2019 Wild Card · Sun, Jan 5, 2020 · Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Minnesota VikingsWinner
26
New Orleans Saints
20
Minnesota Vikings 26–20. Biggest swing: Q4 4:26, MIN +38% win probability on one snap.
The game in one curve — scrub to replay it
Win probability
(4:26) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees sacked at MIN 28 for -8 yards (99-D.Hunter). FUMBLES (99-D.Hunter) [99-D.Hunter], touched at MIN 34, RECOVERED by MIN-92-J.Holmes at MIN 36. 92-J.Holmes to MIN 37 for 1 yard (71-R.Ramczyk).
Highest-leverage plays
- Q4 · 4:26MIN +38% win prob(4:26) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees sacked at MIN 28 for -8 yards (99-D.Hunter). FUMBLES (99-D.Hunter) [99-D.Hunter], touched at MIN 34, RECOVERED by MIN-92-J.Holmes at MIN 36. 92-J.Holmes to MIN 37 for 1 yard (71-R.Ramczyk).
- OT · 12:42NO +20% win prob(12:42) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 19-A.Thielen to NO 2 for 43 yards (21-P.Robinson). Pass 40, YAC 3
- Q4 · 0:07NO +18% win prob(:07) 3-W.Lutz 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- Q4 · 4:35NO +15% win prob(4:35) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill left end pushed ob at MIN 20 for 28 yards (22-H.Smith).
Down-to-down truth
Situational splits
| Metric | Vikings | Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive plays | 73 | 54 |
| Total yards | 363 (edge) | 324 |
| Yards per play | 5.0 | 6.0 (edge) |
| Expected points added / play | 0.01 (edge) | -0.12 |
| Success rate | 44% | 44% (edge) |
| Dropback rate | 47% | 70% |
| Dropback efficiency (EPA/play) | 0.14 (edge) | -0.29 |
| Rush efficiency (EPA/play) | -0.10 | 0.26 (edge) |
| Third downs | 10/18 (edge) | 4/11 |
| Red-zone trips → TDs | 0 → 0 | 0 → 0 |
| Explosive plays (10+ rush / 20+ pass) | 6 (edge) | 5 |
| First downs gained on snaps | 21 (edge) | 18 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Vikings won the down-to-down efficiency fight: 0.01 expected points added per play vs -0.12.
Possession by possession
Drive chart
| # | Team | Start | Plays | Scrim yds | Clock | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIN | MIN 25 | 3 | 12 | 0:50 | Fumble | |
| 2 | NO | MIN 37 | 8 | 21 | 4:18 | Turnover on downs | |
| 3 | MIN | MIN 25 | 12 | 50 | 5:47 | Turnover on downs | |
| 4 | NO | NO 12 | 5 | 4 | 1:29 | Punt | |
| 5 | MIN | MIN 36 | 5 | 17 | 2:44 | Punt | |
| 6 | NO | NO 20 | 5 | 18 | 1:48 | Punt | |
| 7 | MIN | MIN 30 | 4 | 6 | 1:34 | Punt | |
| 8 | NO | NO 30 | 5 | 70 | 2:12 | Touchdown | |
| 9 | MIN | MIN 25 | 14 | 72 | 6:24 | Turnover on downs | |
| 10 | NO | NO 24 | 4 | 4 | 0:51 | Interception | |
| 11 | MIN | NO 45 | 8 | 45 | 1:40 | Touchdown | |
| 12 | NO | MIN 45 | 3 | 20 | 0:23 | Turnover on downs | |
| 13 | NO | NO 23 | 8 | 15 | 4:20 | Punt | |
| 14 | MIN | MIN 12 | 4 | 14 | 2:05 | Punt | |
| 15 | NO | NO 19 | 4 | -1 | 1:35 | Punt | |
| 16 | MIN | MIN 36 | 9 | 54 | 3:37 | Touchdown | |
| 17 | NO | NO 28 | 5 | 7 | 1:42 | Punt | |
| 18 | MIN | MIN 34 | 4 | 7 | 1:48 | Punt | |
| 19 | NO | NO 15 | 9 | 85 | 4:22 | Touchdown | |
| 20 | MIN | MIN 25 | 8 | 14 | 3:42 | Punt | |
| 21 | NO | NO 29 | 6 | 37 | 2:31 | Fumble | |
| 22 | MIN | MIN 37 | 7 | -3 | 2:23 | Defensive touchdown | |
| 23 | NO | NO 30 | 7 | 44 | 1:53 | Turnover on downs | |
| 24 | MIN | MIN 25 | 2 | 0 | 0:02 | Turnover on downs | |
| 25 | MIN | MIN 25 | 10 | 75 | 4:20 | Touchdown |
0 of 25 drives ended in points. Longest march: Saints gained 85 scrimmage yards over 9 plays for a touchdown.
Box score unavailable
Player stat lines for this game have not been ingested yet. Scores, lines, and environment context above are complete.
Closing number vs result
Betting context
- Closing spread
- NO -7.5
- Closing total
- 50
- MIN moneyline
- +300
- NO moneyline
- -355
Saints closed -7.5 and lost outright — an upset against the closing number.
Total closed 50; the game landed 46 — under by 4.0.
Conditions and crew
Game environment
- Venue
- Mercedes-Benz Superdome
- Roof / surface
- dome · astroturf
- Kickoff weather
- Indoors — weather neutralized
- Referee
- Carl Cheffers
- Rest
- MIN 7 days · NO 7 days
- Coaches
- Mike Zimmer vs Sean Payton