Here's What Should Scare the Vikings About the Saints

If opposites attract in the NFL the way the cliche says they do when it comes to making a love match, the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints could bring out the best in each other when they meet in the Superdome in Week 5.

The Saints certainly can move the ball on offense and they have developed a solid passing offense behind QB Tyler Shough. He has thrown for 1,203 yards in his first four games of the season, averaging 300.8 yards per game. That’s a figure that has to make Kevin O’Connell’s mouth water since the Vikings have the least productive passing offense in the NFL.

Shough is completing 67.2 percent of his passes and he has a 9-3 TD-interception ratio. He leads an offense that can clearly pick up big chunks of yardage through the air.

He has a brilliant partner in crime in WR Chris Olave, who has caught 35 passes for 491 yards with a long of 47 yards and 1 touchdown. The Saints are also getting quite a bit of support from TE Juwan Johnson, who has caught 21 passes for 232 yards with 3 TDs. He can be a solid target for Shough on third-down plays.

The running game is limited at this point because Travis Etienne is on Injured Reserve with a hamstring issue and that means Alvin Kamara must carry the load. While he was explosive earlier and once had a six-TD game against the Vikings in his career, the 31-year-old is pedestrian at this point. After running for 471 yards and 3.6 yards per carry last year, he has just 74 yards and 3.0 yards per carry this year.

Vikings defense will get tested, but should be ready for Saints

The passing game will test the Vikings’ top-rated defense, and it would appear that defensive coordinator Brian Flores and edge rusher Dallas Turner are looking forward to the matchup. The Saints may be explosive, but they turn the ball over.

The Vikings are tied for second with the Chiefs at plus-5 in turnover differential, while the Saints are minus-5 in that key category. The only team worse is the Indianapolis Colts at minus-6. This category could be the determining factor in the outcome of the game.

The Vikings are certainly hoping that their offense will finally show some improvement and that the possible return of Justin Jefferson (sprained ankle) can give the Vikings’ 32nd-ranked passing game a desperate lift.

The Vikings need Kyler Murray to build off the fourth quarter he had in the Week 4 win over the Dolphins and give them a solid 60 minutes under center. The Saints struggle on defense and they rank dead last by allowing an average of 32.0 points per game.

The Vikings have certainly had their offensive issues to this point, but they should have an opportunity to take a step forward against a defense that has shown little ability to stop any opponent to this point.