Alvin Kamara ran for 155 yards and an NFL record-tying six touchdowns to lead the New Orleans Saints in routing Minnesota 52-33 on Friday in an NFL Christmas contest.

Kamara carried 22 times and caught three passes for 17 yards while scoring on runs of 40, 7, 6, 5, 3 and 1 yards then credited his offensive line blockers for opening holes in the Vikings defensive line.

"It's a good day," Kamara said. "The O-line, kudos to them. They get the game ball for sure. I did a small part. They did the rest."

Kamara matched the all-time NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a game set by Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals in 1929 in a 40-6 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The Saints (11-4) clinched a fourth consecutive NFC South division title, having already secured their place in the NFL playoffs, while the Vikings fell to 6-9 and were eliminated from post-season contention.

"We still have got so much more room to grow," Kamara said. "Every week we're looking to get better. We want to do more. We're tasting greatness. We've still got a long way to go."

Kamara has 21 touchdowns this season, including a team-record 15 rushing touchdowns.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara celebrates scoring one of his NFL record-tying six rushing touchdowns Friday in a victory over Minnesota
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara celebrates scoring one of his NFL record-tying six rushing touchdowns Friday in a victory over Minnesota GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Chris Graythen

He opened the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown run but the Vikings answered on the next possession on Dalvin Cook's 15-yard touchdown run.

Kamara's 1-yard touchdown run capped a 66-yard Saints march and Wil Lutz kicked a 30-yard field goal to give New Orleans a 17-7 edge early in the second quarter.

Minnesota's Mike Boone responded with a 4-yard touchdown run but Kamara scored on a 5-yard run with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter to lift the Saints ahead 24-14 at halftime.

A deflected Drew Brees pass was intercepted by the Vikings' Hardy Nickerson, giving Minnesota the ball at the Saints' 18-yard line, and that set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Irv Smith, although a missed conversion kick left the visitors trailing 24-20.

The Saints answered with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Kamara's 6-yard touchdown run as New Orleans seized a 31-20 advantage.

Smith made his second touchdown grab on a 4-yard pass from Cousins to trim the Vikings' deficit to four entering the fourth quarter, but had two touchdown runs, the record-equalizer coming from three yards with 1:50 remaining.

Taysom Hill scored on a 1-yard run for the other Saints touchdown.

Brees completed 19-of-26 tosses for 311 yards, becoming the first passer in NFL to crack 80,000 career yards.

National Football League