Vikings Receive Expert Predictions for Week 5 Game vs. New Orleans Saints

The Minnesota Vikings are still undefeated after defeating the Miami Dolphins. Yet despite an impressive four-win resume that includes wins over the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, the Vikings have managed to do so in the most unimpressive way possible, at least on offense.

The Vikings defense has been elite, wreaking havoc and shutting down opposition. The offense is struggling to get into the end zone. And if reaching field goal range five times only to settle for field goals for all five scores is any indication, Minnesota is not maximizing scoring opportunities.

Experts are weighing in a difficult matchup to predict between the Vikings and Saints. They took their shot at predicting the game.

Adam Kaufman of USA TODAY has the Vikings winning a close 23-20 game this week. Here were some of Kaufman's thoughts on the matchup.

"The Vikings are 4-0, while the Saints are 1-3. The spread is nearly a pick'em. You wouldn't think this would be such a tough game to handicap, but Minnesota's defense is elite and New Orleans has a more than capable offense that's good enough to win if the Vikings can't muster more than Will Reichard field goals. If Justin Jefferson misses this game, I'd be tempted to switch sides here. I think the game really may be that close given the season-long dysfunction of Minnesota's offense. Plus, New Orleans will be looking to bounce back from Monday's embarrassing home loss to Atlanta and Tyler Shough has enough weapons if he can free himself from the Brian Flores blitz in time to find them."

Blake Schuster sees a different game. Schuster predicts the Saints get back in the win column with a hard-fought 21-20 win over the Vikings. Here were his thoughts.

"New Orleans had to play through a ton of emotion in a Monday Night Football loss to Atlanta. The Saints will play a more normal* game against the Vikings, whose defense is especially worrisome but not unbeatable. Whether or not Minnesota can put up points alongside one of the surprise offenses in the league this year is the more pressing question."

The good news for the Vikings offense is that the Saints cannot stop impact players at multiple positions. Two weeks ago, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers went off for over 100 receiving yards. On Monday, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson took off for two rushing scores and 145 rushing yards on seven carries.

The Saints defense in turn gets to face a Minnesota offense that has been second worst in the NFL through four games in terms of yards per game with 262.8 yards per contest. The 32nd-ranked Titans average just 1.5 yards less per game with 261.3 yards.

The Vikings will look to get right offensively and get to 5-0 on the season.