Saints vs. Vikings: Score, results, highlights from divisional playoff game in Minnesota

E.Jay Zarett

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Saints vs. Vikings: Score, results, highlights from divisional playoff game in Minnesota image

Saints-Vikings stats, box score

The Minnesota Vikings scored with no time left on the clock to earn a spot in the NFC championship game.

With time expiring and Minnesota trailing the New Orleans Saints by one, Case Keenum completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs as the Vikings pulled out a 29-24 win Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. New Orleans had previously rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to take the lead. 

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Keenum finished with 318 passing yards to go along with his last-second touchdown. Minnesota running backs Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon each rushed for a score, while Diggs tallied 137 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Drew Brees threw for three touchdowns for the Saints in the losing effort, while Michael Thomas registered two receiving touchdowns.

The Vikings will face the Eagles in the NFC championship game next Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

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Sporting News provided live updates throughout Sunday’s game. Here’s how the Vikings came away with the last-second win (all times Eastern) .

Saints vs. Vikings: Score, results, highlights

Final score: Vikings 29, Saints 24

8:07 p.m.: Touchdown, Vikings. Keenum completes a pass to Stefon Diggs, who runs all the way to the end zone for a 61-yard touchdown. Minnesota wins on the game’s final play, 29-24.

8:04 p.m.: The Vikings move to their 39 with 18 seconds left.

8:01 p.m.: Field goal, Saints. Wil Lutz kicks a 43-yard field goal and the Saints take a 24-23 lead with 25 seconds to play.

7:59 p.m.: The Saints are currently at the Minnesota 24, well within field-goal range, with 33 seconds to play.

7:55 p.m.: Brees hits Willie Snead for a 13-yard gain, keeping the drive alive for the Saints. 

7:54 p.m.: Brees throws two straight incomplete passes and New Orleans will face a fourth-and-10 from the Minnesota 46.

7:52 p.m.: Brees hits Josh Hill for an 18-yard gain, moving the Saints to their 43.

7:49 p.m.: Field goal, Vikings. Kai Forbath kicks a 53-yard field goal and Minnesota takes a 23-21 lead with 1:29 to play. The Saints have just one timeout remaining.

7:45 p.m.: Adam Thielen makes a diving 24-yard catch, while being held, moving Minnesota to the Saints 40 with 1:47 to play.

7:42 p.m.: Jerick McKinnon gains 3 yards on a third-and-1 play to pick up a first down for Minnesota just before the two-minute warning.

7:38 p.m.: Touchdown, Saints. New Orleans takes a 21-20 lead with 3:01 to play on a 14-yard pass from Brees to Alvin Kamara.

7:34 p.m.: Minnesota is called for an illegal block in the back and Keenum follows with an incomplete pass on third down. The Saints block the ensuing punt and they’ll take over on the Minnesota 40 with 5:21 remaining.

7:30 p.m.: Keenum completes a 22-yard pass to Stefon Diggs on third down to keep Minnesota’s drive alive. The Vikings have a fresh set of downs at their 43 with 7:14 to play.

7:24 p.m.: The Saints run a double-pass play on third down. Brees throws across the field to Willie Snead, who overthrows an open Alvin Kamara downfield. New Orleans is forced to punt and Minnesota will take over on its 10.

7:18 p.m.: Field goal, Vikings. Keenum throws an incomplete pass on third down and Minnesota settles for a 49-yard field goal from Kai Forbath. The Vikings lead 20-14 with 10:12 remaining.

7:09 p.m.: Keenum completes a 27-yard pass to Jarius Wright, moving the Vikings to the New Orleans 34. 

7:05 p.m.: Touchdown, Saints. Brees again connects with Michael Thomas, this time for a 3-yard score, as New Orleans cuts its deficit to 17-14 with 13:09 to play.

6:59 p.m.: Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo has been ruled out with a concussion.

End of third quarter: Vikings 17, Saints 7

6:55 p.m.: Turnover, Vikings. Keenum lofts a pass in the direction of Stefon Diggs on the first play of the drive. His throw is picked off by Saints safety Marcus Williams and New Orleans will take over at the Minnesota 30.

