The New Orleans Saints pull away in the fourth quarter beat the Packers 26-17 on a rainy Sunday in Green Bay. Will Lutz kicked a 44 yard field goal to put the Saints in front for good early in the fourth quarter, and Drew Brees later ran a one yard sneak for a touchdown. The Packers came out running in Brett Hundley’s debut at quarterback, as Aaron Jones had 131 rushing yards with a touchdown — and Hundley ran from 14 yards out to score Green Bay’s only other T-D. Brees threw a pair of first quarter interceptions but once he got into a rhythm, he had 331 passing yards and a score as he became the fourth player in N-F-L history to throw for 500 career touchdowns including the playoffs, and the Saints won their fourth straight game to improve to 4-2. Hundley went 12 for 25 the rest of the way for 87 yards and one late pick as Green Bay was outgained in total yards 485 to 260, and the Pack dropped to 4-3 with a bye next weekend.
The Minnesota Vikings take sole possession of first place in the N-F-C North with a 5-2 record after a 24-16 home win against Baltimore. The Packers remain second in the division at 4-3, one half game ahead of 3-3 Detroit which is ending its bye week. Chicago remains in last place at 3-4, despite a 17-3 home win against Carolina on Sunday. The Vikings’ defense sacked Joe Flacco five times, Kai Forbath kicked six field goals, and Latavius Murray had 113 rushing yards and Minnesota’s only touchdown. In the Bears’ victory, rookie safety Eddie Jackson became the first player in N-F-L history to score two defensive touchdowns of 75 or more yards in the same game with a 75 yard fumble recovery and a 76 yard interception of a Cam Newton pass.
