Vikings vs. Saints
The Minnesota Vikings (5-4) welcome the New Orleans Saints (5-4) to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 12, with kickoff slated for noon CT. The Vikings seek their second-straight victory against the Saints and their first on U.S. soil since defeating New Orleans in overtime in the Wild Card round on Jan. 5, 2020. In 2022, the two teams matched at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, as Minnesota edged New Orleans, 28-25.
QUICK HITS
- Sunday will be the 38th all-time meeting between the Vikings and Saints, and the seventh contest between the two teams in the past six seasons. Minnesota owns the overall edge over New Orleans, capturing 24 victories, including a 14-4 record when playing at home, including a 2-0 mark in the postseason.
- The Vikings look to capture their fifth-straight win and their sixth victory in seven games. Minnesota’s four-consecutive wins are tied with Baltimore and Cincinnati for the second-longest active streak among all teams in the NFL, trailing only Jacksonville’s five-consecutive wins.
WINNING WAYS: Entering Week 10, the Minnesota Vikings’ four-game winning streak is the longest-active streak among all teams in the NFC and tied for the second-longest league-wide behind only the Jacksonville Jaguars (five games). Additionally, Philadelphia is the only team in the NFL with more wins within their conference than Minnesota. The Eagles have won six games against NFC teams, while the Vikings have logged five victories against conference foes. The Vikings’ four wins on the road in 2023 is tied for the most in the NFL (Baltimore, Jacksonville and Philadelphia). When Minnesota scores in the first quarter, the team owns a 4-1 record. The Vikings are a perfect 3-0 when scoring before their opponent. Minnesota, which opened the season with three losses, heads into Week 10 seeking its fifth-straight win and sixth victory in seven games. The Vikings were one of nine teams that commenced the season 0-2, and they are just one of the two winless teams following Week 2 to boast an overall record above .500 entering Week 10 (Cincinnati).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KEEPING DRIVES ALIVE: On 3rd and 4th-and-1 conversions, Minnesota boasts a 93.8 conversion percentage, having executed 15 of its 16 1-yard attempts on 3rd or 4th-and-1. The Vikings own the highest conversion percentage this season. Denver ranks second through Week 9 with an 85.7 conversion percentage (12-of-14). On rushing attempts on 3rd and 4th-and-1 situations, Minnesota has converted on 8-of-8 attempts, accounting for the only perfect percentage in the NFL this season. When passing on a 3rd-and-1 or 4th-and-1 situation, the Vikings have converted 7-of-8 attempts (87.5%), which is tied for the top mark among teams with at least six passing attempts on 3rd or 4th-and-1 with Las Vegas.
THROUGH THE AIR: The Vikings rank second in passing yards per game, averaging 273.4 through Week 9. Miami leads the league, averaging 287.4 passing yards/game.
THROWING THE DISTANCE: The Vikings have recorded 38 completions of 20+ yards during the first nine weeks of the 2023 season, the most in the league. Minnesota has tallied 19 completions of at least 25 yards, tied for the sixth most in the NFL this season. When it comes to completions of 50+ yards, the Vikings have notched three, which is tied for the second most league-wide. Only the Dolphins have more 50-yard completions, converting four through Week 9. The Vikings, along with the Texans, are the lone teams in the league to have at least 35 completions of 20 yards and at least three 50-yard completions through the first nine weeks of 2023.
DOBBS’ DEBUT: QB Joshua Dobbs made his Vikings debut at Atlanta just five days after being acquired via trade with the Cardinals, going 20-of-30 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 66 yards and a touchdown on seven rushing attempts. Dobbs’ 66 rushing yards marked the third-most by a Vikings QB since 2010, and the most since Joe Webb recorded 109 yards on the ground in 2011 at Detroit. Dobbs is only the second quarterback this season to register at least 150 passing yards, 60 rushing yards and at least one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown in a single game, joining Jalen Hurts who accomplished this feat in Week 5 of the 2023 season. The QB also executed a 2-point conversion attempt, connecting with WR Trishton Jackson in the third quarter. It was the team’s first successful 2-point conversion since Dec. 17, 2022, against Indianapolis, and the first-career points for Jackson.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: QBs Kirk Cousins and Joshua Dobbs have combined for 20 touchdown passes in the first nine weeks of the season, tied for the most among all teams in the league (Miami). The two quarterbacks have connected with seven different players across the 20 touchdown passes – rookie WR Jordan Addison (7), TE T.J. Hockenson (3), WR Justin Jefferson (3), RB Alexander Mattison (3), TE Josh Oliver (1), WR Brandon Powell (1) and WR K.J. Osborn (2). The Vikings are the only team league-wide to have four players with at least three receiving touchdowns each – WR Jordan Addison (7), TE T.J. Hockenson (3), WR Justin Jefferson (3) and RB Alexander Mattison (3).
