The first half played out pretty much exactly as Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer game-planned it, allowing the New Orleans Saints no chance to score and reaching halftime with a 17-point lead. The second half didn’t go as anybody game-planned it, right down to the so-improbable-that-no-movie-director-would-ever-script-it last-second winning touchdown to clinch the game for Minnesota:
Stefon Diggs sends the Vikings to the NFC Championship with one of the craziest plays in NFL history! #NOvsMIN pic.twitter.com/FucVlOazmW
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 15, 2018
here's Paul Allen's (@PAOnTheMic) nutso call for the #Vikings win #NOvsMIN pic.twitter.com/gNev8sSDg2
— Corey Marra (@coribald) January 15, 2018
1500ESPN‘s Matthew Coller describes the unfamiliar magic of that final drive:
That left the Vikings down 21-20 with the ball in Keenum’s hands. He’d come through in big situations and big games before this year in Chicago, in Atlanta, home against Los Angeles. He’d have to do it on a much bigger stage.
He floated another throw. It came down in the hands of his favorite receiver Adam Thielen, who made an all-time great catch rising up over shutdown cornerback Marshone Lattimore.
Kicker Kai Forbath nailed his boot through the middle of the uprights, but Brees had an answer, hitting on a fourth-and-6 to set up a go-ahead field goal with 29 seconds remaining.
If the previous drive was the biggest spot of his life, this one quickly took over the No. 1 spot. Keenum hit Stefon Diggs to push the ball to the 39-yard line. Then on third-and-10, the most un-Vikings thing ever happened: Magic, not heartbreak.
Diggs got behind the Saints’ safety, leaped up and took a floating pass all the way to the end zone.
The Vikings rushed the field. Stefon Diggs threw his helmet in celebration.
Keenum’s comeback proved that he could beat a Hall of Famer in a playoff game – even if it was ugly at times. Again, the Vikings proved this year is different. Very, very different.
But you can guarantee Zimmer won’t be getting any sleep this week.
If it seemed unprecedented, it’s because it was: Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs to end game was first ever “walk-off” touchdown in the 4th quarter of a postseason game, per Elias.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2018
At Zone Coverage, Arif Hasan records his immediate post-game reactions.
CHASER:https://t.co/d3jqmQGHoS
— Ted Glover (@purplebuckeye) January 15, 2018
