Snap Counts From Vikings’ Week 5 Win, and What They Mean

The Minnesota Vikings continued their unbeaten start with a 23-13 road win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Minnesota improved to 5-0 with its most complete performance of the season, controlling the ball for nearly 40 minutes and outgaining New Orleans 364-142. But two costly fumbles in the red zone allowed the Saints to stay closer than the overall performance suggested.

The victory also gave Minnesota a chance to head into its Week 6 bye with confidence. Kyler Murray continued to settle into the offense, Aaron Jones delivered another strong performance, and the defense forced two interceptions. Still, the snap counts reveal some important developments, including a heavier workload for the offensive line, opportunities for backup tight ends and limited action for several young defensive players.

Here’s a closer look at the Vikings’ offensive and defensive snap counts against the Saints, along with what the numbers tell us about the team’s performance.

Minnesota’s offense played 71 snaps, with quarterback Kyler Murray and three offensive linemen staying on the field for every play. Blake Brandel, Joe Huber and Ryan Van Demark each logged 71 snaps, while right guard Will Fries and right tackle Brian O’Neill played 68 apiece.

Murray’s full workload reflected his growing command of the offense. He threw for 229 yards and a touchdown, added 51 rushing yards and finished without an interception. Jones was the primary running back, playing 62 snaps and finishing with 113 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jefferson played 63 snaps and caught six passes for 79 yards and a score. His return to the lineup gave Murray a dependable target and helped open up the passing game.

The tight end rotation changed during the game. T.J. Hockenson played only two snaps before leaving to be evaluated for a concussion. With Josh Oliver also unavailable, Gavin Bartholomew played 44 snaps and caught five passes for 33 yards. Ben Yurosek logged 39 snaps in his season debut.

Rookie receiver Jeshaun Jones also made the most of limited action. He played just six snaps but caught a 32-yard pass, giving the Vikings a useful contribution from the depth chart.

Minnesota’s defense played just 45 snaps, far fewer than the offense’s 71. Safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Blake Cashman played every defensive snap. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel logged 43, while linebacker Eric Wilson played 42. Dallas Turner followed with 39 snaps, and cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers played 38 and 37, respectively.

Murphy delivered the game’s standout defensive performance. He intercepted Shough twice, helping Minnesota shut down New Orleans’ passing attack. Cashman led the defense in tackles, while Rodgers performed well in coverage.

On the defensive line, Jalen Redmond played 36 snaps and was effective against the run. Turner added four quarterback pressures, although he did not record a sack for the first time this season. Several younger players saw limited action. Caleb Banks played seven snaps, Domonique Orange logged five, and Ivan Pace Jr. played two.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!