Saints–Vikings rivalry

New Orleans Saints Minnesota Vikings
Location	New Orleans,Minneapolis
First meeting	October 13, 1968 Saints 20, Vikings 17[1]
Latest meeting	November 12, 2023 Vikings 27, Saints 19[1]
Next meeting	TBD (no later than 2026 regular season)
Stadiums	Saints:Caesars Superdome Vikings:U.S. Bank Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total	38
All-time series	Vikings: 25–13
Regular season series	Vikings: 21–12
Postseason results	Vikings: 4–1
Largest victory	Saints: 26–0(1991) Vikings: 45–3(1988)[1]
Most points scored	Saints: 52(2020) Vikings: 45(1988)[1]
Longest win streak	Saints: 4 (2009–2014) Vikings: 6 (1970–1976)
Current win streak	Vikings: 2 (2022–present)
Post-season history
1987 NFC Wild Card: Vikings won: 44–10 2000 NFC Divisional: Vikings won: 34–16 2009 NFC Championship: Saints won: 31–28(OT) 2017 NFC Divisional: Vikings won:29–24 2019 NFC Wild Card: Vikings won: 26–20(OT)

460km
286miles

Vikings

Saints

   

Locations of theNew Orleans Saints andMinnesota Vikings

TheSaints–Vikings rivalry is aNational Football League (NFL)rivalry between theNew Orleans Saints andMinnesota Vikings.^[2][3][4][5] As the Saints play in theNFC South and the Vikings play in theNFC North, the two teams do not play each other every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium during which their divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions or meet in the playoffs.^[6][7][8]

The Vikings have dominated most of the series. However, the resurgence of the Saints underSean Payton andDrew Brees made the organization competitive with the Vikings. Games between these two teams have been consequential both in the regular season and playoffs for the NFC. Due to regular playoff matches between the two teams, the rivalry has become noteworthy in the last 20 years.

The Vikings lead the all-time series 25–13. The two clubs have met five times in the playoffs, with the Vikings holding a 4–1 record. The Vikings won 20 of the first 27 games (.741) through 2009, though the rivalry has been more competitive since then.

• In January1988, theSaints made their postseason debut by hosting theVikings in the NFC wildcard game. New Orleans scored a touchdown on its first drive, but Minnesota took a 31–10 halftime lead and won 44–10.
• In January2001, the 10–6Saints traveled to Minnesota for a playoff game against the 11–5Vikings. Vikings quarterbackDaunte Culpepper threw for 302 yards as the Vikings defeated the Saints 34–16.
• In2002, the 3–10Vikings played the 9–4Saints in a must-win game for the Saints. The Saints took a seven-point lead with just over 5 minutes remaining, but the Vikings responded with a touchdown pass from Culpepper toRandy Moss with five seconds left, narrowing the gap to a single point. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game, the Vikings elected to go for two; Culpepper ran the ball in himself to give the Vikings a 32–31 win and the Saints went on to miss the playoffs.
• In January2010, the 12–4Vikings traveled to New Orleans to play the 13–3Saints in theNFC Championship Game. Despite dominating the Saints in terms of total yards, time of possession, first downs, and other key stats, the Vikings committed five costly turnovers (including three from quarterbackBrett Favre), and the Saints managed to hold on for a 31–28 overtime win.^[9] This game was pivotal in the eventual changing of the league overtime rules, as the Vikings did not get a chance to score in overtime after the Saints.^[10] The Saints went on to defeat theIndianapolis Colts inSuper Bowl XLIV.
• In2010, theVikings traveled to New Orleans for a rematch of the NFC Championship game in one of the most anticipated games of the season. TheSaints once again prevailed over the Vikings, this time by a score of 14–9. The Vikings' season spiraled out of control as they fell from 12–4 to 6–10, which included head coachBrad Childress being fired mid-season, theMetrodome collapsing mid-season, and the lackluster play from Brett Favre in what was his final season in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Saints finished 11–5 (second in the division behind the 13–3Atlanta Falcons), and went on to lose to theSeattle Seahawks in theBeast Quake game.
• In the2017 playoffs, theSaints traveled to Minnesota for anNFC Divisional Round Game. TheVikings jumped out to a 17–0 lead, controlling all key stats. However, the Saints mounted a second-half comeback and eventually took a 24–23 lead with under a minute to play. With ten seconds left, Vikings quarterbackCase Keenum completed a pass toStefon Diggs, who evaded a tackle attempt by Saints safetyMarcus Williams and took the ball into the endzone for a walk off touchdown. This became known as theMinneapolis Miracle.
• In January2020, the 10–6Vikings traveled to New Orleans as heavy underdogs in an NFC wild-card game. Although theSaints jumped out to a quick 3–0 lead, the Saints struggled to muster the kind of offense they were known for in2019. The Vikings at one point led 20–10 before the Saints forced overtime on a last-second field goal. In overtime, Vikings quarterbackKirk Cousins led the team on a drive that resulted in a touchdown toKyle Rudolph.
• In2020, theVikings played inNew Orleans for aChristmas Day match-up in week 16. With the score 31–27 after three quarters, theSaints scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away 52–33. This game represented the worst Vikings' defensive performance in franchise history as they gave up 583 yards of offense to the Saints and allowed running backAlvin Kamara to tie the NFL record for rushing touchdowns in one game (6). This game eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention.^[11]
• In2022, the teams faced off inLondon in week 4. TheSaints needed to make a field goal late in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. A 32-yard pass from quarterback Andy Dalton to rookie receiverChris Olave got the Saints to theVikings' 43-yard line, setting up kickerWil Lutz for a 61-yard field goal. He had made a 60-yard kick less than two minutes earlier, but with the game on the line, he hit the left upright and then the crossbar, sealing the Vikings 28–25 win.

• List of NFL rivalries
• Minneapolis Miracle
• New Orleans Saints bounty scandal

• Glennon, John (November 19, 1995)."Cold war revived".Sun Herald – viaNewspapers.com.
• Foote, Kevin (January 11, 2018)."Vikings are always there".The Daily Advertiser.Lafayette, Louisiana – viaNewspapers.com.

• NFL rivalries
• Minnesota Vikings rivalries
• New Orleans Saints rivalries

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages
• Use mdy dates from May 2025
• Articles containing OSM location maps
• Pages using the Kartographer extension