Vikings Flashback: Minnesota upsets New Orleans in the 2019 playoffs
By Ali Siddiqui
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a playoff upset over the New Orleans Saints.
On Christmas Day, the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints are set to face off down in the Big Easy. At 6-8, the Vikings are currently on a two-game losing steak. The Saints have also lost two matchups in a row, but they are still 10-4 with a clear path to the playoffs.
Against New Orleans, Minnesota leads the all-time series 33-22, including wins in three of the previous four meetings between the two teams.
The last time the Vikings and Saints faced each other happened last season in the first round of the playoffs inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Minnesota Vikings walked away with an overtime win over the New Orleans Saints in 2019
During their last meeting in 2019, Minnesota defeated New Orleans by a final score of 26-20 in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Vikings lost the following week to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.
Against the Saints, Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 19 of his 31 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. Dalvin Cook added 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Adam Thielen caught seven passes for 129 yards, including a 43-yarder which helped set up the four-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph in overtime.
On the defensive side of the ball, Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen each recorded 1.5 sacks for the Vikings.
During the matchup, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees completed 26 of his 33 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas caught seven passes for 70 yards and Taysom Hill rushed for 50 yards on four carries while also catching a touchdown.
Believe it or not, this was only Minnesota’s second playoff win since Mike Zimmer was hired to be the team’s head coach in 2014. Their other postseason victory under Zimmer was also against New Orleans (in 2017).
Last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears really hurt the Vikings’ current playoff chances. They still have a shot, but they are very slim. Maybe Minnesota will upset the Saints again on Friday, but it does not look very likely.
Playoffs or not, if the Vikings still end the year with two straight wins, it will give the team a better outlook heading into 2021. It would also give their younger players more confidence moving forward.