Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Case Keenum and tackle Mike Remmers MINNESOTA MIRACLE On January 14 2018 the Minnesota Vikings hosted the New Orleans Saints It was the divisional round of the National Football League NFL playoffs Fans developed emotional whiplash whiplash as the score bounced back and forth They rejoiced as the Vikings built a 17 0 halftime lead They worried as Saints quarterback Drew Brees rallied his team New Orleans narrowed the gap Then the Saints took a 21 20 lead Three minutes remained 9
Minnesota Vikings Vikings quarterback Case Keenum responded He led a drive of his own Kai Forbath drilled a 53-yard field goal Minnesota hopped to a 23 21 lead It didn’t last long A New Orleans field goal put the Saints back in front 24 23 Only 25 seconds remained The Vikings used 7 of those seconds to reach their own 39-yard line Keenum threw two incomplete passes Time was ticking away The Vikings had no timeouts left Some fans headed for the exits Keenum dropped back His blockers gave him time He stepped forward He lofted a long pass Wide receiver Stefon Diggs was near the right sideline at the Saints 35-yard line Diggs jumped high into the air He grabbed the ball A Saints defender tried to undercut Diggs He missed Instead the defender collided with a teammate Both Saints fell to the turf Diggs came down with the ball He regained his balance He kept his feet inbounds Realizing no one was between him and the goal line he ran to the end zone After he scored Diggs ripped off his left running back Latavius Murray 10
Minnesota Vikings Fran Tarkenton Quarterback Vikings seasons 1961 66 1972 78 Height 6 feet Weight 190 pounds GRIDIRON GREATS SCRAMBLIN MAN In the Vikings first game Fran Tarkenton threw four touchdowns He ran for a touchdown too The Vikings toppled the Chicago Bears 37 13 Tarkenton made a name for himself as a scrambling renegade He thrilled fans with dazzling escapes from the clutches of would-be tacklers He led the Vikings to three Super Bowls Tarkenton played a total of 18 seasons When he retired he led the NFL in several passing categories He had the most touchdowns 342 completions 3,686 and yards 47,003 He also rushed for 3,674 yards That was the most ever for a quarterback at that time 11
