Despite a late comeback effort by the New Orleans Saints, the Minnesota Vikings left their Week 10 matchup with a victory and a 6-4 record.
After the first 30 minutes of their Week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings appeared to be in the middle of earning their easiest victory of the 2023 season.
Thanks to touchdowns by Ty Chandler, Josh Dobbs, and T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings went into the half leading the Saints by a score of 24-3.
Minnesota then came out in the third quarter and increased their lead to 24 points after Greg Joseph was able to convert a field-goal attempt from 33 yards away. But little did the Vikings know, those would be the final points added to their total for the remainder of the game.
Minnesota Vikings do enough to hold off New Orleans Saints in second half
During the first half, quarterback Derek Carr and the New Orleans offense couldn't get anything going. But then after Carr was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the third quarter, the Saints' offense surprisingly started making plays with Jameis Winston under center.
New Orleans wound up cutting Minnesota's lead to just eight points in their first three drives with Winston on the field.
Luckily for the Vikings, their defense stepped up their play after giving up two touchdown drives to the Saints. Minnesota wound up with interceptions on two of New Orleans' final two offensive drives of the contest, and this ultimately sealed the victory for the Vikings.
During his first-ever appearance in Minnesota's starting lineup, Dobbs looked like he was comfortable in an offense that he has been a part of for less than two weeks. The Vikings quarterback completed 68 percent of his passes for 268 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 44 yards and another score.
Despite a rib injury, Hockenson had himself a big afternoon, leading Minnesota in receiving during the contest with 11 catches for 134 yards and one touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball for the Vikings, Josh Metellus and Jordan Hicks tied for the team lead in tackles (seven), Byron Murphy Jr. and rookie Mekhi Blackmon both came up with interceptions, and Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, Jonathan Bullard all pitched in with a sack each.
Minnesota will attempt to improve their 2023 record to 7-4 and increase their current winning streak to six games when they head out on the road for a Sunday night matchup next weekend against the Denver Broncos.