Drew Brees is officially done losing to the Vikings in the playoffs
By Adam Patrick
Drew Brees has decided to retire and now he will no longer have the opportunity to suffer a last-second playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The look of disappointment on the face of Drew Brees is something Minnesota Vikings fans have grown accustomed to during the last few seasons.
The Vikings‘ last two playoff victories were over Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Each matchup ended on a last-second touchdown that propelled Minnesota to an improbable victory and all the Saints quarterback could do was watch his team’s Super Bowl hopes wash down the drain.
To say that watching the Vikings knock New Orleans out of the playoffs twice since 2017 was enjoyable would be quite an understatement. No amount of postseason wins will ever erase the pain that the Saints (literally) caused the Vikings when they escaped the 2009 NFC Championship with a controversial victory.
Minnesota Vikings played a part in Drew Brees not winning multiple championships
After their devastating playoff loss to New Orleans in 2009 resulted in Brees leading his team to their first-ever Super Bowl win, Minnesota has been able to stand in the way of the quarterback earning anymore trips to the big game.
During their last postseason matchup in 2019, the Saints and Brees were heavily favored to defeat the Vikings on their home field inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. But none of that mattered once the game officially kicked off.
It was a highly competitive contest that eventually resulted in Minnesota leaving with a victory thanks to Kyle Rudolph hauling in a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime. The Vikings defense held Brees in check during the matchup as he finished with just 208 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Then back in 2017, no Minnesota fan will ever forget the divisional playoff showdown inside U.S. Bank Stadium against New Orleans.
It seemed like the Vikings were going to run away with the win at first, but then the Saints were able to climb back, and with less than a minute remaining in the game, a victory felt out of reach for Minnesota.
Obviously, every Vikings fan knows how the contest ended with Case Keenum and Stefon Diggs connecting for what will forever be known as the “Minneapolis Miracle”. It was a result that felt like payback for what New Orleans and Brees did to Minnesota in 2009.
On Sunday, Brees decided he’s no longer going to lose to the Vikings in the playoffs, and he’s retiring from the NFL.
He’ll be remembered by many as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. But to Minnesota fans, he’ll always be remembered as one of the most loathsome opposing passers the franchise has ever had to face.