YOU THROW IT, THEY’LL CATCH IT: The Vikings are the only team with two players – WRs Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson in the top 10 of passer rating when targeted (min. 50 targets). Jefferson checks in fifth, with a rating of 124.8, while Addison is right behind him, ranked sixth, with a rating of 123.1.
POWELL POWER: WR Brandon Powell has been a staple in Minnesota’s offense since Week 5. Against the Chiefs in Week 5, he accounted for 42 of his 43 total receiving yards in the fourth quarter. At Chicago in Week 6, Powell caught three passes for 20 yards, and on Monday Night Football against the 49ers in Week 7, Powell tallied a season-high 64 yards on four receptions. His 64 receiving yards were his most since he had 103 receiving yards at Green Bay on Dec. 30, 2018. Powell experienced the best three-game stretch of his NFL career in Weeks 5-7 of the 2023 season, combining for a total of 11 receptions for 127 yards. He topped his three-week performance during his rookie season in 2018 (Weeks 15-17) when he totaled 123 receiving yards on 10 catches. In Week 9 against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, Powell scored his first touchdown as a Viking and the third of his career. It marked his first time with a receiving touchdown in almost three years when he was on Atlanta’s roster (11/29/20).
RUNNING BACK AND RECEIVER: For the first time in his career, RB Alexander Mattison has scored multiple receiving touchdowns in a single season with three through the first nine games of 2023. Mattison is one of just three running backs league-wide with at least three receiving touchdowns on the season. Jerick McKinnon also has three, while Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL among running backs with four. At Atlanta in Week 9, Mattison recorded a career-long 47-yard reception in the first quarter. He finished with 49 receiving yards and hauled in his third receiving TD of the season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE IN OCTOBER: In the month of October, Minnesota’s defense tied for first in forced fumbles (seven), ranked third in yards allowed per game (287.0) and yards allowed per play (4.6), was sixth in sacks per pass attempt (10.1%) and tied for seventh in interceptions (five).
STACKIN’ SACKS: In nine games this season, the Vikings have tallied 24 sacks, including five sacks on two occasions (at Carolina Week 4 and at Chicago – Week 6). seven players have recorded at least 1.0 sack – OLB Marcus Davenport (2.0), LB Jordan Hicks (1.0), OLB Danielle Hunter (10.0), S Josh Metellus (1.0), DL Harrison Phillips (2.0) S Harrison Smith (3.0) and OLB D.J. Wonnum (4.0). During Week 5 against Kansas City, Davenport registered his second sack this season and increased his career total to 23.5. He has recorded a sack in back-to-back games in Week 4 (at CAR) and Week 5 (vs. KC). Hicks earned his first sack of the season in Week 9 at Atlanta, bringing his career total to 14.5.
Hunter, the league leader in sacks this season, has recorded at least 1.0 sack in seven of the Vikings nine games this season, including a 3.0-sack effort at Philadelphia in Week 2 and a second multiple-sack performance at Chicago in Week 6. His seven games with at least 1.0 sack are the most in the NFL this season. Metellus and Phillips each captured a sack at Chicago in Week 6. Metellus’ strip sack during the third quarter was the first sack of
his career. The strip sack was returned 42 yards for a touchdown. Phillips registered his first full sack of the season, bringing his 2023 total to 1.5 and his career total to 4.5. Against the Panthers during Week 4, the Vikings recorded 5.0 sacks, led by S Smith’s 3.0-sack performance, which raised his career total to 19.5 sacks. Additionally, Smith’s strip sack in the third quarter was the fourth strip sack of his career. Wonnum grabbed his first sack of the season at Carolina in Week 4 and notched a second on the first play of the game at Chicago in Week 6. At Green Bay in Week 8, Wonnum registered 2.0 sacks, raising his season total to 4.0 and his career total to 19.0. It was his first multiple-sack performance since he logged 3.0 sacks at Chicago on Dec. 20, 2021.
