Saints Defense Must Cause Havoc Against Battered Vikings Offense

A big-play Saints defense must avoid a slow start and capitalize on matchup advantages against a wounded but dangerous Vikings offense.

The 5-4 New Orleans Saints travel to face the 5-4 Minnesota Vikings in a critical Week 10 matchup between NFC playoff hopefuls. New Orleans comes in as winners of two straight and holds first place in the NFC South. Minnesota is riding a four-game winning streak and has won five of six to sit in second place in the NFC North.

New Orleans has come on offensively in recent weeks after huge struggles there through the first six games. The Saints were carried by their defense early on, but it's a unit that's shown some vulnerability recently. New Orleans still ranks seventh in total defense, allowing 19 points and 304 total yards per contest. They've also forced the most turnovers in the league (18) while ranking fourth on third downs. 

Hosting the Saints is a battered Minnesota offense that's missing three top-tier starters and could be without as many as three more on Sunday. On the year, the Vikings average 355 yards of total offense (ranking = 13th) and 22.9 points (15th) per game. However, QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) and RB Cam Akers (knee) are out for the year, with star WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) likely still sidelined. Additionally, TE T.J. Hockenson, LT Christian Darrisaw, and WR K.J. Osborn may also be out on Sunday with injuries. 

Here's a look at how these two units match up against each other when these teams square off on Sunday. 

Vikings Offense 

Passing Attack = 274 yards/game (2nd)

• 20 touchdowns (1st)

• 5 interceptions 

• 22 sacks

Rushing Attack = 81.3 yards/game (29th)

• 2 touchdowns (31st)

• 3.7 per carry (27th)

• 17 turnovers (30th)

Nov 5, 2023; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY

Just five days after joining the Vikings in a trade, QB Joshua Dobbs came off the bench and led his new team to a win at Atlanta. Dobbs completed 20 of 30 throws for 158 yards and two scores in the victory while adding another 66 yards on the ground. 

Dobbs, 28, has been with seven different franchises over his seven-year career. He's just 1-9 as a starter, appearing in 17 games while completing 62% of his throws for 2,183 yards with 12 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and 399 yards rushing. 

Minnesota hasn't given either Cousins or Dobbs much of a supportive running attack. Even while coming off a season-high 146 yards rushing, the Vikings have been held under 75 yards on the ground in six of their nine contests.

Alexander Mattison is Minnesota's leading rusher and will carry even more of the load with Cam Akers gone for the year. Mattison has 434 yards on the ground, but no rushing touchdowns and just 3.6 per carry. He's rushed for over 90 yards twice this year, but produced under 50 yards on the ground in the other seven games. Second-year RB Ty Chandler backs him up. Chandler has just eight carries for 42 yards.

Mattison runs angry, but is also most effective off-tackle and in space. He's an accomplished receiver as well, catching 23 passes for 158 yards and three scores. With a banged-up receiving corps, Mattison may get even more looks in the passing game. 

Oct 29, 2023; Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23). Mandatory Credit: Wm. Glasheen-USA TODAY Sports

All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson is listed as questionable after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury. He had 36 receptions for 571 yards in just five games before being hurt. It seems unlikely that Jefferson plays, but is perhaps the NFL's most complete wideout and will be a huge challenge  if he does. 

Without Jefferson, 2023 first-round choice Jordan Addison has stepped up in a big way. Addison has 41 receptions, 534 yards, and a team-high seven touchdowns. He's had 19 catches for 285 and three scores while Jefferson has been out. Addison can be overwhelmed by physical man coverage, but is a slick route runner with excellent athletic ability. 

K.J. Osborn has been the Number 2 wideout in Jefferson's absence. More suited as a Number 3, Osborn is a fine complement to the passing attack. He has 32 receptions for 377 yards so far and looks like he'll play after clearing concussion protocols on Friday. Fifth-year journeyman Brandon Powell provides speedy depth in the slot. 

Fifth-year TE T.J. Hockenson is one of the league's best at his position and a mismatch for most defenses. Hockenson has 547 yards with three scores on a team-high 60 receptions and is a threat at every level. He's also dealing with a rib injury that limited him in practice this week. Backup Josh Oliver is a fantastic backup, but has just 12 catches for 71 yards.

Oct 23, 2023; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) runs after the catch against the San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57). Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY

Minnesota's offensive line has been erratic this year. Surprising considering the talent they have up front. Tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill are big-bodied athletes capable of silencing edge rushers. Center Garrett Bradbury, LG Dalton Risner, and RG Ed Ingram are all accomplished linemen but have performed below expectations. 

