The Minnesota Vikings came into Sunday’s game on a two game slide and both games were home disasters so the Vikes get sent to New Orleans as a six seed. Oh my the Vikings are facing one of the hottest teams in the NFL in New Orleans who are just averaging 40 points in a game.
I watched Fox Pregame like I do every Sunday I am home and watched the Pregame hosts all picks the Saints and Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long even went so far as saying the Saints will win by 17. Terry Bradshaw even made a comment where the Vikings have no chance and the way the Vikings had looked the last two weeks it made me worry.
I watched Saturday the Houston Texans make an incredible comeback and win in OT and then Tennessee knocks out New England. Is this the weekend slanting to a Vikings win with the mentality of the Vikings vs the world?
The Vkings win the coin toss and how many times do we see the team defer to the 2nd half well the Vikings shocked me and took the ball to start. I love this call on the road being a huge underdog. The way the first series started for the Vikings saw a nice run by Dalvin Cook but then the unthinkable catch by Adam Thielen and fumble only to see the Saints return and start at the Vikings 37. I believe a lot of big defensive series by the Vikings but maybe the biggest was holding the Saints to a Field Goal. What a win for the Vikings defense.
I thought the Vikings offensive line played their worst game at home vs the Green Bay Packers but Sunday’s performance was simply awesome. The running game was awesome by Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison each gauging big runs but again can’t run without the blocking. I also thought the Vikings overall pas protection was unbelievable with a few exceptions. The first half Saints Cam Jordan was really a non-factor.
I am usually worried about Drew Brees but Sunday the player who succeeded too much was Tayson Hill who killed the Vikings defense alone which I can’t believe as Brees had historical low first half.
The Saints go up 10-3 but the Vikings come back to get a Field goal which to me is huge getting any points on the hostile environment.
The Vikings and Dalvin Cook drive and get the most important touchdown of the season putting the purple up 13-10. I had mentioned earlier the defense coming up with an early big stop well this time Saints kicker, Will Lutz misses a field goal wide right giving the Vikings a huge break as it could have been 13-13 at halftime.
The Vikings come out and stop the Saints and take the ball and drive going up 20-10. I am feeling better but by no means comfortable as I have been a fan so long and know my heart can be ripped but I must believe.
The defense was short both Mackenzie Alexander and Mike Hughes coming in which gave me extreme stress as I feared the Saints will open it up throwing left and right and I knew the Vikings defensive line had to play of their lives. I could not be happier with the effort as I saw Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen both played a monster game.
Drew Brees had not fumbled all year until long armed Hunter knocks the ball free and the Vikings recover. Is this a sign the upset is going to happen? The Saints only had 8 turnovers on the year and the Vikings force two with the first half interception by Anthony Harris and then the fumble.
I still can’t believe as I type this just how good the Vikings did look most if not all of the game. The running game, the passing game and pass rush were incredible.
There was so much I loved but players concerned me and that was Stefon Diggs and his tantrums and Xavier Rhodes blowing up on the sideline after getting burned badly on a touchdown.
Diggs in an incredible athlete and love his catches and Rhodes played as good as I have seen in quite a while but we obviously do not need this especially in crunch time.
The fourth quarter is as much as my heart can take as I turn 55 on January 13th but when it’s 20-17 and Drew Brees decided to get hot and there they go to get a regulation ending field goal sending the game to Overtime.
The Saints big three, Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas were all non-factors in my opinion for much of the game making me still continue to wonder if this would be the upset of the new decade.
I do look back and wonder about the Saints clock management and the end of regulation not using a timeout nut instead a 10 second run off they were ok with. I am in shock sitting on my couch feeling the worst is to happen but we survived and the field goal ties it
It was 2009-10 I was at the Saints-Vikings NFC Championship and overtime it went. I remember watching the Saints win the coin toss and taking it for the game winning field goal. It was the next year the rule was changed and both teams get the ball unless the first drive ends in a touchdown.
The Vikings Everson Griffen calls heads on the coin toss and here we go a Vikings touchdown and it’s over.
My hands always sweat game but this overtime I could have wrung my hands out. What a drive including a play call that shocked the heck out of me. I see Kirk Cousins drop back and throw it deep and see Thielen make an unreal over the shoulder catch and off my couch I came screaming, “He caught it.” I still can’t believe a pass play was called.
The Vikings are on the two and my heart is beating out of my body and then I see two runs to the left by Dalvin. Its 3rd and goal and I see Kyle Rudolph up on top one on one I prayed to myself to please throw it up Cousins because Rudolph will not be denied.
Boom game over and the Vikings match out of New Orleans with their first ever overtime win in playoff history.
I am still shocked an offensive genius, Sean Payton looked like he was in shock most of the game with the game plan Coach Zimmer came up with. I have been so critical of no adjustments well Sunday was a game of adjustments.
Thank you for reading
Purplestick
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