TURNOVER TOWN: Minnesota has recorded four games with at least one forced fumble and one interception. The Vikings’ four games are tied for the third most in the league this season, only Jacksonville (seven) and Cincinnati (five) have more.
CAM CALLED GAME: Against the 49ers in Week 7, S Camryn Bynum captured his first two interceptions this season, raising his career total to five. It was the first time in his career with multiple interceptions in a single game. He finished with a team-high nine total tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed. He was tabbed the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Additionally, Bynum’s 80 total tackles are the most by a DB in the league this season. Among all defenders through the first nine weeks of the season, Bynum is tied for eighth in tackles.
FORCED FUMBLES: The Vikings have forced 13 fumbles in the first nine weeks of the 2023 season, tied for the most in the NFL this season (Pittsburgh). Minnesota’s 13 forced fumbles are the second most in team history in the first nine games of a season since at least 2000, and the most since the team recorded 14 in their first nine games of the 2009 season. Of the 10 players in the NFL who have forced three fumbles so far this season, three are Vikings – CB Akayleb Evans, OLB Danielle Hunter and S Harrison Smith – making Minnesota the lone team in the league with more than one player that has notched three or
more forced fumbles through Week 9 of 2023.
2 STRIP SACKS FOR SIX: Minnesota has returned two fumbles for touchdowns in 2023, marking the first time since 2018 the Vikings have returned multiple fumbles for scores in a single season. At Carolina in Week 4, OLB D.J. Wonnum’s 51-yard fumble return following S Harrison Smith’s strip sack was the longest Vikings fumble return for a touchdown since Ifeadi Odenigbo’s 56-yard return against the LA Chargers, Dec. 15, 2019. It was the first touchdown of Wonnum’s NFL career. In Week 6 at Chicago, S Josh Metellus’ strip sack set up a 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown by LB Jordan Hicks. It marked his second-career touchdown and his first since he returned an interception for a score as a rookie in
2015. Since 2000, the Vikings have scored defensive touchdowns in consecutive road games on seven occasions. Minnesota’s defensive scores in back-to-back road games in Week 4 at Carolina and Week 6 at Chicago were the first since having touchdowns in consecutive road games during the 2019 season in Week 13 at Seattle and Week 15 at the LA Chargers.
HAVE A DAY, HICKS: At Chicago in Week 6, LB Jordan Hicks led the team with 10 tackles (five solo), returned a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown, registered his 13th-career interception and second as a Viking and recorded a pass defensed. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Hicks became the 21st player in NFL history to return a fumble of at least 40 yards for a touchdown and have an interception in a single game. It was the second time in his career with both an interception and fumble recovery in the same game (9/27/15), and his fourth game this season with at least 10 tackles. In Week 9 at Atlanta, Hicks notched his first sack of the season, bringing his career total to 14.5. He finished with 11 tackles, including two for loss. It was Hicks’ fifth game with at least 10 tackles this season, tied for the fourth-most games with at least 10 tackles.
CAREER HIGHS: CB duo Akayleb Evans and Byron Murphy, Jr., amassed career highs in tackles against Los Angeles in Week 3. Evans notched 11, while Murphy racked up 10. S Harrison Smith tallied a career high in tackles at Carolina in Week 4, as the 12th-year
veteran recorded 14 total tackles, including eight solo tackles. Murphy, Jr., also tied his career high in passes defensed at Chicago in Week 6, logging three. At Green Bay in Week 8, rookie CB Mekhi Blackmon accounted for a career-best three passes defensed in the Vikings 24-10 victory over the Packers. It tied for the most passes defensed among all rookies in a single game this season.
