Minnesota 26 @ New Orleans Saints 20 Final - FOX

Scoring Plays:
1Q - NO - Wil Lutz 29 yd FG GOOD | MIN 0, NO 3
1Q - MIN - Dan Bailey 43 yd FG GOOD | MIN 3, NO 3
End of First Quarter Score: Minnesota Vikings 3, New Orleans Saints 3
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2Q - NO - Alvin Kamara 4 yd TD rush (PAT Good) | MIN 3, NO 10
2Q - MIN - Dan Bailey 21 yd FG GOOD | MIN 6, NO 10
2Q - MIN - Dalvin Cook 5 yd TD rush (PAT Good) | MIN 13, NO 10
Halftime Score: Minnesota Vikings 13, New Orleans Saints 10
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3Q - MIN - Dalvin Cook 1 yd TD rush (PAT Good) | MIN 20, NO 10
End of Third Quarter Score: Minnesota Vikings 20, New Orleans Saints 10
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4Q - NO - Drew Brees to Taysom Hill 20 yd TD pass (PAT Good) | MIN 20, NO 17
4Q - NO - Wil Lutz 49 yd FG GOOD | MIN 20, NO 20
End of Fourth Quarter Score: Minnesota Vikings 20, New Orleans Saints 20
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OT - MIN - Kirk Cousins to Kyle Rudolph 4 yd TD pass (PAT NOT Attempted) | MIN 26, NO 20
Final Score: Minnesota Vikings 26, New Orleans Saints 20
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Hello Who Dats & Who Datettes ... Welcome to the postseason version of the Saints Game Thread



Your favorite football team and mine was less than 1 inch away from having this weekend off after tying the best record in franchise history, 13-3, for the 4th time (2009, 2011, 2018, 2019). However, the 2019 Saints became the 2nd of those 4 teams (2011) to be forced into a game on Wild Card Weekend.

In order to get to Divisional Weekend, the Saints must defeat a team they were cheering for 2 weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings, whose offensive no show on Sunday Night Football the weekend before Christmas allowed the Green Bay Packers to stay in position for the bye.

The Vikings were 16th in the NFL in yards per game this season (353.5) & 8th in points per game (25.4) and will have 1 of their top weapons, Dalvin Cook, back in the line-up. The Minnesota defense was 11th best in yards allowed per game (341.6) and 6th best scoring defense (18.9) this season

The Saints, perhaps as healthy as they can be at this point, will have to step up with the 12th best defense in yards allowed (333.1) and 10th best scoring defense (21.3) in the league. Meanwhile, what's been undeniable has been the ascension of the Saints offense over the last month of the season, finishing 9th in total yards per game (373.9) and 3rd in scoring (28.6).

LET'S DESTROY THESE SCANDINAVIAN BRUTS AND PUNCH OUR TICKET TO LAMBEAU!!!!!!

Of the 53 players remaining on the active roster, the Saints are fairly healthy heading into today's game, Eli Apple (ankle) and Zach Line (knee) are both OUT of today's game, but everyone else, including both our starting safeties Vonn Bell & Marcus Williams, are good to go today.

On the Vikings side, CB Mackensie Alexander (knee) & CB Mike Hughes (neck) will both miss today's game. In fact, Hughes was moved to IR with his neck injury after practicing on Wednesday & Thursday. DE Ifeadi Odenigbo is QUESTIONABLE for today's game with a hamstring injury, otherwise, all other available Vikings are good to go.

Weather: We're in the Superdome today... so 100% chance of Kirk Cousins' ears ringing when this game ends.

Uniforms: The Saints reportedly asked the NFL to allow them to wear color rush, but that was shot down, so it'll be the Dome debut of the all-white uniforms



For You Degenerate Bettors Out There: Here are the composite odds courtesy of vegasinsider.com
Favorite: Saints (-8)
Total: 50

Final Division Standings:
NFC South
Saints 13-3
Falcons 7-9
Bucs 7-9
Panthers 5-11

NFC North
Packers 13-3
Vikings 10-6
Bears 8-8
Lions 3-12-1

Want to listen to Zach Strief & Deuce McAllister instead of Joe Buck & Troy Aikman?
Find your local Saints Radio Network affiliate at this link

Today's Officials:Reminder that the officiating crews are not the same crews from the regular season, but rather "all-star" crews of the best graded officials at each position. In parenthesis is the name of the head referee each official worked with during the 2019 regular season

Referee: #51 Carl Cheffers


Umpire: #49 Rich Hall (Alex Kemp)
Down Judge: #48 Jim Mello (Brad Allen)
Line Judge: #18 Byron Boston (Walt Anderson)
Field Judge: #56 Allen Baynes (John Hussey)
Side Judge: #5 Jim Quirk (Adrian Hill)
Back Judge: #119 Greg Wilson (Clay Martin)
Replay Official: Mark Butterworth
Replay Assistant: Alton James
Alternates: Referee Brad Allen, Umpire Paul King, Down Judge Kevin Codey, Side Judge Don Willard

Inactive Lists:
MIN-
WR Laquon Treadwell
CB Mackensie Alexander
DT Hercules Mata'afa
DE Eddie Yarbrough
G Dru Samia
OT Oli Udoh
OT Aviante Collins

NO-
CB Eli Apple
FS D.J. Swearinger
OL Ethan Greenidge
FB Zach Line
DE Noah Spence
LB Manti Te'o
C Will Clapp