Diggs’ ‘7 Heaven’ catch lifts Minnesota up on cloud nine

MINNEAPOLIS — The play was called “Buffalo Right 7 Heaven,” which will forever be known simply as “7 Heaven” around these parts. An improbable, downright impossible miracle play that is hard to believe it actually happened.

“As long as I’ve been playing this game, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Vikings running back Latavius Murray said in a delirious Minnesota locker room after a 29-24 stunner, “especially in the playoffs, in the divisional round to move on. It doesn’t get bigger than that.”

“I couldn’t believe it,” added wide receiver Stefon Diggs. “It’s plays like that you dream about your whole life and finally it happens.”

It was Diggs who turned 7 Heaven into a 61-yard touchdown on a play that began with 10 seconds left in the game and the Vikings trailing 24-23 with the ball at their own 39. The Saints appeared headed to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship next Sunday, while the Vikings looked doomed to another heartbreaking playoff defeat after blowing a 17-0 lead.

It started when Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, a leading candidate to fill the Giants’ head-coaching vacancy, called for 7 Heaven. On that play, the receivers run deep sideline patterns so if a catch is made whoever makes it can get out of bounds and perhaps set up a game-winning field goal.

“It went in with a prayer, too,” Shurmur said of his play call.

That prayer was bathed in purple. Quarterback Case Keenum made the call in the

EPA; Getty Images; AP DIGG’ THIS: Stefon Diggs celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown on a pass from Case Keenum (inset) in the Vikings’ 29-24 victory over Drew Brees (bottom left) and the Saints in an NFC divisional round playoff game Sunday.