5 best Vikings wins on Monday Night Football since 2000

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1. Thriller in the Big Easy (2008)

After beginning the 2008 season with a 1-3 record, the Vikings needed to come away with a win in their Monday night matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.

In terms of entertainment, this game between Minnesota and the Saints was very, very good. It featured everything from a blocked field goal returned for a score, a halfback pass for a touchdown, two punt returns taken to the house, and a last second field goal to seal the win.

New Orleans began the matchup by scoring a touchdown on their first drive. Then it appeared that the Saints were going to add even more points to their total when their offense got the ball for the second time.

But the Vikings had other ideas. Instead of New Orleans kicker Martin Gramatica connecting on a 46-yard field goal attempt, Minnesota corner Antoine Winfield recovered a blocked kick and took it 59 yards the other way for a touchdown.

Speaking of Winfield, he came up with another big-time play later in the second quarter when he simultaneously sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees and recovered a fumble.

Minnesota Vikings

That turnover led to the Vikings finding the end zone again thanks to a four-yard trick pass from running back Chester Taylor to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Minnesota clearly had the momentum in their favor as they went into the half up 20-10 over New Orleans.

The second half was a bit of different story for the Vikings. Not at the fault of their offense or defense though, but mostly in part to their decision to think they could stop Saints running back Reggie Bush from hurting them with a long punt return.

Well, Minnesota was wrong and Bush took not one, but two punts back the other way for touchdowns and the Vikings found themselves down 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter.

Fortunately for Minnesota, quarterback Gus Frerotte was able to connect with wide receiver Bernard Berrian for a 33-yard score and tie the game back up at 27 points apiece.

After Gramatica failed to give New Orleans the lead on a 46-yard field goal attempt, Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell got his own opportunity to put his team ahead on the scoreboard.

Despite wearing a purple and gold Minnesota jersey, Longwell actually made a 30-yard field goal to give the Vikings the lead with 13 seconds remaining. Thanks to their kicker (for once), Minnesota walked out of the building with an impressive 30-27 win over the Saints.