Saints-Vikings Postgame Live Blog: Saints Fall to 1-4 After 23-13 Loss to Vikings

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The New Orleans Saints dropped their third straight game, falling 23-13 to the Minnesota Vikings, to 1-4 on the season for the second consecutive year.

All three of the team's losses this season have come at home inside the Caesars Superdome, highlighting a growing struggle to defend what was once considered one of the NFL's toughest venues for visiting teams.

Since head coach Sean Payton departed after the 2021 season, the Saints have posted a 15-21 overall record at home, managing just a single winning home season (5-3 in 2023).

Over the past three seasons, New Orleans has managed a dismal 3-14 record inside the Superdome.

The Saints’ offense was abysmal, as it was outgained 364 to 182 yards while Minnesota picked up 18 first downs compared to the Saints’ nine. Tyler Shough had his worst game of the season, completing 16 of his 25 passes for only 96 yards and two interceptions.

Check out the Biggest Winners and Losers from today's game HERE!

Meanwhile, the Vikings’ offense wasn’t perfect, but it did enough to secure the victory as quarterback Kyler Murray made things happen with his arm along with his feet. He threw for 229 yards with a touchdown while rushing for another 54 yards on seven carries.

Justin Jefferson had six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Aaron Jones also had a standout game, rushing 25 times for 113 yards with a touchdown.

The defeat was particularly disappointing considering the occasion.

Drew Brees, who led New Orleans to its only Super Bowl championship, was inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony that also included the presentation of his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring.

Check out our Halftime Studs and Duds when you click HERE!

New Orleans’ defense initially set up the Saints by recovering a Jones fumble, leading to a 2-yard Kendre Miller touchdown run after a 15-play drive for a 7-3 lead. However, the offense stalled before halftime, with Shough throwing for just 37 yards.

Despite Carl Granderson and Chase Young combining for two first-half sacks, Will Reichard’s 54-yard field goal cut the lead to 7-6.

Murray’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson put the Vikings ahead 13-7 in the third quarter. The Saints answered when Martin Emerson forced a fumble and Jonas Sanker returned it 87 yards for a touchdown, but Daniel Carlson missed the extra point, leaving it tied 13-13.

Minnesota sealed the win in the fourth quarter with Jones’ 8-yard touchdown run and Reichard’s 55-yard field goal, giving the Vikings a 10-point lead.

Check below for more postgame reactions from social media, along with quotes from head coach Kellen Moore and any other players who come to the podium.

Select Quotes from Head Coach Kellen Moore's Postgame Presser After Loss to Vikings

Sep 27, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore looks on in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Opening Statement

"Yeah, our defense created a couple turnovers in the future of betting on this game. We had three of our own doing, and we weren't able to play efficient enough football to give ourselves a chance to win that game. We had not enough stability on offense to move the football.

"That's a good defense, but we didn't do our part in sustaining drives and giving ourselves the opportunity to score points at the end. So I think they played better than us, and coached better than us. And for our guys, it's about getting back to work, and that's the path we have to focus on."

On the Losing Streak and Team's Struggles

Q: What is it going to take for this team to start winning?

"Yeah, yeah, we're obviously going to have to — you have to stick together through these types of storms. You know, you have to get better. That's the thing we got to focus on: We have to get better during the week and give ourselves an opportunity to play better football next Sunday.

"So that's going to take all week long. And obviously, from an on-field schematic game plan, we got to just get better in all areas."

Q: How frustrating is it to lose three straight games at home and hear opposing fans taking over the Superdome?

"Yeah, obviously, that's something that — you know, we pride ourselves on being able to play in this dome and how special it is. And, you know, not being able to get it done is really frustrating and disappointing.

"And, you know, I think everyone feels the same way, the disappointment in it. We have to look at this, get better, and eyes forward."

Q: Do you feel like you're getting closer to finding answers and putting together a complete game?

"No, I feel like there's good moments. And obviously, so much of this is about, you know, how do we sustain this? Because there's — you know, again, these games have ups and downs, and, you know, we're having a few more downs than ups.

"And, you know, I think there's some — again, the defense, I thought they did an excellent job. They put a ton of focus this week on the ball and attacking that thing. And to get those two turnovers was huge.

"And I thought we had a really good drive in there to score a touchdown, a couple fourth-down conversions, and we were able to sustain the run game for a lot of that drive. And I thought that was a really good finish. But, you know, ultimately it wasn't able to be sustained through the game."

Q: What did you tell the team after another difficult loss?

