New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2017 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2017 NFL season on 2018-01-14, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 29–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 29 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Keenum (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +9.60 total EPA, and -1.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Keenum (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.60 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+69.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field was con

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 C. Keenum · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +9.60 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.97 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.46 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Thielen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.05 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Snead · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.19 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.99 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Wright · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.22 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Murray · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.88 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

• Minnesota Vikings — J. McKinnon (Q1 54:51)
• Minnesota Vikings — L. Murray (Q2 40:03)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q3 16:23)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q4 13:12)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (D. Brees pass) (Q4 3:06)
• Minnesota Vikings — S. Diggs (C. Keenum pass) (Q4 0:10)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — K. Forbath (Q1 49:45)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Forbath (Q4 10:17)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Forbath (Q4 1:34)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 0:29)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 14 (Q1 54:51) — (9:51) 21-J.McKinnon left end for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 54:45) — (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 1 (Q1 49:45) — (4:45) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 40:03) — (10:03) (Run formation) 76-A.Collins reported in as eligible. 25-L.Murray right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 39:58) — (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 14 (Q3 16:23) — (1:23) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 16:18) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–12. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q4 13:12) — (13:12) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 13-M.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q4 13:09) — (Kick formation) 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 31 (Q4 10:17) — (10:17) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 14 (Q4 3:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 41-A.Kamara for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q4 3:01) — (Kick formation) 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 35 (Q4 1:34) — (1:34) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 25 (Q4 0:29) — (:29) (Field Goal formation) 3-W.Lutz 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 61 (Q4 0:10).

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:10) — (:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field was con [WPA +69.9% · EPA +6.89]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 83-W.Snead pushed ob at MIN 33 for 13 yards (20-M.Alexander). [WPA +20.7% · EPA +2.60]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right to 19-A.Thielen to NO 40 for 24 yards (23-M.Lattimore). Penalty on NO-23-M.Lattimore, Defensive Holding, declined. Penalty on NO-23-M.Lattimore, Defensive P [WPA +14.5% · EPA +1.52]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:34) — (1:34) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley. [WPA +14.1% · EPA +1.53]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:29) — (:29) (Field Goal formation) 3-W.Lutz 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +0.74]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:10) — (:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field was con [WPA +69.9% · EPA +6.89]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 35:40) — (5:40) 9-D.Brees pass short left intended for 13-M.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 55-A.Barr (97-E.Griffen) at MIN 10. 55-A.Barr to MIN 28 for 18 yards (72-T.Armstead). PENALTY on NO-72-T.Armstead, Horse Collar [WPA -7.8% · EPA -6.67]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 16:18) — (1:18) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right intended for 14-S.Diggs INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at MIN 42. 43-M.Williams pushed ob at MIN 30 for 12 yards (21-J.McKinnon). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -5.74]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 23:48) — (8:48) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum sacked at NO 40 for -10 yards (98-S.Rankins). [WPA -1.3% · EPA -3.00]

Quarterback report card

C.Keenum led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Keenum (Minnesota Vikings) · 49 dropbacks · 51.0% completion · -1.9% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +9.60 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 43 dropbacks · 58.1% completion · -4.9% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +5.97 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints -0.04, Minnesota Vikings +0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Minnesota Vikings: 12 drives, +1.28 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -3.08 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.
• C. Keenum (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) 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. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 54:51 · NO 14 · Score 0-6
   (9:51) 21-J.McKinnon left end for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 54:45 · NO 15 · Score 0-7
   (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
3. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 49:45 · NO 1 · Score 0-10
   (4:45) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
4. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 40:03 · NO 1 · Score 0-16
   (10:03) (Run formation) 76-A.Collins reported in as eligible. 25-L.Murray right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 39:58 · NO 15 · Score 0-17
   (Kick formation) 2-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 16:23 · MIN 14 · Score 6-17
   (1:23) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 16:18 · MIN 15 · Score 7-17
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 13:12 · MIN 3 · Score 13-17
   (13:12) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 13-M.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 13:09 · MIN 15 · Score 14-17
   (Kick formation) 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
10. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 10:17 · NO 31 · Score 14-20
    (10:17) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 3:06 · MIN 14 · Score 20-20
    (3:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 41-A.Kamara for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 3:01 · MIN 15 · Score 21-20
    (Kick formation) 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
13. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 1:34 · NO 35 · Score 21-23
    (1:34) (Field Goal formation) 2-K.Forbath 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Overbaugh, Holder-4-R.Quigley.
14. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:29 · MIN 25 · Score 24-23
    (:29) (Field Goal formation) 3-W.Lutz 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
15. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 0:10 · NO 61 · Score 24-29
    (:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was