Saints 2023 Week 10 Preview
New Orleans and Minnesota Battle for Playoff Positioning
The Saints were the only NFC South team to win in Week 9 with a 24-17 home victory versus the Chicago Bears. In Week 10, New Orleans travels to Minnesota for a crucial game regarding playoff odds. The Vikings are now tied at 5-4 with the Saints after a 31-28 come-from-behind win against Atlanta.
The Matchup:
New Orleans has sole possession of first place in the NFC South and is facing a critical matchup before their bye week. In a muddled NFC, the Saints can’t afford to slide while it seems their only chance of seeing a playoff game will rest on a divisional title. The Saints and Vikings tied for the 6th best record in the conference, but Minnesota is on the bubble as the 7th seed, while New Orleans sits at four. That difference could leave a playoff game at the Dome come postseason time. This Week 10 contest will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at noon CST on FOX.
Series History:
Minnesota and New Orleans have a long history with one another. They first competed in 1968. The Vikings lead the all-time history with a record of 24-13. There have been five postseason games between the two historic franchises. New Orleans is 1-4 in those games. The lone victory for the Saints came in the 2009-10 Super Bowl season. The most recent contest featured the Vikings earning a 28-25 road victory in 2022. A lot of bad blood still boils between fans and players thanks to the “Minneapolis Miracle” of 2018. This week’s contest should be a great battle on the gridiron.
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 9) | Saints | Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-4 (1st NFC South) | 5-4 (2nd NFC North) |
| Scoring Avg. | 21.7 (15) | 22.9 (13) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 19.0 (7) | 21.1 (17) |
| Total Off. | 343.8 (13) | 354.8 (8) |
| Rushing Off. | 103.9 (18) | 81.3 (29) |
| Passing Off. | 239.9 (10) | 273.4 (2) |
| Total Def. | 304.3 (7) | 328.0 (14) |
| Rushing Def. | 112.3 (17) | 102.6 (12) |
| Passing Def. | 192.0 (7) | 225.4 (18) |
| Turnover Margin | +8 (3) | -5 (28) |
| Penalties | 55 (12) | 43 (30) |
| Penalty Yards | 518 (2) | 330 (30) |
Current Injury Report:
Saints-
Adam Prentice, FB, Questionable, Knee
Ty Summers, LB, Questionable, Hamstring
Kendre Miller, RB, Questionable, Ankle
Isaiah Foskey, DE, Questionable, Quadricep
Vikings-
Justin Jefferson, WR, Questionable, Hamstring
Dean Lowry, DL, Questionable, Groin
K.J. Osborn, WR, Questionable, Concussion
Brian Asamoah II, LB, Questionable, Ankle
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Questionable, Ribs
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
Although the Saints will not be facing Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs looked stout, leading his new team to a victory last week. The Saints tend to struggle with mobile quarterbacks and haven’t looked like their typical elite selves in the past couple of games. Not only will Dobbs be looking to make a statement to the fans of Minnesota, but New Orleans will also face the challenge of defending Justin Jefferson, arguably the best wideout in the league, as he returns from injured reserve. If New Orleans can force 2+ turnovers, they will win this game. The offense has got to take advantage of those and turn them into points. I’ll pick the Saints in this one, 27-23.
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