EAGAN, Minn. — Byron Murphy, Jr. made things look simple in the Big Easy.
The Vikings cornerback nabbed not one but two picks of Saints QB Tyler Shough Sunday, helping Minnesota top New Orleans 23-13.
Murphy's first takeaway occurred in the third quarter, as Shough stepped up and took off to evade pressure from Eric Wilson, then attempted to toss the ball in-stride. Murphy kept his eyes on the QB and smoothly intercepted the pass.
Then with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, Shough threw deep for Chris Olave but overshot the receiver, presenting another opportunity for Murphy.
"Just knowing the situation — we're up, end of game — I knew it was probably gonna be a double move or something like that," Murphy told media members following the game. "It was a double move; he threw it up and I came down with the ball."
"I knew we had to come ready to play as DBs," he said.
Murphy is tied for the NFL lead with three interceptions on the season. His first occurred against Bears QB Caleb Williams in Week 2. He also has 21 tackles, a tackle for loss and five passes defensed through Minnesota's first five games.
The 2019 second-round pick of the Cardinals became the first Viking to record two interceptions in a game since safety Cam Bynum in Week 7 of 2023. Bynum and the Colts will visit Minnesota on Oct. 25 following this week's Vikings bye.
Murphy has 14 interceptions since joining the Vikings as a free agent in 2023 and 19 career picks. His season high is six, which he logged in 2024.
The Vikings now have four NFC Players of the Week honors through five weeks; Isaiah Rodgers, Myles Price and Will Reichard, were named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week against the Bears (Week 2), Buccaneers (Week 3) and Dolphins (Week 4), respectively.
Murphy won the same award in Week 3 of 2021 while with Arizona.
View locker room celebration photos from the Vikings 23-13 win over the Saints in Week 5 of the 2026 season.
22 NFC Players of the Week under Kevin O'Connell in 73 regular-season games
2026: Week 5 at New Orleans: Byron Murphy, Jr. (Defensive)
2026: Week 4 vs. Miami: Will Reichard, K (Special Teams)
2026: Week 3 at Tampa Bay: Myles Price, WR (Special Teams)
2026 Week 2 at Chicago: Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Special Teams)
2025 Week 17 vs. Detroit: Harrison Smith, S (Defensive)
2025 Week 9 at Detroit: Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL (Special Teams)
2025 Week 3 vs. Cincinnati: Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Defensive)
2025 Week 1 at Chicago: J.J. McCarthy, QB (Offensive)
2024 Week 16 at Seattle: Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Defensive)
2024 Week 14 vs. Atlanta: Sam Darnold, QB (Offensive)
2024 Week 3 vs. Houston: Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Defensive)
2023 Week 14 at Las Vegas: Ivan Pace, Jr., LB (Defensive)
2023 Week 9 at Atlanta: Joshua Dobbs, QB (Offensive)
2023 Week 7 vs. San Francisco: Camryn Bynum, S (Defensive)
2023 Week 6 at Chicago: Jordan Hicks, LB (Defensive)
2022 Week 16 vs. New York Giants: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
2022 Week 15 vs. Indianapolis: Kirk Cousins, QB (Offensive)
2022 Week 12 vs. New England: Kene Nwangwu, RB/KR (Special Teams)
2022 Week 10 at Buffalo: Justin Jefferson, WR (Offensive)
2022 Week 8 vs. Arizona: Za'Darius Smith, OLB (Defensive)
2022 Week 6 at Miami: Ryan Wright, P (Special Teams)
2022 Week 4 vs. New Orleans in London: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
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