The Vikings' superiority in that first half is borne out by the stats.

They registered 13 first downs, compared to New Orleans' five and picked up more than the double the yardage of the Saints, 182 yards to 82.

It's been their passing game that has been dominant, with Kirk Cousins throwing for 144 yards - his opposite number Andy Dalton has managed just 38 yards through the air.

That's the end of the half, and an entertaining one it's been.

Minnesota have been the better team on offense and led through Alex Mattison's 15-yard run before Saints' only real drive of note of the half saw rookie wide receiver Chris Olave notch his first NFL touchdown to level matters.

But two Greg Joseph field goals have seen the Vikings regain the initiative, with Saints' stand-in quarterback Andy Dalton aiding Minnesota's cause with a costly fumble.

New Orleans are only six points behind though - and they will get the ball to start the second half.

Field goal - Vikingspublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 2 October 2022

15:53 BST 2 October 2022

Minnesota Vikings 13-7 New Orleans Saints

Irv Smith Jr makes the catch but is well short of a first down, meaning a second field goal attempt in the matter of minutes for Greg Joseph.

Again, he's successful to stretch the Vikings' lead to six.

Kirk Cousins takes a nasty hit as he just manages to get the ball away on second down.

But now a Vikings false start leaves them third and long with 16 seconds left in the half.

Well, that's not what New Orleans wanted.

Andy Dalton is pounced on by Dalvin Tomlinson, who forces the ball from his grasp and the Vikings recover it.

Now, Minnesota have the chance to stretch that lead before half-time. Big turn of events.

Image source, Getty Images

Still a minute and four seconds left in the half. New Orleans have two time-outs. So there is time for them to respond before half-time.

Andy Dalton will begin from the 25-yard line.

Field goal - Vikingspublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 2 October 2022

15:47 BST 2 October 2022

Minnesota Vikings 10-7 New Orleans Saints

After that drop, Minnesota have to settle for a field goal which Greg Joseph easily kicks through the uprights.

It should have been a first down but tight end Johnny Mundt drops a routine catch.

Dalvin Cook twice tries to barrel down the middle but gets a combined nine yards from the two efforts.

Vikings need a yard for a fresh set of downs. Saints need a stop.

Those two Jefferson catches take us to the two-minute warning before half-time with Minnesota in prime position to regain the lead, inside the Saints' 20-yard line.

Almost a big gain on first down for the Vikings but CJ Ham cannot quite make the grab, perhaps Kirk Cousins' throw had a bit much on it.

Minnesota face another third down so Cousins goes to tried and trusted wide receiver Adam Thielen - and he brings it in for a first down.

Back-to-back first downs in fact as Justin Jefferson hauls in a toe-tap catch on the sideline. Make that three successive first downs with another Jefferson grab.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

New Orleans quarterback Jameis Winston may have been ruled out with a back injury today but he's still doing his bit for the team.

He and Andy Dalton are both sat looking at tablets on the sidelines, with Winston giving his back-up a few pointers as to where that drive stalled and where the Saints can maybe go better the next time Dalton has the ball back in his hands.

The Vikings gathered around stricken team-mate Lewis Cine after his horrific ankle injury he picked up earlier this half.

We await news on his condition.

Image source, Getty Images

The Saints started inside their own 10-yard line after the punt.

They are unable to make much progress - Jarvis Landry grabs a third-down catch but is short of first down yardage.

It's three and out for the Saints. Ooh, their punt is almost blocked as a sea of purple envelopes the punter but he just gets it away.

Wonder how many Spurs faces we'll see today.

Harry Kane oversaw the coin toss earlier and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is here too.

What a stadium they have here in north London. Amazing.

Image source, Getty Images

Great work from the Saints D.

After conceding those two gains, they stop the Vikings drive with a big third-down sack on Kirk Cousins as two burly New Orleans defenders swallow him up.

Minnesota will have to punt and try to pin New Orleans deep in their own half.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Heck of a response from Minnesota.

They begin at their 25-yard line after the kick-off sails through the endzone but are already up to halfway after a Kirk Cousins pass to Adam Thielen and a Dalvin Cook run.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Say what you like about the NFL, the Premier League could definitely learn something from that with their use of VAR.

There was a stoppage for a few minutes to check the replays but the monitor was brought to the official, not the official going to the sideline, and while he was checking it, they filled the void with a few banging party tunes.

And after all that, the Saints are level. Game on, party on!!