Minnesota ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing touchdowns and average per carry. They've also allowed seven sacks and 18 pressures in their last two games.

Saints Defense 

vs. Pass = 192 yards/game (7th)

• 57.8% completion percentage 

• 12 interceptions (1st)

• 17 sacks/41 QB hits 

vs. Run = 112.3 yards/game (17th)

• 4.4 per carry (24th)

• 31 tackles for loss 

• 18 turnovers (1st)

Jan 5, 2020; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94). Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY

New Orleans has yet to surrender a 100-yard rusher in 2023, but has shown some vulnerability in that area recently. Especially against running quarterbacks, where astonishing breakdowns take place weekly. 

Surprisingly, the Saints also rank near the bottom of the league in sacks and pressures. Their lack of pass rush has allowed opposing quarterbacks to get into a rhythm, especially early in the last several games.

Fifth-year DE Carl Granderson is having a terrific year and has been the most consistent performer on the defensive line. Granderson leads the team in sacks (5.5), QB hits (13), and tackles for loss (10), all career-best marks. He can get pushed around a bit in the running game, but plays with a non-stop motor.

Saints legend Cameron Jordan is having a quiet year statistically but is still the league's best edge defender against the run. As a pass rusher, he has only two sacks and six QB hits despite a team-high 16 pressures. With Jordan, sacks usually come in bunches, but he needs to finish plays better to upgrade the defense. 

A revamped defensive tackle spot has paid nice dividends for the Saints. Rookie first-round pick Bryan Bresee looks like a potential star in spite of a few quiet performances recently. Bresee has 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, seven pressures, and a team-high five pass deflections.

Nathan Shepherd has been an outstanding free-agent addition. Shepherd has been strong against the run and has two sacks with four QB hits. Malcolm Roach and Khalen Saunders round out a deep interior rotation that has effectively clogged inside rushing lanes but need to create better disruption against the pass. 

Jan 5, 2020; New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33). Mandatory Credit: Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner make a nearly elite tandem equally effective against the run, as blitzers, or in any type of coverage. Werner is Davis' running mate and is never out of position. He flows decisively to the ball in pursuit and has the strength to stalemate blockers at the point of attack. 

Davis is having another standout season. He leads the team in total tackles and solo stops while adding three sacks, nine pressures, and three passes broken up. The leader of the defense, Davis combines elite instincts with a tenacious pursuit of the ball. 

New Orleans has arguably the deepest and most talented secondary in the NFL. Elite CB Marshon Lattimore has shown some inconsistencies, but is capable of locking down an opponent’s top wideout. Lattimore has one interception, eight passes broken up, and allows 56.5% completion percentage when targeted. 

Oct 29, 2023; New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) intercepts a pass against the Indianapolis Colts. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Second-year CB Alontae Taylor has had some ups and downs adapting to a primary slot coverage role. However, the physical Taylor has come on strong lately and has a sack, four tackles for loss, eight passes broken up, and 59.6% completion rate against him this year.

Third-year CB Paulson Adebo is having a spectacular season and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors last week. Adebo has a team-high four interceptions, has broken up 11 throws, forced two fumbles and recovered two others while allowing 53.5% completion percentage in man coverage. 

Safeties Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu make a versatile tandem capable of big plays. Both have solid coverage range, with Mathieu still able to play in the slot and Maye adding a physical element against the run. The two have combined for three interceptions, seven passes broken up, and 59 total tackles. Rookie Jordan Howden adds quality depth with a promising upside to a secondary also extremely aggressive in run support. 

What to Watch 

Jan 14, 2018; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) against the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Horrible starts by the defense the last four games have led to two losses and two other games that were closer than they should have been. However, this is a unit not only able to shut down any offense, but also capable of making game-changing plays.

Lack of pass rush continues to be a major issue. That, along with untimely coverage breakdowns, have made mediocre QBs like Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, and Tyson Bagent look like All-Pros and allowed a hobbled Trevor Lawrence to tear them apart. The Saints defensive front must consistently win their matchups against a Vikings offensive line that's underperformed.

Don't be surprised if the Saints bring some inside blitzes to create more pressure and prevent Josh Dobbs from scrambling up the middle. New Orleans corners may also play aggressive man-to-man coverage behind blitzes to keep Dobbs from having a quick release. This would be even more likely if Justin Jefferson is sidelined as expected. 

The Saints need to prevent Minnesota from establishing any kind of running attack to increase the pressure on Dobbs and their shorthanded passing game. New Orleans has been fantastic all season at baiting quarterbacks into mistakes. If they can keep Dobbs from making plays with his legs, the Saints have the defensive personnel to stifle and cause mistakes against what will be a limited Minnesota playbook.