3 Top Takeaways: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints – Week 8

Barr was not missed

Not participating in the team’s matchup against the Saints on Sunday night were five starters from the Vikings’ roster. Two on offense and three on defense.

Dealing with a hamstring injury, Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr was one of the three starters that sat out this week’s game. Not that anyone really noticed him not being out on the field.

In place of Barr on Sunday, the Vikings gave more playing time to linebackers Ben Gedeon and Eric Wilson and safety Jayron Kearse. It was a strategy that worked out marvelously as Minnesota held an explosive New Orleans offense to just 270 total yards.

For a guy like Barr who is regarded as one of the Vikings’ top players by his coaching staff, the defense was fine on Sunday without him out on the field.

Now, it was only one game and the outcome could be different next week if the linebacker has to sit out another contest. But the defense’s performance against the Saints on Sunday without Barr should cause Minnesota to think that letting the linebacker hit free agency in 2019 might not be the worst thing in the world.