Stefon Diggs caught a deep toss from Case Keenum, dodged a tackle by New Orleans safety Marcus Williams and turned it into a 61-yard touchdown as time expired. The play was quickly dubbed "The Minneapolis Miracle" by "Voice of the Vikings" Paul Allen and fans. The score lifted the Vikings to a 29-24 victory in the Divisional contest, which was the first game in the history of the NFL playoffs to end with a touchdown as time expired.
The Vikings are heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship. Kickoff will be 5:40 p.m. (CT) Sunday, and one team will win the right to play in Super Bowl LII, which will be hosted at U.S. Bank Stadium on Feb. 4.
Here are three stats that stood out:
1. Keenum when clean
Keenum finished the game 25-of-40 passing for 318 yards with the touchdown and an interception for a passer rating of 85.2. Analytics site Pro Football Focus noted that Keenum "excelled against the Saints when kept clean." On such plays, Keenum was 22-of-29 for 276 yards, the score and a passer rating of 116.5, which was the highest of any QB in the Divisional round.
Diggs caught six passes for 137 yards to post a game-high WR rating of 107.2. Adam Thielen caught six passes for 74 yards, including four for 53 on six targets when guarded by Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. Thielen's receiver rating against the rookie was 94.4. Before Sunday, the WR rating allowed by Lattimore was 47.1.
2. Murray makes 'em miss
Running back Latavius Murray led all rushers for either team with 50 yards and added 17 receiving yards.
The 50 yards on 19 carries amounted to an average of 2.6, but PFF noted that he averaged 2.3 yards after contact. The site credited Murray with forcing four missed tackles as a rusher, which tied for the most of any running back in four Divisional games over the weekend. He also forced a missed tackle as a receiver.
3. Stinginess by Sendejo and Waynes
Andrew Sendejo recorded the first of two interceptions of Drew Brees on the day (Anthony Barr nabbed a pass batted by Everson Griffen), but Sendejo's performance went beyond the highlight grab. PFF counted Sendejo with allowing one of five passes thrown into his coverage area to be caught for a gain of 11, allowing Brees a passer rating of 0.0.
PFF tallied Trae Waynes with allowing four of six passes thrown into his coverage area to be caught, but noted that the receptions totaled 34 yards.
