2 Decisions I’d Love to See Kevin O’Connell Make During Week 5 Game vs. Saints

It must be brutal for Kevin O’Connell as he approaches the Vikings’ Week 5 game against the New Orleans Saints. Yes, his team is undefeated, but his offense has been stuck in the mud for four games.

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It’s maddening for a coach who comes from the offensive side of leading a football team. He got the job because he excelled when working with a Super Bowl winning head coach in Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams. O’Connell has also had success in his four seasons with the Vikings. He had more success in 2022 and ’24, than he did in ’23 and ’25, but he did have success in all of them.

He is clearly keeping himself up at nights trying to figure out how to launch the Vikings offense. O’Connell may have Justin Jefferson back in the lineup this week because he has returned to practice. But that is not an assurance, particularly with a bye week coming up in Week 6.

Attack with Jones against Saints

If Jefferson is healthy enough to play and do more than make a token appearance in the game, it would be a good time to attempt to unleash the Vikings’ best player.

But if the Vikings are going to play it cautious one more week with Jefferson, the way to go is with the running game. Aaron Jones had a solid effort against the Dolphins, running for 94 yards and he is hungry for a huge game.

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The Saints give up more points than any team in the league and their run defense is soft. Bijan Robinson ripped up the Saints defense for 145 rushing yards Monday night. Jones is not as good as Robinson but he is ready for a productive game.

Kyler Murray should also be decisive and he can also gain key yards with his legs. He has not done that so far, but this is the week he should be able to show off his escapability.

The Vikings have to make progress with their offense against the most generous defense in the league. O’Connell knows this should be the week by unleashing Jones and Murray.

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Jones and Murray should make that happen.

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This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM.