4th & Monday: What. Just. Happened? Vikings' TD caps crazy playoff weekend
What. Just. Happened ... ?
One of the more entertaining playoff weekends in recent memory was capped by one of the craziest finishes in NFL playoff history.
** CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE **
Before the Vikings pulled a miracle finish in the final seconds against the Saints, the Jaguars were unlikely winners on the road in Pittsburgh and the Eagles knocked off the Falcons with a goal-line stand. Elsewhere, the Patriots easily dispatched the Titans to reach an unprecedented seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Here's 20 things we learned from the Divisional Playoff weekend.
*THE* PLAY
Here's what you need to see from the Vikings game-winning play that stunned *everyone*:
— Case Keenum had a priceless reaction to his game-winning TD toss, and somebody set Titanic music to the miracle play.
— Sports fans at the Timberwolves and Wild games went bonkers watching the Vikings pull off one of the most incredible moments in Minnesota sports history.
— It was awesome a moment for Vikings fans (here's 8 amazing reactions). It was equally devastating for those in New Orleans.
— The Vikings' miraculous win also had a major impact on Las Vegas.
— In even this time of heartbreak for New Orleans fans, Steve Gleason found a way to put a smile on Saints fans.
— The Vikings' miracle play doesn't happen without some help on the defensive side of the ball. Afterward, the Saints' Marcus Williams owned up to the costly mistake.
TOP PHOTOS: Divisional playoffs | Cheerleaders
While almost nobody could have expected the Vikings' incredible finish, few would have suggested that the Jaguars and Steelers — teams that boast two of the NFL's stingiest defenses — would combine for 87 points. Much of the postgame criticism in Pittsburgh was heaped on coach Mike Tomlin, whose late-game gambles didn't pay off.
The Jaguars' prize is a matchup in Foxborough against the Patriots. Does Jacksonville even have a shot of winning? The Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey not only thinks his team can beat the Patriots, but also win Super Bowl LII.
The NFC Championship Game features two teams that in years past have had a hard time getting out of their own way in crucial playoff moments. One of these two doomed-to-misfortune teams will make a rare Super Bowl appearance.
OTHER MUST-SEE MOMENTS YOU MISSED
— A rookie from a division rival reveled in the Saints' misfortunes.
— When teams featuring two of the NFL's best defenses squared off for a playoff game in the cold, nobody expected to see 87 combined points. Well, somebody saw it coming.
— Some Steelers players' complete dismissal of the Jaguars in the days leading up to Sunday's playoff showdown seems really foolish now. After beating the Steelers, the Jaguars dropped some savage trash talk.
— But wait, there's more smack talk: Jalen Ramsey guaranteed that the Jaguars will win the Super Bowl.
— Even though Jacksonville is headed to the AFC title game, don't think the Jaguars still don't remember what a Titans player said about Blake Bortles. Bortles "couldn't care less" about those critics, however.
— Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made some questionable decisions, including a unreasonably aggressive late-game move that will be second-guessed all offseason.
— For a moment, the Titans had a lead against the Patriots, thanks to this spectacular one-handed TD grab by rookie WR Corey Davis. It was Davis' first (and only) TD catch this season.
— The No. 1-seeded Eagles made history this week when they were picked as an underdog against the No. 6-seeded Falcons. Well, when the Eagles emerged victorious, the players were ecstatic and basked in their role as an underdog.
— Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie also basked in his team's win, doing so with a postgame celebration dance in the locker room.
THE FULL RUNDOWN
Vikings 29, Saints 24: After one of the most incredible finishes in NFL playoff history, the Vikings are now one win away from becoming the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
The Vikings secured their stunning victory on a game-winning 61-yard touchdown play by Stefon Diggs in the final seconds. It is a play that will be etched in NFL lore among some of the all-time great playoff finishes, such as the Ice Bowl, Immaculate Reception, Sea of Hands, The Catch and Music City Miracle, just to name a few.
Plenty of drama preceded the Case Keenum-to-Diggs miracle. Future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees led an impressive comeback from 17 points down, put the Saints in position to win with a field goal with 25 seconds remaining, only to see his team lose in heartbreaking fashion.
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Jaguars 45, Steelers 42: If you like touchdowns, this was the playoff game for you.
Blake Bortles faced countless criticism leading up to the game, but the Jags QB perfected the game manager role on Sunday afternoon, making the big plays when needed while letting his running backs carry the load. Despite leaving in the first half with an ankle injury, Leonard Fournette ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries with T.J. Yeldon adding 20 yards and a score as well. Even Bortles joined the fun, rushing for 35 yards on five carries.
Jacksonville climbed out to an early 21-0 first-half lead, leaving the Steelers in a big hole. Pittsburgh and its team of Killer B's fired back to get within a score thanks to some incredible plays from Big Ben, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell. But in the end it wasn't enough.
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Eagles 15, Falcons 10: There wasn't a lot of action, but a goal-line stand in the final minute secured the No. 1 seed underdog Eagles victory over the defending NFC champion Falcons on Saturday.
Filling in for an injured Carson Wentz, Nick Foles avoided making big mistakes (while missing on some big plays), and guided the Eagles on scoring drives that went for 14 plays, 12 plays and finally, 14 plays in crunch time. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missed his only extra-point attempt, but connected when he needed to, making all three of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yard bomb as time expired at the end of the first half.
Philadelphia's defense was the real story of the night, holding the high-flying Falcons offense to just one touchdown on three trips inside the red zone.
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Patriots 35, Titans 14: If there is, in fact, a power struggle in Foxborough, you wouldn't have known by watching the Patriots on Saturday night. Tom Brady and company rolled the Titans en route to their seventh consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game.
After struggling (by his standards) in December, Brady bounced back to record his 13th career 300-yard-postseason game, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Tennessee was seemingly out-played at every position the whole game. After the Titans scored their first-quarter touchdown, the Patriots responded with a scoring drive of their own. And then added a second, and then a third, a fourth and fifth. By the time the Titans scored again in the fourth quarter, the game was already over.
INJURY UPDATE
— Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes left Sunday's game briefly with an unspecified injury. Safety Andrew Sendejo left the game with a concussion.
— Steelers OT Marcus Gilbert left the game against the Jaguars with a concussion and did not return.
— Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette left the game with an ankle injury in the first half but returned after halftime.
— Patriots RT LaAdrian Waddle left the win over the Titans with a knee injury early in the third quarter. CB Jonathan Jones was helped off the field late in the fourth quarter.
— Titans RT Jack Conklin will need surgery on a torn ACL. TE Jonnu Smith tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jaguars at Patriots, Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET (CBS): The Jaguars defense gave up 42 points to the Steelers. Will they be able to contain Tom Brady and the Patriots in Foxborough?
Vikings at Eagles, Sunday at 6:40 p.m. ET (Fox): This is an intriguing showdown. The Vikings and Eagles share quite a bit in common. Each boasts a stingy, tone-setting defense. Each also is led by former backup quarterbacks. The similarities don't end there, as the Eagles and Vikings are among the NFL's historically most snake-bitten franchises.