VIKINGS STUN SAINTS WITH LAST-DITCH PLAY
VIKINGS 29, SAINTS 24 After blowing 17-0 halftime lead, Vikings advance to NFC title game with last-play TD
MINNEAPOLIS» There wasn’t much left for Case Keenum to do but to fling the ball deep and hope for a miracle.
Miracle answered.
Keenum completed a last-ditch heave near the sideline Sunday on the game’s final play, and Stefon Diggs slithered away for a 61-yard touchdown to give Minnesota a 2924 victory over New Orleans and send the Vikings to the NFC championship game, with one more win needed to become a first-time Super Bowl host.
Drew Brees had driven the Saints in position for Wil Lutz’s go-ahead 43-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining, punctuating a steely rally from a 17-point deficit that stood until 1:16 was left in the third quarter.
The Vikings were out of timeouts and nearly out of options when Keenum dropped back with 10 seconds to go from his 39-yard line and threw high into a crowd. Diggs jumped in front of Marcus Williams, who rolled awkwardly underneath Diggs during an ill-fated attempt at a tackle.
Diggs held his ground, kept his feet in bounds and raced untouched into the end zone as the sellout crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium erupted.
“I’m just thankful,” Diggs said. “They count us out all the time. Nobody’s thinking we can do it. This game was over. I don’t stop playing till the clock hit zero. That’s it.”
This wasn’t quite Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception for Pittsburgh in the 1972 playoffs, but these Vikings are on some kind of special path. They finished 13-3 during the regular season, giving the career backup Keenum the keys to their offense after starter Sam Bradford went down with a knee injury after the opener.
The Vikings will play at Philadelphia next weekend, after Jacksonville takes on New England for the AFC title. The Super Bowl is in Minneapolis two weeks later.
“A heck of a game, wasn’t it?” said Vikings
coach Mike Zimmer. “And the good guys won.”
Now the Vikings have spun an unprecedented scenario in NFL history. Next weekend, instead of the usual win-or-go-home stakes, they’re in a win-and-go-home situation with the Super Bowl set for Feb. 4 under the reverberating translucent roof of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Though only defensive end Brian Robison remains from the 2009 team that lost in overtime of the NFC championship game at New Orleans, the Vikings exacted some revenge Sunday on Brees and the Saints (12-6), at least for their long-frustrated fans.
The Vikings put them through quite the emotional finish to complete it.
Brees connected with Michael Thomas for two of his three touchdown passes in a span of 3:09 of the second half. The first score came after a 12-play, 80yard drive. The second was set up at the Minnesota 40 by an interception by Williams after an offbalance throw by Keenum, his one costly moment of either inexperience or recklessness.
When George Johnson blocked Ryan Quigley’s punt, the Saints took over at the Vikings’ 40. Four plays later, rookie Alvin Kamara, whose breakout was a major factor in the team’s NFC South title and breakthrough from three straight 7-9 finishes, caught a 14yard TD pass from Brees for a 2120 lead with 3:01 left.
Forbath’s 53-yard field goal, his third make of the game against his former team, gave the Vikings their lead back with 1:29 left. That was more than enough time for Brees, a future Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl championship ring and all kinds of records.
But after Brees got Lutz in position, there were just enough seconds remaining for Keenum — the undrafted and undersized alltime leading passer in NCAA history at the University of Houston whose first NFL playoff start ended in spectacular fashion. He finished with 318 yards passing, going 25-for-40, with Diggs gaining 137 yards on six receptions.
“This will take a while to get over,” said Saints coach Sean Payton, who fell to 1-5 on the road in playoff games.
Brees saw his 13th career postseason game end in a crushing final moment, his 25-for-40 performance for 294 yards tainted a bit by two interceptions before halftime. One came on a leaping grab by safety Andrew Sendejo, the other off a tip by Everson Griffen that landed in Anthony Barr’s arms at the Minnesota 10-yard line midway through the third quarter.
The Saints trailed 17-0 at halftime. The only other time the Saints went scoreless in the first half of a postseason game was five years ago. They fell behind 16-0 at Seattle in the divisional round and lost 23-15 to the eventual Super Bowl champion.
Keenum’s miraculous, last-play touchdown pass Sunday sent the Vikings to their 10th NFC championship game and first since the 2009 season.
“I don’t even know right now,” Keenum said. “I have no words.”
Philadelphia (14-3) is the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC, so it hosts the championship game. Minnesota is the No. 2 seed.