Minnesota Vikings

Vikings to face Brees, Saints in playoffs

Published Jan. 7, 2018 8:44 p.m. ET

Tom Dierberger

It’s official: the Minnesota Vikings' vengeance tour is in order.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints snuck past the Carolina Panthers 31-26 Sunday, setting up a divisional round matchup with the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium Jan. 14. The game will kick off at 3:40 p.m.

It will be the first time these franchises collide in the postseason since the Vikings’ dramatic 31-28 loss to New Orleans in the 2010 NFC Championship game.

Minnesota had a chance to set up a game-winning field goal in the final minute of the fourth quarter and advance to Super Bowl XLIV, but then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre infamously threw an interception with under 15 seconds to play, and the Saints went on to win in overtime.

Brian Robison is the only player remaining on the Vikings roster who endured that tragic loss, but there are a few familiar faces on the other sideline -- Brees and head coach Sean Payton.

It will be the Saints’ second trip to Minneapolis this season. The Vikings handled New Orleans 29-19 in Week 1, but both teams look different since that Sept. 11 matchup.

The Vikings had a healthy Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook leading the offense in September, while the Saints defense was in shambles. Since then, Vikings backup quarterback Case Keenum has excelled under center, and New Orleans' defense finished the regular season 10th in the NFL in points allowed per game (20.4).

The Atlanta Falcons will face the Philadelphia Eagles on the other side of the NFC bracket, with the winner advancing to face either the Vikings or Saints in the NFC Championship game.

That's right -- it's possible for the Vikings to defeat the Saints and Falcons en route to Super Bowl LII, potential payback for two of the more crushing losses in franchise history -- 2010 to New Orleans and the defeat by Atlanta in the 1999 NFC Championship game.

Bring. It. Home.