No miracles in Minnesota were needed on Sunday night.
The New Orleans Saints (6-1) looked to be having a rough night at US Bank Stadium after allowing the Minnesota Vikings (4-3-1) to score a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, but were able to respond and came away with their sixth straight win by the score of 30-20.
The Saints drew first blood with an eight-play drive, highlighted by an absolute dime from Taysom Hill to Michael Thomas to get the Saints to the Minnesota eight-yard line. Three plays later, Drew Brees found Alvin Kamara from three-yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.
Kirk Cousins and the Vikings responded with a methodical 13-play drive that took seven minutes off the clock and resulted in a short pass in the endzone to Stefon Diggs.After forcing a three-and-out, the Vikings marched down the field thanks to a healthy dose of Adam Thielen, including a 28-yard deep pass to get into the redzone. Latavius Murray gave them the lead with a short run into the endzone.
The Saints chipped away at the lead with a 52-yarder from Wil Lutz. Things got a little dicey when Drew Brees threw his first interception of the season, but Marshon Lattimore recovered a fumble by Thielen and took deep into enemy territory and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Laquon Treadwell put the ball at the Vikings 18-yard line. The Saints made the most of the short field with a one-yard touchdown run by Kamara to make it a 17-13 ballgame at the halfway point.
The Saints defense came up huge yet again to start the second half, forcing a turnover on downs to give Drew Brees the ball at the 45-yard line of Minnesota. Lutz gave them the lead with a 42-yard field goal.
PJ Williams then redeemed himself on the next drive with an incredibly easy pick six to put the Saints up 27-13. Lutz put the game on ice in the fourth with a 42-yard field goal to make it a 17-point ballgame.
The Saints will return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday when they host the undefeated Los Angeles Rams with kickoff set for 3:25 pm.
-Clint Domingue