6:48 p.m.: Touchdown, Saints. Brees finishes a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Michael Thomas. New Orleans trails 17-7 with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter.

6:45 p.m.: The Saints have picked up three first downs and they currently have it at the Vikings 14 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter. 

6:33 p.m.: The Vikings move the chains three times but Keenum is sacked for a loss of 10 on a third-down play at the Saints 30 and Minnesota punts. The Saints will start their first drive of the half at their 25.

6:25 p.m.: We’re back for the second half in Minnesota. The Vikings will start the period’s opening drive at their 25.

Halftime: Vikings 17, Saints 0

6:11 p.m.: Minnesota moves to the Saints 31 on a roughing the passer penalty and a short completion from Keenum to Kyle Rudolph. Kicker Kai Forbath enters and attempts a 49-yard field goal but he misses wide left. The Vikings head into halftime with a 17-0 lead.

6:06 p.m.: Brees is sacked on third down for a 10-yard loss by Minnesota safety Harrison Smith. Wil Lutz comes on and attempts a 58-yard field goal. He misses wide left and the score remains 17-0.

6:03 p.m.: The Saints move to midfield on a 23-yard pass from Brees to Alvin Kamara. New Orleans has it at the 50 with 1:42 remaining in the half.

5:52 p.m.: Minnesota fails to convert the Saints’ turnover into points as it goes three-and-out. New Orleans will take over at its 9 with 3:08 to play in the half.

5:45 p.m.: Turnover, Saints. A Brees pass is tipped by Vikings lineman Everson Griffen and Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr comes down with it. Minnesota’s offense will take over with a 17-0 lead and 5:32 remaining in the half.

5:41 p.m.: The Saints advance into Minnesota territory for the first time in the game on a 22-yard pass from Brees to Josh Hill.

5:35 p.m.: Touchdown, Vikings. Latavius Murray finishes a 12-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run as Minnesota’s lead grows to 17-0. Keenum completed a key 17-yard pass to Adam Thielen on third down earlier in the possession to keep the Vikings’ drive alive.

5:28 p.m.: Latavius Murray bursts through the line of scrimmage and into the end zone for what appears to be a 13-yard touchdown. Vikings offensive lineman Mike Remmers, however, is called for holding, negating the score. Minnesota now has it at the Saints 23.

End of first quarter: Vikings 10, Saints 0

5:18 p.m.: Turnover, Saints. Brees attempts a deep throw down the middle of the field on the drive’s first play. Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo dives and picks off the pass. Minnesota will take over on its 42.

5:17 p.m.: The Saints force Minnesota into a three-and-out. New Orleans will start its next drive at its 15.

5:11 p.m.: The Vikings bring down Mark Ingram short of the marker on a third-and-1 run and New Orleans punts again.

5:05 p.m.: Field goal, Vikings. Keenum throws two incompletions and Latavius Murray registers a short run before Kai Forbath kicks a 20-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-0 lead.

5:02 p.m.: Saints defensive back Ken Crawley is called for pass interference on back-to-back plays. The Vikings now have a fresh set of downs at the Saints 6.

4:56 p.m.: The Saints pick up one first down but fail to move the chains again. They punt and Minnesota will take over on its 20. 

4:49 p.m.: Touchdown, Vikings. Jerick McKinnon receives a pitch and runs into the end zone to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead with 9:45 to play in the first quarter. 

4:47 p.m.: Case Keenum completes a 22-yard pass to Jarius Wright, moving Minnesota into the red zone.

4:43 p.m.: Brees throws two straight incompletions and New Orleans goes three-and-out on its first possession.

4:40 p.m.: We’re underway in Minnesota. The Vikings win the toss and defer. The Saints will start the game’s opening possession at their 25.

4:02 p.m.: Drew Brees speaks to the Saints pregame. 

3:45 p.m.: The Saints and Vikings have both announced their inactives.

E.Jay Zarett