Minnesota Vikings stun Saints to advance in the NFL playoffs

Experts gave the Minnesota Vikings no chance to defeat the Saints in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, but anything can happen on any given Sunday.

The Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs put the Minnesota Vikings up against the New Orleans Saints. Most experts didn’t give the purple and gold a chance of winning this tough game in the “Big Easy” but it was a much more competitive game than they expected.

In fact, the Vikings won the game by a final score of 26-20 but needed overtime to put away the third seed in the NFC. It was a game full of ups and downs, but Minnesota found a way to get the job done.

Let’s take a look at how the score got that way.

First quarter

After winning the coin toss, the Vikings chose to receive the ball to start the game. The first drive didn’t work well, as a quick Adam Thielen fumble gave the ball directly to the Saints at the 37-yard line. After a drive was stopped by the Minnesota defense in the red zone, New Orleans lead by three.

Minnesota responded well, with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison doing a lot of work on the ground with the ball. Although they didn’t get in the end zone, Minnesota did get into field goal range. Dan Bailey nailed the 43-yard try to tie the game 3-3.

Following forcing a Saints punt, Minnesota couldn’t take advantage of the possession and ended the quarter ready to punt the ball back to New Orleans.

Score after one quarter: 3-3 tie

Second quarter

Minnesota was able to get a lot of pressure on Drew Brees following the break. The Vikings mixed things up on their defensive line, moving Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter from the ends to the inside at times to take advantage of mismatches. Their stout play got the ball back to the purple and gold on offense.

Kirk Cousins still looked like he was struggling to get going. His decision-making and accuracy still weren’t on point. The possession ended with another Britton Colquitt punt.

Taysom Hill had a nice rush that set up a Hill bomb to Deonte Harris which set them up at the goal line. The very next play saw Alvin Kamara run the ball in for the score. Following the extra point, the Vikings trailed 3-10.

Good thing for the Vikings, Kyle Rudolph came to play and fought for every yard. Combining that with strong runs from Dalvin Cook put Minnesota back in Saints territory. A screen pass to Cook put them in scoring position but a cracked helmet screen for Cook, a camera falling on the field, and solid Saints defense forced a field goal. Vikings trail 6-10.

Anthony Harris tied for the league lead in interceptions this season and showed off those skills by intercepting Drew Brees and returning it back into Saints territory. A couple of nice Thielen catches set up a 5-yard touchdown run from Dalvin Cook where he went untouched. Following the extra point, the Vikings took the lead 13-10.

Deonte Harris returned the kickoff into Vikings territory. Michael Thomas made the field goal try a little closer by catching a pass at the 26. A 43-yard field goal try went wide right as the half came to a close.

Halftime score: 13-10 Minnesota Vikings lead

Third Quarter

The Saints and Vikings traded punts until the Vikings pushed the ball down the field with Cousins passes to Thielen and Stefon Diggs. With the ball on the one-yard line, Dalvin Cook barely punched the ball into the end zone with a Dan Bailey extra point giving the Vikings a 20-10 lead.

New Orleans and Minnesota traded possessions again until the quarter came to a close.

Score after three quarters: 20-10 Minneota Vikings lead

Fourth quarter

Drew Brees started to heat up in the final quarter of regulation. He connected with several pass-catchers to put the Saints in scoring range. Brees wasn’t going to settle for 3, hitting his offensive weapon Taysom Hill for an uncontested touchdown, moving New Orleans to a one-score game 20-17.

After an unfruitful Vikings drive, the Saints chipped their way down the field. Taysom Hill was eating the Minnesota defense alive until a strip-sack of Drew Brees by Danielle Hunter resulted in the Jalyn Holmes recovery, giving the ball back to Minnesota.

A scary moment happened with Cook seemingly fumbling right into the arms of a Saints defender returned for a score, but the running back’s knee was definitely down and the ruling was overturned, stating he was down by contact. But Minnesota couldn’t move the chains and was forced to punt it back to New Orleans.

Ten yards on the punt return put the Saints on the 30-yard line. Once again, they were able to move the ball well, getting multiple small chunks of yardage to move the chains quickly. Inside the final minute, the Saints started clocking the ball but did so when not set.

It all boiled down to a 49-yard field goal try for Will Lutz to send the game to Overtime. He knocked it through the uprights to tie the game at 20-10. Following a squib kick, regulation ended.

End of regulation: 20-20 tie

Overtime

The Vikings won the coin toss and took the ball. Kirk Cousins started slinging the ball, picking up a key first down on a throw to Diggs before hitting Adam Thielen for a massive play putting Minnesota at the 2-yard line.

Final score: 26-20

How high did your blood pressure get during this playoff contest between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints? And how do you feel about the upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers? Let us know in the comments section!