Bye Week Breather

The Minnesota Vikings improved to 5-0 with a convincing (if frustrating) victory over the New Orleans Saints. A 23-13 final was fine, but the game should have been at least 29-7, more like 33-7. But a win is a win; in the end, that’s all that matters. In the first part of the 2026 season, when the Vikings seem to be catching most of the breaks, they get another: a bye. A Week 6 bye didn’t look all that appealing before the season, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. Injuries abound, and a week off is just what the doctor ordered to get healthy before what will certainly be the most daunting stretch of the schedule. After Week 5, the next five opponents have a combined 17-8 record, including the current Super Bowl favorite, the 49ers, and the Bills. Other than the Vikings, of course. Duh. HOW WE GOT HERE Aaron Jones, Sr., RB1: Jones has shouldered the burden while the passing game found its footing amid Jordan Mason’s absence. All the while, he’s been banged up himself. Sin