Minnesota's record hides some sloppy offense. Through 5 games the Vikings have just 9 offensive touchdowns, and Will Reichard is a perfect 15-for-15 on field goals, which is great for Reichard and less great for the red zone. Even the Saints game, their best offensive day by yardage, time of possession and third-down rate, included 2 red-zone fumbles. The bye was the week to fix that.
Brian Flores' defense is why none of the offensive problems have cost them. Minnesota has allowed 64 points in 5 games, the first 5 opponents managed 5 offensive touchdowns between them, and New Orleans finished with 142 total yards and 9 first downs. The Colts have scored 20 or more in each of their last 5, but they're bringing a line that just gave up 6 sacks into a building where opposing offenses have struggled to get anything going.
Health is the other subplot of the off week. The Vikings are hopeful Jordan Mason (thumb) comes off IR for this one to give Aaron Jones Sr. some help after he carried 25 times for 113 yards in New Orleans. Christian Darrisaw, Jordan Addison and Charles Demmings were all listed questionable going into the bye, Donovan Jackson is on IR, and T.J. Hockenson missed the Saints game with a concussion. Getting Darrisaw and Addison back would do more for that red-zone problem than any scheme change.
Minnesota has the rest, the home crowd and the defense. Indianapolis has 2 straight losses, a quarterback who can't hold onto the ball under pressure, and a week to stop the fourth-quarter bleeding. The Colts are the team that has to change something here. The Vikings mostly have to keep doing what they've done for 5 weeks and score 7 instead of 3 once or twice.