Vikings look to pull off stunner
VIKINGS (10-6) at SAINTS (13-3) When: Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans
TV: Fox
BetMBM.com line: Saints by 71⁄2
Injuries: Three of the Saints’ four starting defensive backs missed the regular-season finale because of injury, including cornerback Eli Apple (ankle) and safeties Vonn Bell (knee) and Marcus Williams (groin). It’s unclear whether any or all of them will be available Sunday. Fullback Zach Line’s status is also unclear as he deals with a knee injury.
For Minnesota, the good news is that star running back Dalvin Cook told reporters this week that he plans to return Sunday after missing the past two weeks because of a shoulder injury. “I got some rest, and I’m ready to go,” he said. The player worth monitoring is starting linebacker Eric Kendricks, who missed last week’s game with a quadriceps injury and will likely be questionable this weekend.
THREE KEYS
1. A miraculous rematch: These two teams will long be remembered for the iconic sequence that ended their playoff matchup two years ago, when quarterback Case Keenum threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs in the closing seconds of their divisional-round matchup in a moment that has been dubbed “The Minneapolis Miracle.” The key difference this time around, of course, is that New Orleans will be playing at home. The Saints have won seven of their past eight playoff games at the Superdome dating to 2000, and you can bet Sunday’s crowd will be raucous.
2. Top turnover teams: The Saints and the Vikings ranked second and fifth, respectively, in turnover differential during the regular season, and New Orleans took care of the ball at a historic level. The Saints set an NFL record by committing just eight turnovers in 2019, eclipsing the previous record of 10 that was shared by the 2010 Patriots and 2011 49ers. So don’t expect many turnovers in Sunday’s game – but any that arise could prove to be especially impactful.
3. QBs trending in opposite directions: Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been on a tear in recent weeks, throwing 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions over the past five games – including a 29-for-30 performance against the Colts on Dec. 16. Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, has thrown picks in three of his past four games and only surpassed 250 passing yards once in that span. If he’s able to reverse those trends, the Vikings will have a shot in this one. If not, Brees and Co. will in all likelihood march on to the divisional round.