1. Six guys help contain Graham

The toughest matchup in the league for any defense is Saints 6-7, 265-pound tight end Jimmy Graham. Sunday, the Vikings used six different players to help contain Graham: Cornerbacks Josh Robinson and Captain Munnerlyn, safeties Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton, linebacker Chad Greenway and even defensive end Brian Robison, who got some double-team help from Smith over the top. Graham had six catches for only 54 yards, including two for 23 yards against Blanton and two for 19 yards with Robison dropping into coverage. Graham also dropped a deep ball while Blanton covered him one-on-one. Smith dropped what should have been an interception in tight coverage. Graham also helped draw attention away from No. 2 tight end Josh Hill on his 34-yard touchdown catch. "We didn't get into everything we wanted to do on him," Greenway said. "But I think we played some good football after we settled down."

3. Tale of two run defenses

The Vikings fell in a 13-0 hole after two Saints possessions because they couldn't stop the run, which elevated Drew Brees' comfort level. New Orleans' first three carries went for first downs of 11, eight and 13 yards. At the end of one quarter, the Saints had 54 yards on nine carries (6.0). Now, on the flip side, the Vikings stayed in this game because the run defense stiffened, which put pressure on Brees. Over the final three quarters, the Saints had 54 yards on 23 carries (2.3). Big difference. "If you stop the run, then you get the opportunities to get after a guy like Brees," Smith said. "There was no crazy magic that caused us to start stopping the run. We just started doing our jobs."

2. Brees was (way) up, down

In 2011, Brees played the Vikings and became the first NFL player to complete 80 percent of his passes (32 of 40) for over 400 yards (412), five touchdowns and no interceptions. And he did all that before taking a seat early in the fourth quarter. Sunday, he appeared to be heading down the same path. He completed his first nine passes for 108 yards, one touchdown and a 153.7 passer rating. The only time he was remotely pressured, he simply slid to his left a step or two. But once the Vikings started stopping the run, the heat was turned up on Brees. He was sacked by Anthony Barr and knocked down two other times. Of course, being that he's Drew Brees, he completed an 18-yard pass while being knocked down by Everson Griffen on third-and-16.

4. Bridgewater stretches field

Matt Cassel didn't throw a pass longer than 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage before leaving because of a broken foot. A week ago, Cassel completed only one of 11 with three interceptions at that distance. Rookie backup Teddy Bridgewater entered the game with 12 minutes 15 seconds left in the second quarter and needed just two snaps to complete a 10-yard pass, to Greg Jennings. For the game, Bridgewater went 4-for-5 for 69 yards on passes that traveled farther than 10 yards. Three of them went to Jennings, including a 30-yarder that traveled 25 in the air. "Teddy is going to get the ball to whoever is open, just like Matt," receiver Cordarrelle Patterson said. "Teddy is going to do what Teddy do. All hats off to Teddy."

5. Average first-down carry: 1.9

Life without Adrian Peterson is understandably difficult. But the running game shouldn't be this completely decimated behind what is a good but underachieving line. The Vikings ran the ball 11 times on first down. They mustered just 21 yards (1.9), with 15 of them coming on a Bridgewater scramble. Running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon had eight first-down carries for nine yards (1.1). Patterson said the team still has "three great backs" while voicing support for a running game that averaged 2.8 yards a carry last week and 2.7 on Sunday. "We're missing a back, but we still have three in there," Patterson said. "They just need to do what they do best. Just let it come. Don't rush anything. The time is going to come for the Minnesota Vikings."