Saints vs Vikings: 22-point struggle jumps off the page – our tips

Monday morning action brings an intriguing Week 5 NFL clash as the New Orleans Saints host the Minnesota Vikings at 4:00 am AEDT. Both squads sit at 1-2 on the season with identical -35 point differentials, but their recent form going into this contest presents two very different stories. If you are looking for valuable angles in your weekly nfl picks, the numbers jump off the page in this matchup.

Who Will Win? Head to Head breakdown

The New Orleans Saints enter this clash coming off a thrilling 27–24 victory on the road against the Dallas Cowboys on 29 August. That 3-point win bounced them back from an opening 0–34 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans has put up 47 points across two games, but they are still searching for their first victory at home after dropping their sole home fixture to start 0-1 at home. The Saints sit as 2.00 head-to-head candidates as they look to build momentum.

The Minnesota Vikings make the trip carrying a two-game losing streak following a 6–34 loss away to the Denver Broncos on 29 August and a 3–13 home defeat against Baltimore. Minnesota's attack has struggled for consistency, scoring just 22 points across two matches. However, they hold a 1-1 record away from home and feature as 1.82 head-to-head favourites. The numbers say Minnesota's defence has done plenty of heavy lifting, conceding 57 points compared to the Saints' 82.

Line Analysis: Taking the points

The line is set at 1.5 points, with New Orleans getting a +1.5 start at 1.90 and Minnesota at -1.5 at 1.90. The Saints showed plenty of fight in their 3-point win last start, while Minnesota was handed a 28-point margin defeat against Denver in their last outing.

With Minnesota averaging just 11 points per game scored this season, covering a start on the road is a tough task. The Saints receiving a +1.5 buffer on their home deck rates a real chance as a strong option on the board.