CHRISTMAS DAY FOOTBALL: MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

BY ADAM GREENE

Now you have something to do when while swiping ignore on calls from your grandmother asking why you didn’t come to her COVID-19 superspreader Christmas Day celebration. You can watch NFL football as the Minnesota Vikings try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the New Orleans Saints.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-7.5, O/U: 51.5)

Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Kickoff: Dec. 25, 4:30 p.m. EST

Broadcast: FOX/NFL Network

THE HISTORY

Over the last few years the Saints and Vikings have had a semi-annual date in the postseason and it’s not worked out for the team from the Big Easy. In fact, the two losses derailed possible Super Bowl campaigns and both happened either in the final minute of regulation or in overtime. In the 2017-18 season it was a miracle pass literally as time expired from Minnesota’s Case Keenum to Stephon Diggs for a 61 yard touchdown.

Their previous meeting was in that playoff loss last season on Jan. 5, 2020. It required a fourth quarter New Orleans comeback to even get to overtime, but once there the Saints, for the second year in a row, blew it. Kirk Cousins tossed a four yard touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph to end the game and New Orleans’ season.

Cousins threw for 242 yards and a touchdown in the win. Dalvin Cook ran for 94 yards and two scores. Adam Thielen caught seven passes for 129 yards. Drew Brees threw for 208 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

In all, they’ve met five times in the postseason with Minnesota winning all but one of them and even that Saints win, a 31-28 victory in the 2009-10 NFC Championship, required overtime. The Vikings hold a 23-12 lead in the all time series.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-8)

It’s poetic that the Vikings’ playoff hopes hinge on a victory over the Saints, because they can usually count on that. They still have an outside mathematical chance at the No. 7 seed in the NFC, but that evaporates if they lose this game. Last week they fell 33-27 to the Chicago Bears. Cousins threw for 271 yards, two touchdowns and a pick and Dalvin Cook rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 108 yards.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-4)

The Saints are in the midst of a two game losing streak after a surprising loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and a far less surprising loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Drew Brees, in his first game back since injuring everything but his immortal soul, threw for 234 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the 32-29 loss to KC. He was sacked once, but did not get any internal organs crushed in the process this time.

THE PICK

The fact that the Vikings are still alive at this point is not a sign of their resiliency, but instead of how top heavy the NFC is. There’s a huge gap between them and the elite teams and the Saints, regardless of their recent struggles, are one those better squads. Saints 31, Vikings 17

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