As if all of the bad luck and misery that had attended so many of their big games was reversed by one strange, inexplicable, fortune- and reality-altering play.
The Vikings were desperate. Case Keenum dropped back and threw a high pass to the right sideline. Stefon Diggs leapt, caught the pass, and braced for the tackle.
The tackle never came.Saints safety Marcus Williams, needing only to tackle Diggs to kill the clock and secure the victory, put his head down, dove at Diggs' legs...and missed. Completely.
Diggs sprinted down the sideline and scored on a 61-yard touchdown play that gave the Vikings a 30-24 victory in the divisional playoffs at U.S. Bank Stadium and a berth in the NFC Championship game.
Gary Anderson's miss? Brett Favre's interception? Drew Pearson's pushoff? Blair Walsh's shank?
All were not forgotten but momentarily diminished by one of the strangest and greatest plays in franchise history.
The Vikings have a chance to become the first team to paly in their home stadium for a Super Bowl, and for once they may have fortune on their side.
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