Minnesota's offense took a significant step forward Sunday, while leaning on the team's depth for relief efforts at key spots. The Vikings defense continued its dominance, and special teams again stood out as a game-changing and icing squad.

The Vikings improved to 5-0 this season and expanded their league-leading win streak to 10 games. If five in a row for K.O. sounds familiar, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and his squad have put together win streaks of at least five games in each of his five seasons at the helm.

2022: 7

2023: 5

2024: 5 and 9

2025: 5

2026: 5 so far as the team reaches its bye

Here's a deeper dive at Minnesota's most recent quest to go 1-0 in New Orleans.

Three Significant Stats

Kyler Murray's Dealin' and Wheelin'

Kyler Murray showed increased comfort and confidence in Minnesota, opening the game with 12 consecutive completions, a personal best for a start to the game and tying Sam Darnold (12 on Sept. 8, 2024 at the Giants) for second in franchise history (Kirk Cousins completed 17 consecutive passes to open a game against the Bears on Oct. 9, 2022 — #Kirktober might become #Kylertober if Murray keeps up this heater after the bye).

Making Murray's start even more impressive is that he did so despite losing T.J. Hockenson at the end of the day's first completion, one week after connecting with the tight end 13 times on 13 targets against Miami.

Murray completed three of four passes that were 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage for 70 yards, including the dazzling TD pass to Justin Jefferson, but he also was on the money with short passes. According to Next Gen Stats, Murray completed 19 of 20 passes that were 10 or fewer yards beyond or the line of scrimmage and totaled 119 yards on those plays.

Beyond the damage Murray did through the air, he really perplexed the Saints with his feet.

Murray scrambled seven times for 54 yards before netting minus-3 on three victory formation kneel-downs to close the game. The biggest backbreaker was an 18-yard gain to convert third-and-10 three plays before he found Jefferson in the back left of the end zone.

NGS recorded Murray reaching a top speed of 20.82 miles per hour during that scamper, edging out teammate Myles Price (20.78 mph on his 43-yard punt return) for the fastest speed by any NFL ball carrier in Week 5 (through Sunday's games).

Murray recorded his 15^th career game with more than 200 passing yards and more than 50 rushing yards, which ranks third in the NFL since 2019 behind Lamar Jackson (33) and Josh Allen (24 entering Monday's game).

Defense shuts down Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough entered Week 5 averaging 300.8 passing yards per game and having thrown nine touchdowns against zero interceptions.

He found tough sledding Sunday, finishing with a paltry 96 yards through the air — 80 fewer than the second-year pro had totaled for a previous low in a start.

Shough averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt and finished with a passing success rate of 34.6, which were both career lows.

The Saints gained more than 15 yards on just one offensive snap (a 16-yard completion to Chris Olave). New Orleans' next-longest gains went for 14 and 11 yards on passes to Olave.

Minnesota's offense gained 15 or more yards on eight separate plays.

Another Aaron Jones, Sr., appreciation post

Aaron Jones, Sr., racked up 113 rushing yards on 25 carries that included a mashing 8-yard score, as well as a 19-yard scamper and springing free for 15 just before the 2-minute warning.

The 31-year-old has handled more of the workload than initially intended while Jordan Mason has been recovering from a hand injury in Week 1.

Jones has totaled at least 90 scrimmage yards in each of his past four games, good for the longest streak among NFL running backs.

Jones found the most rewards for his efforts on runs to the right of center, totaling 85 yards on 16 such carries.

Two Strong Impressions

Gavin Bartholomew

Gavin Bartholomew filled in admirably for Hockenson and logged a career-high 44 snaps of offense a week after playing 17.

The 2025 sixth-round pick missed his entire rookie season, but showed he was primed to meet the moment Sunday. Bartholomew's role went from being less featured in the pass game to catching five passes for 33 yards on six targets.

He and Murray nearly connected on a trick play that might have gone for a 37-yard touchdown. That play was dialed up on the first snap of the second half after Jake Golday forced a fumble during a kickoff return, but Murray's pass was just a little out of reach. If it had been caught, there wouldn't have been the speedy scramble on third-and-10 or the elite placement of the TD pass to Jefferson.

Bartholomew teamed up with Brian O'Neill on a block that helped spring Jones for 15 to put him past the century mark.

Joe Huber

Losing Donovan Jackson to a knee injury in Week 4 was a tough moment, but Huber made his second career start and filled in well for the 2025 first-round pick at left guard.

Huber, who joined Minnesota as an undrafted free agent last year, has impressed with his play style that O'Connell described Monday as "incredibly physical."

"There was zero of leaving anything in the tank for Joe," O'Connell said. "I mean, he was flying off the ball. He was throwing his hat. Things were moving quickly early in the game, but that's to be expected. But I think between coming in last week and then ultimately getting a practice week under his belt, I think the coolest thing about Joe yesterday was the self-correct reps we saw.

"It's something Donovan Jackson's done at a really high level since he started playing, but something that maybe happened early on in the football game, getting an opportunity later on in the game or even on a drive to absorb that and then maybe change my technique fundamentals or anticipate what was coming from New Orleans," O'Connell added. "He demonstrated that, which is really exciting for a young player, but not surprised at how well Joe played. And obviously we're going to need him."

A Moment to Remember

First off, congrats to Byron Murphy, Jr., for nabbing two interceptions — his 13^th and 14^th as a Viking and 18^th and 19^th of his career. It was his second career game with two picks and first in Purple.

But I gotta go with Jefferson cookin' triple coverage — that's a total of six fleur-de-lis on nearby helmets! — in his highly anticipated homecoming game. Jets was able to hit The Griddy 20 minutes from his hometown to celebrate his 45^th career touchdown.

We've seen him make the difficult play look so smooth time and time again, but Sunday's sensational score is likely to be one he remembers for the ages.

And the great thing is the number of ways the excellent play will be documented for years.

Visuals from multiple vantage points were captured with great photography and videography, and the audio call by Paul Allen and Pete Bercich painted the picture for people who were listening. One of the favorite things I've seen from content gathered by colleagues is the bench reaction to the play, including a future Hall of Fame safety who was playing in his 212^th NFL game. Harrison Smith's facial expression said it all without words.

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