Jefferson used his elite route-running to create separation against [Saints cornerback Marshon] Lattimore for most of the afternoon. He had a pair of big plays — a 41-yard gain when two Saints defenders collided on an over route and a 39-yard gain on a go route that set up the Vikings’ go-ahead field goal. Jefferson did everything for the Vikings in London and got to hit the international Griddy he was hoping for.
Thielen added eight receptions for 72 yards, but Ragatz noted he made key plays when the Vikings needed him to:
[Thielen] was constantly getting open and providing an intermediate target for [quarterback Kirk] Cousins. Each of Thielen’s first five catches gained at least 10 yards and moved the chains. He also drew a couple key penalties on the Vikings touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, although both were perhaps generous calls.
On the other side of the ball, Ragatz said third-year cornerback Cameron Dantzler was possibly the Vikings best defensive player throughout the afternoon. He wrote:
[Dantzler] had three pass breakups, one of which should’ve been an interception, and recorded a tackle for loss. Dantzler’s biggest play came just before the 2-minute warning when he dove to break up a deep pass intended for [Saints receiver] Chris Olave. If he doesn’t make that play, the game could’ve ended quite differently.