Vikings Digg Deep in victory over the Saints

The New Orleans Saints traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The Saints got here by winning the NFC South and beating the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Wild Card round. The Vikings took the NFC North title and had a first round bye. The Saints are looking to avenge their loss in Week 1 at home. Who would come out on top and advance to the NFC Championship game? Let's find out! The Saints would start with the ball and would go three and out to start the game. The Vikings would go on an eight play drive that would end with a 14 yard touchdown run by Jarick McKinnon for a 7-0 Minnesota lead. The next Vikings possession would end with a punt. The Vikings would go on a seven play drive ending with a 20 yard field goal by Kai Forbath for a 10-0 lead. The Saints would go three and out once again. The Saints defense would answer with a three and out of their own. On the first play of the Saints' drive, Brees' pass would be intercepted by Sendejo and the Vikings would get it at their own 42 yard line. The Vikings would enter the second quarter with the ball and would go on a 12 play drive ending with a one yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray for a 17-0 lead. The Saints drive would end with another interception, this time by Anthony Barr. The Vikings would be unable to capitalize as they would go three and out. The Saints would go on 12 play drive and attempt a 58 yard field goal by Wil Lutz and he would miss it wide to the left with 21 seconds to go. It would take the Vikings three plays to line up for a 49 yard field goal by Kai Forbath and would miss it wide left as we head to halftime with the Vikings leading 17-0. The Vikings would start with the ball and would get as far as the Saints 30 yard line but would be forced to punt. The Saints would capitalize with Brees going to Michael Thomas for a 14 yard touchdown to cut the Vikings lead to 17-7. On the next Vikings possession, Case Keenum's pass would be intercepted by Williams and returned to the Vikings 30 yard line. As the third quarter came to an end, on second and 9, Brees would find Hill for 14 yards to the 15 yard line. At the start of the fourth quarter, on second and 3, Brees would find Alvin Kamara for six yards to the 2 yard line and a first and goal. On second and goal at the three yard line, Brees would find Thomas for the second time today to cut the lead to 17-14. First play of the next Vikings drive, Murray would go for 14 yards. On second and 10, Keenum would find Jerrius Wright for 27 yards to the Saints 34 yard line. The Vikings would settle for a 49 yard field goal by Forbath to increase the Minnesota lead to 20-14. The Saints would go three and out on their next possession. On second and 9, the Saints would get called for holding for an automatic first down. The Vikings would face a third and 5, Keenum would find Stefon Diggs for 22 yards to their own 44 yard line. It looked like Keenum would go to Diggs for an 11 yard gain but an illegal block would move it back ten yards. That penalty would force the Vikings to punt and it would be blocked by Johnson and the Saints would take over at the Vikings 40 yard line. First play of the drive, Brees would find Ted Ginn Jr for 15 yards to the 25 yard line. On second and 1, Mark Ingram would go for two yards at the 14 yard line. Next play, Brees would find Kamara for a 14 yard touchdown and the extra point would give the Saints their first lead of game at 21-20 with 3:01 to play. The Vikings would only need a field goal to take the lead. The Vikings would face a third and 1 and McKinnon would go for two yards as we head to the two-minute warning. On second and 10, Keenum would find Andre Thielen for 24 yards to the Saints 40 yard line. The Vikings would settle for a 53 yard field goal by Forbath and he would make it for a 23-21 lead with 1:29 to play. The Saints would take over at their own 25 after the touchback. On second and 10, Brees would find Hill for 18 yards. Next play, Brees would go to Ginn for 11 yards. The Saints would face a fourth and 10 and Brees would find Willie Snead for 13 yards. The Saints would settle for a 43 yard field goal by Wil Lutz and would make it to take a 24-23 lead with 25 seconds to go. After a false start penalty, Keenum would find Diggs for 19 yards to the Vikings 39 yard line. On third and 10 with 10 seconds left, Keenum would find Diggs and he would go 61 yards for a touchdown with no time left as the Vikings advance to the NFC Championship game with a 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings will travel to Philadelphia next Sunday for the NFC Championship game.