Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints: 2019 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2019 NFL season on 2020-01-05, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -13.98 total EPA, and +7.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.36 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (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

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +7.36 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Thielen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.70 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.74 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +3.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.27 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Harris · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.27 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Cook · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Cook · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.92 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.16 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 39:23)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Cook (Q2 30:27)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Cook (Q3 18:30)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (D. Brees pass) (Q4 10:37)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Rudolph (K. Cousins pass) (OT 10:45)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q1 54:56)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Bailey (Q1 49:09)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Bailey (Q2 32:58)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 0:07)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 11 (Q1 54:56) — (9:56) 3-W.Lutz 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 25 (Q1 49:09) — (4:09) 5-D.Bailey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 4 (Q2 39:23) — (9:23) 41-A.Kamara right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 39:18) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 3 (Q2 32:58) — (2:58) 5-D.Bailey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 33-D.Cook right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 30:23) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q3 18:30) — (3:30) 33-D.Cook right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 18:23) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 20 (Q4 10:37) — (10:37) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 7-T.Hill for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 20, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q4 10:31) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 31 (Q4 0:07) — (:07) 3-W.Lutz 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

Overtime: Minnesota Vikings won the period 6–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 4 (OT 10:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:26) — (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 [WPA -35.8% · EPA -6.56]
• Minnesota Vikings (OT 12:42) — (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 [WPA +20.5% · EPA +3.21]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 59:18) — (14:18) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 19-A.Thielen to MIN 42 for 3 yards (20-J.Jenkins). FUMBLES (20-J.Jenkins), RECOVERED by NO-24-V.Bell at MIN 43. 24-V.Bell ran ob at MIN 37 for 6 yards (82-K.Rud [WPA -15.7% · EPA -6.19]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 3-W.Lutz 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. [WPA -15.3% · EPA -2.39]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 21:15) — (6:15) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 19-A.Thielen to NO 19 for 34 yards (43-M.Williams) [56-D.Davis]. Pass 28, YAC 6 [WPA +14.3% · EPA +3.76]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:26) — (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 [WPA -35.8% · EPA -6.56]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 59:18) — (14:18) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 19-A.Thielen to MIN 42 for 3 yards (20-J.Jenkins). FUMBLES (20-J.Jenkins), RECOVERED by NO-24-V.Bell at MIN 43. 24-V.Bell ran ob at MIN 37 for 6 yards (82-K.Rud [WPA -15.7% · EPA -6.19]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 21:15) — (6:15) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 19-A.Thielen to NO 19 for 34 yards (43-M.Williams) [56-D.Davis]. Pass 28, YAC 6 [WPA +14.3% · EPA +3.76]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 40:09) — (10:09) (Shotgun) 62-N.Easton reported in as eligible. 7-T.Hill pass deep middle to 11-D.Harris to MIN 4 for 50 yards (22-H.Smith). Pass 50, YAC 0 [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.27]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 38 dropbacks · 68.4% completion · +7.8% CPOE · -0.37 EPA/play · -13.98 total EPA
• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 35 dropbacks · 54.3% completion · -5.4% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +7.36 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Minnesota Vikings generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.14), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -2.53 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, -10.37 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• K. Cousins (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 54:56 · MIN 11 · Score 0-3
   (9:56) 3-W.Lutz 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
2. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 49:09 · NO 25 · Score 3-3
   (4:09) 5-D.Bailey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 39:23 · MIN 4 · Score 3-9
   (9:23) 41-A.Kamara right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 39:18 · MIN 15 · Score 3-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
5. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 32:58 · NO 3 · Score 6-10
   (2:58) 5-D.Bailey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:27 · NO 5 · Score 12-10
   (:27) 33-D.Cook right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:23 · NO 15 · Score 13-10
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 18:30 · NO 1 · Score 19-10
   (3:30) 33-D.Cook right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 18:23 · NO 15 · Score 20-10
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 10:37 · MIN 20 · Score 20-16
    (10:37) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 7-T.Hill for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 20, YAC 0
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 10:31 · MIN 15 · Score 20-17
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:07 · MIN 31 · Score 20-20
    (:07) 3-W.Lutz 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — OT 10:45 · NO 4 · Score 26-20
    (10:45) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.