Miracle Finish has Vikings One Win Away from Super Bowl Home Game

The Minnesota Vikings just seem to be one of those teams of destiny this year and Sunday’s miraculous win against the New Orleans Saints only served to bolster that image.

The Vikings have quietly asserted themselves as one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams as they continue to find ways to win in the face of adversity.

Minnesota overcame injuries to their both their starting quarterback and running back and were able to easily win the NFC North behind a rock-solid defense and a heroic performance from journeyman backup QB Case Keenum.

Not since Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner burst onto the scene with the 1999 St. Louis Rams has a feat the likes of Keenum’s been accomplished. A former arena league player, Warner seized the starting job when starter Trent Green went down with a season-ending injury in preseason and then proceeded to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl win.

For a guy who got no respect, Keenum has gotten farther than any of the league’s so-called elite quarterbacks save Tom Brady and he saved the day for the Vikings again on Sunday.

With aging gunslinger Drew Brees in town, the Vikings’ defense quickly staked the team to a 17-0 lead which disappeared after a furious comeback by the Saints. The game announcers continued to malign Keenum until he threw the winning 61-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Stephon Diggs as time ran out.

It was likely the dagger in the heart for any hopes that Brees will add a second championship ring to his future Hall of Fame resume. He’s thirty-nine years old and it is only a matter of time until Father Time is tapping him on the shoulder. Injured superstars Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz will also be back next year so the NFC is about to get a lot tougher.

Brees deserves a heck of a lot of credit for his performance on Sunday. Despite two early turnovers, he had led the rally and was within seconds of a win until the Minnesota Miracle happened. A class guy, Brees deserved a lot better but at this stage of the season, only one team advances and the Vikings will be that team.

All that now stands between the new purple people eaters and their heroic quarterback is a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles which will likely be played in the brutal cold. The Eagles also have a backup quarterback leading them in Nick Foles who was also derided but had ice-water in his veins during crunch time on Saturday when he helped to spare America from another Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl choke.

It should be a defensive struggle as both the Vikings and Eagles are among the best in the league at shutting down the opposition but if Keenum makes just a few key plays, the Vikings will be the first team in history to host the Super Bowl in their home stadium. It may be the only mojo that can stop the Patriots machine.