Vikings 23, Saints 13: Jefferson's Leap, Then Jones From 8

October 11, 2026 - New Orleans - Three defenders in the back of the end zone. Justin Jefferson jumped anyway. Kyler Murray put it in a window Kevin O'Connell later called a two-by-two box. 13-7. Jefferson was back in Louisiana, and the Minnesota Vikings were still unbeaten.

They beat the New Orleans Saints 23-13 at the Caesars Superdome. Minnesota is 5-0. New Orleans is 1-4 after a third straight home loss. Jefferson sat Week 4 with an ankle. He caught six for 79 and that 15-yard score. He told ESPN he "definitely wasn't the most open."

Murray went 24 of 30 for 229 yards and the touchdown. No picks. He ran 10 times for 51. The Saints listed seven scrambles for 54. nflverse has the official rushing line at 10-51. We are using that. O'Connell said Murray was "spitting completions all day and using his legs." Murray completed his first 12 throws, the Vikings said, and 40 of his last 48 dating to the second half in Miami.

A kickoff fumble, a punch-out, then 7-6 at the half

Will Reichard from 40 made it 3-0. Jayden Price then fumbled the kickoff, the Saints said. Minnesota took over at the New Orleans 37. That drive did not finish in the end zone yet. Aaron Jones lost a fumble at the 7. Chase Young recovered and returned it to the 34, ESPN said. Kendre Miller scored from 2. 3-7 Saints.

Byron Murphy intercepted Tyler Shough near midfield soon after. Minnesota did not cash it. Reichard from 54 tied the half at 6-7 as time expired. Two field goals from 40-plus before anyone in purple reached the paint.

Jefferson's leap opened the third. 13-7. Then Myles Price fumbled. Jonas Sanker ran 87 yards. Daniel Carlson missed the extra point wide left. 13-13. Two special-teams wounds, the Saints wrote: the kickoff fumble that became Jefferson's score later, and an earlier 43-yard punt return they also gave up.

Jones from 8, Reichard from 55

Jones scored from 8 at 14:06 of the fourth. 20-13. He had 113 on 25 carries after the early punch-out. Reichard from 55 at 7:01. 23-13. Three makes from 40, 54, and 55. No misses. The Saints did not score again.

Shough was 16 of 25 for 96 yards and two interceptions. Murphy had both, the IDP line that owned this game. New Orleans finished with 142 yards and nine first downs, ESPN said. Chris Olave caught four for 46. Alvin Kamara had three carries for 12 and two catches for minus-6. Miller ran 10 times for 30 and the Saints' only offensive score.

Carl Granderson had 1.5 sacks. Young had a half-sack. The Saints played without starting tackles Nathan Shepherd and Vernon Broughton (illness), the club said. Minnesota was missing Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson after a concussion, ESPN said. Gavin Bartholomew caught five for 33 in Hockenson's place. Tai Felton had two for 27. Jeshaun Jones caught a 32-yarder.

Murray also converted third downs with his legs, including 5 yards when he needed 1 before the 55-yarder, the Vikings said. He threw across his body to DeeJay Dallas for another first down. O'Connell said the game reps are what settled him.

5-0 with a quiet passing night and a loud corner

Minnesota did not need 400 yards. It needed Jefferson's return, Jones after the fumble, and a corner who caught two. The Saints have now lost three in a row in the Superdome. Shough never got the ball downfield. Ninety-six passing yards against an unbeaten club is how a 1-4 afternoon looks on paper. New Orleans was penalized six times for 41 yards, the club said. Minnesota converted enough third downs with Murray's legs that Reichard could attempt 55 instead of fourth-and-long. Carlson missing the extra point after Sanker's 87-yard return kept the tie at 13 instead of a 14-13 Saints lead. That point never came back.

Jefferson laughing about the coverage was the honest part. Murray still fit it. Reichard still made 55. The Vikings go to a bye at 5-0.

AthX Engine on two picks in a 23-13 win

AthX Engine NFL scoring already has the Week 5 Sunday line in. Murphy's two interceptions land at 79.50, the top total in this game. Granderson is 55.50. Murray is 37.07. Reichard is 35.00. Jones is 34.75. Minnesota's team line is 69.25. New Orleans is -5.25.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a 5-0 Vikings club that just got Jefferson back, and for a Saints offense stuck on 142 yards. They move together. They are not the same number.

Track Jefferson, Jones, Murphy, Olave, and both clubs on the marketplace. Minnesota is on a bye in Week 6. New Orleans visits the Giants on Oct. 18.

*Sources: ESPN recap, Vikings.com, Saints.com, AP. Club wraps, AP, and nflverse agree on 23-13, Murray 24-of-30 for 229, Jones 25-113, Jefferson 6-79-1. Saints listed Murray at 54 rushing yards on seven scrambles; nflverse records 10 carries for 51. AthX Engine Week 5 lines scored from nflverse weekly stats (CC-BY 4.0). Information only; not financial advice.*