"Yeah, I think, you know, sometimes you go through storms. And, you know, never leave storms end. But we're going through — going through a little bit one. And you got to stick together. You got to focus on getting better. You got to focus on what's moving forward.

"And, you know, I think more than ever, our guys have to rally together. And, you know, because we know what these times create. There's a lot of challenges with these settings and these times when you've missed an opportunity a few weeks in a row.

"And so, you know, there's football ahead of ourselves that could be really good football for us, but we got to focus on the task, get better. And, you know, when we're presented with those opportunities, we got to take advantage of them."

Q: With recurring problems such as slow starts, turnovers and penalties, how much pressure do you feel to correct these issues quickly?

"Yeah, obviously, we got to get it right. You know, I think our guys put a lot of work into this week as far as starting fast. You know, there's a few moments, not enough moments there.

"We created two turnovers, which was great. And I think our guys did a really good job there. We didn't protect it enough. You know, we had three turnovers, and, you know, you create a few turnovers, and it's a defense like that that plays really, really good football. It's going to be hard."

On Tyler Shough and Minnesota's Defensive Pressure

Q: Did you feel the team was prepared for Minnesota's blitz packages, or did the pressure become overwhelming?

"Yeah, I felt like we had a plan. Obviously, the plan wasn't good enough. They did a bad job. They got us in too many of those favorable passing situations, and then they were able to take advantage of them.

"We weren't able to get those done. And obviously, that's on me, that we weren't able to get that done."

Q: How concerned are you about the number of hits Tyler Shough has taken this season?

"Yeah, obviously, we need to protect him a little better. I got to call it better and put ourselves in situations where we can play more mixed-down football and run the rock and get enough play action set up. And we're not able to do that right now."

Select Quotes from Jonas Sanker Q&A Following Saints' Loss to Vikings

Q: How frustrating was it to lose a game when it felt like the team was starting to turn things around?

"Yeah, no, I mean, we were going to start regardless. Just, I mean, it definitely hurt. You know, I felt like we really, you know, had something going there. I felt like we were going to be able to kind of turn it around. And, you know, generally, ever since I've been here, we've always been a team that's really good at finishing games. And just, you know, we start to just come alive and come together. But, um, yeah, it's tough losing one like that."

Q: Last week, Chase Young addressed the team. Did anybody address the team today, and what was the message?

"Yeah, kind of similar message, you know. Felt like we responded a little bit, but, you know, obviously it wasn't enough. And we kind of have to keep that same approach of just, you know, looking in the mirror and just finding ways to get better. But at the same time, you know, not becoming, like, pointing fingers and, you know, getting down or just, you know, having that self-doubt.

"I think that's really important. You know, obviously, you know, last year, I think we started like 1 in 10. And so, you know, that was definitely a similar, like, OK, like, we had a decision to make, you know, we could either fold or, you know, we could come back and keep playing hard. And we were able to do that.

"So I think now it's all about being able to start that kind of uphill trend a lot sooner. And obviously, I, you know, I think we are going to be able to do that this week."

Q: Jonas, can you take us through the play on your fumble recovery touchdown?

"Yeah, uh, it's just a screen game. You know, I kind of just set the edge. MJ made a great play, punched the ball out. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And then after that, as soon as I picked up the ball, you know, the rest, I'm just, no one's going to catch me from behind, so I wasn't really too worried."

Q: What do you think was the problem with the defense on third down today?

"Um, you know, Kyler made a lot of really good plays with his legs, able to keep plays alive. You know, it's tough to cover, you know, some of those good receivers they had for that long. But, um, yeah, I think outside of that, I think we were really able to limit a lot of the explosive plays when Kyler was kept in the pocket.

"But, you know, I think it's really, it's not just on the D-line, it's kind of on the group as a whole. Because, you know, there's also situations where, you know, we got them on third down and we give up a touchdown in the back of the end zone when we got a guy almost double-covered.

"So, you know, we've just got to find a way to make those winning plays, I think. And, uh, yeah, I think the whole defense is the whole team's responsibility for that."

Select Quotes from Tyler Shough's Postgame Presser

Q: Tyler, three straight losses, all of them at home. How frustrating is it to not be able to protect the Superdome?

Shough: "Yeah, it's extremely disappointing. You — we feel the city, everyone coming out supporting. And we had some moments there where we — we're really in it, and we kind of let it slip.

"So there's got to be — there's got to be somewhat of a, like I said, an emphasis on those details. So, man, we're going to learn from this. We're going to have some two really good opportunities to go on the road and just focus on how we can get better ourselves.

"But more than anything, we want to come back and with some vengeance whenever we're here in the dome. We got to play better."

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