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Vikings at Saints Game Observations: Aaron Jones Rolls & Defense Dominates

NEW ORLEANS — Aaron Jones, Sr., went a marching and mashing his way into the end zone.

He refused to be denied, stiff-arming through safety Julian Blackmon at the 5 and stretching the ball across the goal line.

Blackmon had forced a fumble by Jones in the first quarter, shifting momentum for the first time of the game, but on what proved to be the clinching touchdown, Jones recorded his 75th career touchdown and broke a tie at 13 with 14:06 remaining in an eventual 23-13 victory.

Jones also helped send the Vikings offense into victory formation with a late 15-yard scamper as Minnesota wore down New Orleans by possessing the football 38:59, compared to 20:23 for the Saints.

Jones finished with 113 yards on 25 rushes, good for his 24th career game with a "century party" and cruising past 8,000 career rushing yards.

He participated in a postgame interview with Ben Leber for the Vikings Audio Network before greeting dozens of fans in the stands.

Minnesota is 20-4 when Jones rushes at least 10 times.

The Vikings improved to 5-0 on the season, the second time in the past three seasons, and won their 10th consecutive game. Minnesota will now have a chance to rest during its Week 6 bye.

Here are four more observations.

1. Defense dominates

The Vikings defense completely mystified the Saints. New Orleans QB Tyler Shough was limited to 16-of-25 passing for 96 yards.

Shough was getting the ball out fast to avoid sacks, but Andrew Van Ginkel eventually got him late, continuing Minnesota's streak of games with at least one sack to 33 contests.

The Vikings also capitalized on turnovers with Byron Murphy, Jr., intercepting Shough twice. The QB finished with a passer rating of 38.1.

New Orleans only scored one touchdown on offense, converting a pair of fourth downs during the drive, but six of the Saints nine possessions netted 5 or fewer yards gained.

The Saints went 2-for-10 on third downs.

2. Kyler Murray opens hot & shows wheels

Minnesota outgained New Orleans 364 to 142.

Kyler Murray opened the game with 12 consecutive completions, setting a personal best and building momentum from his fourth quarter showing in Week 4.

He finished 24-of-30 passing with 229 yards and an electrifying 15-yard TD pass to Justin Jefferson, who celebrated his homecoming with The Griddy. That pass was thrown into an exceptionally tight window to defeat triple coverage on third down.

Murray also hurt the Saints with his legs on scrambles.

Including three kneel-downs that were each minus-1 yard, Murray finished with 10 rush attempts and 51 yards.

The biggest backbreaker Murray delivered was an 18-yard scramble to convert a third-and-10. Three plays later, he converted third-and-6 with the brilliant TD to Jefferson.

The Vikings went 9-for-18 on third downs.

3. Spreading the football around

Jefferson led Minnesota with 79 yards on six catches, but the Vikings spread the football to 10 different players.

Gavin Bartholomew stepped up after Minnesota lost T.J. Hockenson on the first pass play of the game. Hockenson landed head first at the end of a reception. Bartholomew finished with five catches for 33 yards.

Jeshaun Jones, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday, recorded his first career reception for a gain of 32 as a host of teammates filled in for missing starters.

4. Special teams continue to excel

Reichard extended his consecutive field goals streak to 33 with a 3-pointer to cap Minnesota's first and final possessions of the first half.

Reichard aimed true from 40 yards to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter. The opening possession covered 51 yards across 5:56.

He closed a seven-play drive that covered 33 yards with a 54-yard field goal to make it 7-6 on the way into halftime.

Reichard made his 34th consecutive field goal—blasting a 55-yarder midway through the fourth quarter that would have been great from 60-plus—and trails Gary Anderson's franchise record by one.

Myles Price ripped off a 43-yard punt return, and a major momentum shift happened on the opening kickoff of the second half when Jake Golday forced a fumble recovered by Jeshaun Jones.