What a way for the Minnesota Vikings to get their fifth-straight win. They beat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 27-19 and they made things interesting in the second half.
After jumping out to a 27-3 lead early in the third quarter, the Saints scored the final 16 points and had multiple opportunities to get the final eight points. The Vikings defense held their ground throughout the fourth quarter, intercepting quarterback Jameis Winston twice to help seal the game.
Looking at the game, it’s hard to find a lot of faults with how the players performed. Today’s rendition of studs and duds will focus much more on the studs with only a singluar dud.
Stud: Head coach Kevin O'Connell as a play caller
What else can we say about the brilliance of Kevin O’Connell that hasn’t already been said? His brilliance as a playcaller has been something I’ve brought up all season and it continues to manifest. O’Connell has called a brilliant game and implemented concepts specifically for Dobbs, including more boot-action and even a read-option play or two. The biggest question about the Vikings was how could the Vikings sustain that success after a wild game against the Falcons. They showed that it wasn’t a fluke and something they can find a way to sustain.
Dud: Head coach Kevin O'Connell as a game manager
As great as the play calling was from the Vikings in the first half, how they handled the game management and the plan of attack in the second half was at best questionable. They challenged a catch by Addison which was ill-advised at best and that looked to prevent O’Connell from challenging a potential first down by Dobbs in the second half. Pair that with a very conservative gameplan in the second half instead of just running the offense and you get a subpar second half that allowed the Saints back into the game.
Stud: TE T.J. Hockenson
Despite entering the game with painful rib and oblique injury, Hockenson was a stuff throughout the game. In the first half alone, he provided both a safety blanket and dynamic weapon. He caught 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown and was pivotal in converting on third downs. He only caught one pass for six yards in the second half but his performance in the first half helped secure the win for the Vikings.
Stud: Vikings ball control
Turnovers have been the Vikings’ biggest issue so far this season. They have turned it over at least one time in each game this season. Against the Saints, the Vikings didn’t have a single fumble or interception. It’s a huge step forward for a team where ball control has been arguably their biggest issue and, while it’s not completely fixed, they took a step in the right direction on Sunday.
Stud: RB Ty Chandler
Early in the season, I believed that Chandler could end up being the top back by the end of the season. After today’s performance and Alexander Mattison’s concussion, he might have a chance to earn that top spot. On the day, Chandler ran the ball 15 times for 45 yards and a touchdown, but also had a 29-yard toss sweep touchdown taken off the board due to a holding call on Brian O’Neill. His burst made a major impact in the running game and could be a major factor down the stretch.
Stud: OLB D.J. Wonnum
There was a pivotal two-play sequence where Wonnum made a major impact. He sacked Derek Carr on second down and followed it up with an open field tackle on the Saints quarterback to force a punt. Throughout the game, Wonnum played well and helped get pressure on Carr, which the Vikings did consistently.
Stud: QB Josh Dobbs
Just as much as O’Connell was pivotal in the Vikings getting a 24-3 lead, it still takes someone to run the offense. Dobbs was fantastic on Sunday. He was comfortable in the pocket and drove the ball down the field with confidence. What was most impressive from Dobbs was how he handled himself in the pocket. Dobbs was excellent in looking to attack down the field and not scramble at the first sign of trouble. He did scramble well and created big plays, but being poised in the pocket was huge. Dobbs finished with 268 yards passing, 44 yards rushing and two total touchdowns.
