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SPORTS Monday 15 January 2018
Stunner: Keenum-Diggs TD on last play; Vikes win 29-24

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — There won.” “This will take a while to get
wasn’t much left for Case Now the Vikings have spun over,” said Payton, who fell
Keenum to do but to fling an unprecedented scenar- to 1-5 on the road in play-
the ball deep and hope for io in NFL history. Next week- off games.
a miracle. end, instead of the usual Brees saw his 13th career
Miracle answered. win-or-go-home stakes, postseason game end in a
Keenum completed a last- they’re in a win-and-go- crushing final moment, his
ditch heave near the side- home situation with the Su- 25-for-40 performance for
line Sunday on the game’s per Bowl set for Feb. 4 un- 294 yards tainted a bit by
final play, and Stefon Diggs der the reverberating trans- two interceptions before
slithered away for a 61- lucent roof of U.S. Bank Sta- halftime.
yard touchdown to give dium. One came on a leaping
Minnesota a 29-24 victory Though only defensive end grab by safety Andrew
over New Orleans and Brian Robison remains from Sendejo, the other off a
send the Vikings to the NFC the 2009 team that lost in tip by Everson Griffen that
championship game, with overtime of the NFC cham- landed in Anthony Barr’s
one more win needed to pionship game at New Or- arms at the Minnesota 10-
become a first-time Super leans, the Vikings exacted yard line midway through
Bowl host. some revenge on Brees the third quarter.
Drew Brees had driven the and the Saints, at least for FIRST-HALF FORCE
Saints in position for Wil their long-frustrated fans. The Vikings came roaring
Lutz’s go-ahead 43-yard They put them through out of their first-round bye,
field goal with 25 seconds quite the emotional finish forcing punts by the Saints
remaining, punctuating a to complete it. on their first three posses-
steely rally from a 17-point Brees connected with Mi- sions and moving 55 yards
deficit that stood until 1:16 chael Thomas for two of in eight plays for a touch-
was left in the third quarter. his three touchdown pass- down on their first drive.
The Vikings were out of es in a span of 3:09 of the The shrewd play calling by
timeouts and nearly out second half. The first score offensive coordinator Pat
of options when Keenum came after a 12-play, 80- Shurmur, culminating with
dropped back with 10 sec- yard drive. The second was a pitch to Jerick McKin-
onds to go from his 39 and set up at the Minnesota 40 non for a 14-yard run after
threw high into a crowd. by an interception by Wil- a fake jet-sweep, showed
Diggs jumped in front of liams after an off-balance again why he was inter- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Riggs (14) makes a
catch over New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43)
Marcus Williams, who rolled throw by Keenum, his one viewed by four teams last on his way to the game winning touchdown during the second
awkwardly underneath costly moment of either in- week for head coaching half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis,
Diggs during an ill-fated at- experience or recklessness. vacancies.q Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018.
tempt at a tackle. When George Johnson Associated Press
Diggs held his ground, kept blocked Ryan Quigley’s
his feet in bounds and punt, the Saints took over
raced untouched into the at the Vikings 40. Four plays
end zone as the crowd at later, rookie Alvin Kamara,
U.S. Bank Stadium erupted. whose breakout was a
“I’m just thankful,” Diggs major factor in the team’s
said. “They count us out all NFC South title and break-
the time. Nobody thinking through from three straight
we can do it. This game 7-9 finishes, caught a 14- Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
was over. I don’t stop play- yard pass from Brees for a FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
ing till the clock hit zero. 21-20 lead with 3:01 left. HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES.
That’s it.” Forbath’s 53-yard field CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION
This wasn’t quite Franco goal, his third make of the
Harris and the Immaculate evening against his former LIVE POKER
Reception for Pittsburgh in team, gave the Vikings
the 1972 playoffs, but these their lead back with 1:29
Vikings are on some kind of left. That was more than GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
special path. They finished enough time for Brees, the
13-3 during the regular sure-bet Hall of Famer with
season, giving the career a Super Bowl ring and all 1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
backup Keenum the keys kinds of records. $100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
to the offense after Sam But after Brees got Lutz in
Bradford went down with a position, there were just OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
knee injury after the open- enough seconds remaining CRAPS
er. for Keenum — the undraft-
The Vikings will play at Phil- ed and undersized all-time ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
adelphia next weekend, leading passer in NCAA his-
after Jacksonville takes on tory at Houston whose first
New England for the AFC career playoff start ended SPORTSBOOK
title. The Super Bowl is in in spectacular fashion. He
Minnesota two weeks later. finished with 318 yards, go- LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
“A heck of a game, wasn’t ing 25 for 40, with Diggs
it?” coach Mike Zimmer catching 137 yards on six THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
said. “And the good guys catches.