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Aaron Jones Sr | HB | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Stutsman | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | WILL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Bresee | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Reid | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Rodgers Sr | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonas Sanker | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Young | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Carl Granderson | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blake Cashman | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Werner | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Emerson Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caleb Banks | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kool-Aid McKinstry | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jakobe Thomas | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Metellus | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Redmond | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaac Yiadom | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mekhi Blackmon | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Turner | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davon Godchaux | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamal Adams | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Domonique Orange | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ivan Pace Jr | WILL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Byron Murphy Jr | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Reichard | K | 2 | 2 | 2 | 53 |
| Charlie Smyth | K | 2 | 3 | 3 | 21 |

