It’s only week five, but the New Orleans Saints are in do-or-die territory. Their upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Vikings will set the tone for the remainder of 2026. Their win is the difference between staying in playoff contention and spiraling into dismay.
The Saints currently sit at 1-3. Morale was high after two weeks, nearly completing a comeback against the Detroit Lions, then pulling off an upset victory against the Baltimore Ravens. However, the tide changed in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders, leading to a disappointing loss.
Following this, their abysmal performance against the Atlanta Falcons on the 20th anniversary of the “Domecoming” left serious questions. Is Kellen Moore the guy? Can the offensive line protect Tyler Shough? Do the Saints have a run game? Can the defense stop anything? As a result, they must reset and save the season, which starts in week five.
The Vikings are a tough matchup, but a winnable one.
Let’s be honest, the Vikings are a talented, well-coached 4-0 team. They are flawed, but their defense is dominant and capable of leading a deep playoff run. The Saints must be firing on all cylinders to win on Sunday, particularly on offense.
The Saints’ defense has been awful these past two weeks, giving up 40 points on average. However, a subpar Vikings offense, despite having Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, mitigates their issues. They’re still dangerous, but Kyler Murray and Aaron Jones are containable threats.
The bigger concern is on offense. Tyler Shough and Chris Olave have been fantastic, arguably the league's top quarterback/receiver duo in the league. Still, the Vikings’ defense, under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, is an existential crisis. Their front seven is a game-wrecking unit that the Saints must contain.
The Vikings lead the league with 16 sacks. A major reason for this is the breakout of Dallas Turner, second nationally with 5.5 sacks, and Flores’ aggressiveness. They blitz 67.3% of the time, according to Sharp Football Analysis. For reference, the next closest team sits at 44.4%.
It’s irrational to believe the Saints’ struggling offensive line will have a clean bill. Tyler Shough will undoubtedly be pressured, but they must contain them and give the offense a chance. If not, the game could get ugly.
This would be the death of their season. The fanbase and locker room are already negative, as evident through postgame interviews and on social media. A devastating loss would be insurmountable and could snowball into a disastrous season.
Although it may seem so, the Saints’ season isn’t over, but things must change quickly. Despite facing a 4-0 Vikings squad, this is a winnable matchup and could decide the fate of the season.
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