Page 21 - AT

A21
SPORTS Monday 6 January 2020
Cousins, Vikings upend Saints 26-20 in OT in NFC playoffs

By BRETT MARTEL then, while lined up as a
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Af- tight end, delivered a block
ter tight end Kyle Rudolph that helped Kamara score
emerged from a purple on a 4-yard run around the
swarm of celebrating Vi- right end to make it 10-3.
kings near the corner of MISSED CHANCES
the end zone, he took an Harris' 54-yard kickoff re-
opportunity to mock those turn and Brees' 20-yard
who doubted quarterback pass to Michael Thomas in
Kirk Cousins' ability to come the final seconds of the first
through in the clutch. half gave New Orleans a
"I'm just glad Kirk can't win chance to tie it, but Lutz's
big games, apparently," 43-yard field-goal attempt
Rudolph said. "We proved went wide right.
that one wrong today." In the third quarter, Hill's ap-
Cousins hit Rudolph with a parent first-down run on a
4-yard fade on third-and- fake punt was nullified by
goal in overtime, and the tight end Josh Hill's false
Minnesota Vikings pulled start.
out a 26-20 victory over Brees also lamented a false
the favored Saints in the start penalty that triggered
wild-card round of the NFC a 10-second runoff shortly
playoffs on Sunday. before Lutz's game-tying
Cousins lost his only previ- kick at the end of regula-
ous playoff start in 2015 with tion. If not for the penalty,
Washington, came up short the Saints would have had
of a playoff berth on the a second-and-10 from the
final regular-season game Minnesota 26 with 21 sec-
a year ago and struggled Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) pulls in the game winning touchdown pass over onds left. Instead, the ball
in a handful of other high- New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams (26) during overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff foot- went back 5 yards and
profile regular-season night ball game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings won 26-20. there were 11 seconds re-
games. Associated Press maining.
Yet Cousins eschewed an "That was costly," Brees said,
opportunity to gloat af- "none of that contact rises rusher with 50 yards and Al- Jalyn Holmes on the Minne- noting that without the
ter his pass to Rudolph — to the level of a foul." vin Kamara was held to 21 sota 36. penalty, the Saints might
and a 43-yarder to Adam Saints coach Sean Payton yards rushing on seven car- Brees said the fumble be- have taken a couple of
Thielen at the Saints 2-yard said the Vikings "deserved ries. gan with a "miscommu- more shots at the end zone
line three plays earlier — to win." "Both defenses played well," nication" with a receiver, for a late go-ahead score.
helped the Vikings (11-6) Dalvin Cook gained 130 Payton added. "Shoot, whom he didn't name. INJURIES
advance to play top seed yards from scrimmage and here you are in overtime "The ball should have been Vikings: Tight end Tyler
San Francisco in the divi- scored two touchdowns and they made a few plays out of my hands and all of Conklin was carted from
sional round of the playoffs after missing the last two right there at the end that a sudden that wasn't the the sideline to the locker
on Saturday. regular-season games with obviously were significant." route that was run, so now room in the first half. ... Right
"I'm just happy we won," a shoulder injury. Cousins PURPLE PRESSURE I'm just trying to throw the tackle Brian O'Neill walked
Cousins said. "It was a finished with 242 yards and Minnesota's defense ball into the dirt to avoid off with an apparent leg in-
great, great game, two one TD passing. forced Brees into two turn- a sack," Brees said. "Right jury in the third quarter but
good football teams." "Being a fourth-round pick overs — one game after as my hand's going back returned.
Saints fans begged to differ and kind of working your the Saints had finished the (Hunter) just kind of gets a Saints: Linebacker Kiko
after seeing New Orleans' way up in the league – regular season with an NFL piece of my arm and that Alonso limped off the field
season end in overtime in now you win a playoff record-low eight. Brees also ball comes out. So I'm really with what the Saints said
the Superdome for a sec- game. Guess what? You was sacked three times disappointed in that. That was a knee injury in the sec-
ond straight year. look around and you real- and finished 26 of 33 for 208 never should have hap- ond quarter and did not re-
The latest disappointing ize there's more mountains yards, one TD and an inter- pened." turn. ... Left guard Andrus
end for the Saints (13-4) to climb," Cousins said. ception. Saints safety Vonn Bell, Peat limped to the sideline
came nearly a year af- "You just keep chasing the Brees' first turnover came back from a knee injury with an apparent right leg
ter New Orleans lost in the next mountain and there on a deep throw downfield that sidelined him three injury in the fourth quarter
NFC championship game will always be people who for Ted Ginn Jr. late in the games, helped set up the but returned.
to the Los Angeles Rams in are going to criticize you — first half. Safety Anthony opening scoring chance NEXT UP
a game marred by missed and that's OK." Harris corralled the ball as of the game when he re- Vikings: Prepare for next
Rams penalties late in reg- New Orleans trailed by 10 he fell to the turf and then covered Thielen's fumble. weekend's trip to San Fran-
ulation. This time, replays at the start of the fourth returned it 30 yards across But Everson Griffen's sack of cisco to face a 49ers team
on video boards showed quarter but forced over- midfield. That led to Cook's Brees on third-and-goal lim- that, like the Saints, went
a possible push-off by Ru- time with Drew Brees' 20- first touchdown on a 5-yard ited Minnesota's damage 13-3 in the regular season.
dolph against defensive yard touchdown pass to run that gave the Vikings a to a field goal. Saints: Head into the off-
back P.J. Williams moments Taysom Hill and Wil Lutz's 13-10 lead. HILL'S HIGHLIGHTS season with contract work
before he jumped to snag 49-yard field goal with 2 The Saints were threaten- Hill, the Saints' do-it-all re- ahead on key personnel,
the winning catch. seconds left. ing with less than five min- serve QB, was instrumental including Brees, who turns
NFL president of officiating "They made more plays utes remaining in the fourth in the first touchdown drive 41 on Jan. 15, and Kamara,
Al Riveron said the league than we did," Payton said. quarter when Danielle of the game. He rushed for who could opt to hold out
reviewed numerous replay "They ran the ball better Hunter sacked Brees, who a first down before com- for an extension as he en-
angles, and while they saw than we did." lost the ball. It was recov- pleting a 50-yard pass to ters the final season of his
contact by both players, Hill was the Saints' leading ered by defensive tackle rookie Deonte Harris and rookie deal.q