We head towards Week 5 of the NFL season and somehow the Minnesota Vikings are still unbeaten. Expectations will be high as the team travels to Louisiana to take on a New Orleans Saints team that has only won one game. However, there are reasons for Saints fans to be hopeful and they have some dangerous players on their books.
Head Coach: Kellen Moore
Best Players: Chris Olave (WR), Tyler Shough (QB), Pete Werner (LB), Chase Young (DE), Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB)
Current Record: 1-3
The Vikings and Saints have met 38 times, and Minnesota leads the series 25-13. The Vikings have largely dominated, but the infamous NFC Championship Game started a four-match winning streak for the Saints, their best run against the Vikings. Since then there have been some big playoff wins for Minnesota who have also won three of the last four meetings, reclaiming their dominance. Kevin O’Connell is 2-0 against New Orleans since becoming head coach. New Orleans started the season with promise but have stuttered over the last couple of weeks.
In Week 1, they took the Detroit Lions to overtime and instead of attempting a game-tying extra point, Kellen Moore opted to attempt a two-point conversion for the win – it failed. After finishing bottom of the NFC South for the past two seasons and failing to make the playoffs since 2020, Moore is trying to rebuild this Saints team and the chance to get a win after he only managed six in his debut season as head coach can be admired.
Saints fans didn’t have to wait long though as an upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens arrived in Week 2. Saints fans could be forgiven for thinking they were back. However, three unanswered touchdowns to end the game from a Kirk Cousins-led Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 checked the excitement. It was halted completely on Monday Night Football following a 45-24 humbling by the Atlanta Falcons in their first intra-division game of the season.
Next up is the unbeaten Vikings.
The Saints picked QB Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick in the 2025 draft, and no one could have guessed the quick rise he has had. Shough became the starter in his rookie season, and since that happened in Week 8 last year he has been making a steady case to be the long-term solution at QB in New Orleans. He has been highly productive and shown ability under pressure but right now Brian Flores is the ultimate test for a young quarterback. Flores vs Moore/Shough could define this game.
Shough’s development has been helped by having the excellent Chris Olave to throw at. The Saints’ leading wide receiver is enjoying a great start to the season. He went over 100 receiving yards for the third time in four games this season on Monday night. A perennial 1,000-yard receiver through his first four seasons – an injury-hit 2024 season the exception – Olave is on course for the biggest season of his career with 491 yards and a touchdown so far.
The Saints’ premier pass-rushing threat comes from defensive end Chase Young. The left side of the Vikings offensive line has been weakened with the loss of Donovan Jackson to injury, and Christian Darrisaw in the concussion protocol. Making sure Young doesn’t wreck the game should be a major focus for the Vikings offense. Young has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble to his name through four weeks.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance. 
Know Your Enemy: Week 5 – New Orleans Saints
The Season So Far
Players to Watch
