Vikings exorcise field goal demons, win in the most dramatic way possible
The NFL’s “Final Four” are officially set.
The Patriots’ Tom Brady is a familiar face. Nick Foles and Blake Bortles are not, but the Philadelphia and Jacksonville quarterbacks are riding red-hot defenses into their respective conference championship games.
And now another unfamiliar face,Minnesota’s Case Keenum, has punched his ticket to the NFC championship game.
It really couldn’t have happened in a more dramatic fashion.
The Vikings kept their chances of hosting a “home” game for the Super Bowl alive after knocking off the New Orleans Saints 29-24 in a thrilling back-and-forth NFC divisional round game.
There were a ridiculous four lead changes over the last three minutes or so.
But no lead change was more important and ridiculous than this stunning 61-yard walk-off touchdown pass from Keenum to Stefon Diggs.
.@STEFONDIGGS FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!! #SKOL #NOvsMIN #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/UAoNJ2NJ97
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2018
No timeouts, third-and-10 and a mile to go before even sniffing field goal range.
None of it mattered.
While Diggs has already established himself as one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL, Keenum was able to shed a lot of baggage with that throw.
Journeyman? Game-manager? Third-stringer?
How about starting quarterback of the NFC championship-bound Vikings?
The play led to an unbridled celebration at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Amazing moment.
@CaseKeenum7 leads @Vikings fans in a #SKOL chant! #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/4YtjWHcD2v
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2018
The Vikings also exorcised some demons en route to the dramatic win.
Kicker Kai Forbath was able to dispel the ghosts of Gary Anderson and Blair Walsh by kicking a 53-yard field goal to give Minnesota the lead with less than two minutes left.
The Saints, meanwhile, may have some haunting demons to exorcise themselves after the crushing loss.
Despite a field goal from Will Lutz to temporarily take the lead, all any Saints fans will be able to talk about is rookie safety Marcus Williams.
Williams had a stellar rookie season, but his woeful misplay of Diggs on that final touchdown will be seared into the memories of New Orleans fans for years.
A wrap-up tackle, in all likelihood, would’ve ended the game right there.
Instead, the rest is history.
The Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles will clash in the NFC championship game, featuring a pair of castoff quarterbacks from the Rams.
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