Vikings players at U.S. Bank Stadium, site of the 2018 Minneapolis Miracle

Matchup history

Vikings vs Saints

Q: Who leads the Vikings vs Saints all-time series?

The Minnesota Vikings lead the all-time series 25-13 across 38 meetings, including a 21-12 regular-season record and a 4-1 record in the playoffs.

Q: What was the Minneapolis Miracle?

The Minneapolis Miracle was the walk-off touchdown that won the January 14, 2018 NFC Divisional playoff game for the Vikings, 29-24, over the Saints. Case Keenum threw a deflected pass that Stefon Diggs caught and carried into the end zone as time expired, with Saints safety Marcus Williams missing the tackle attempt.

Q: When do the Vikings next play the Saints?

The Vikings are scheduled to play at the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 of the 2026 regular season, on October 11, 2026, at Caesars Superdome.

Q: When was the last Vikings vs Saints game?

The most recent meeting was on November 12, 2023, when the Vikings beat the Saints 27-19 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Q: Have the Vikings and Saints met in the playoffs?

Yes, five times. Minnesota holds a 4-1 record, with wins in 1987, 2000, 2017 (the Minneapolis Miracle) and 2019, and a loss in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

Rivalry history, results and memorable moments

A look at the Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints rivalry: the all-time series record, five postseason meetings including the Minneapolis Miracle, head-to-head results and the players who have defined the matchup.

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Next Meeting 2026 season

Minnesota
Vikings

New Orleans
Saints

Oct 11, 2026Date

12:00 PM CTKickoff

Caesars SuperdomeVenue

All-Time Series 38 meetings

25Vikings

13Saints

Minnesota leads 25-13 overall: 21-12 in the regular season and 4-1 in the playoffs, a record that includes the 2009 NFC Championship Game and the 2018 Minneapolis Miracle.

Latest Meeting

The two teams last met in the 2023 regular season.

Vikings 27

FINAL

Saints 19

November 12, 2023 · U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Minnesota won its fifth straight game to move to 6-4. Tight end T.J. Hockenson caught 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, and defensive backs Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy each intercepted Saints quarterback Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Game recap

Iconic Moments

The Minneapolis Miracle

A forever moment in Vikings history

No game defines this rivalry like the January 14, 2018 NFC Divisional playoff at U.S. Bank Stadium. New Orleans rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit and took a 24-23 lead with 25 seconds left. On the final play, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw toward the sideline for Stefon Diggs. The pass was deflected, Diggs caught it in stride at the Saints' 35-yard line, and Saints safety Marcus Williams missed the tackle attempt, letting Diggs run untouched into the end zone as time expired.

Minnesota won 29-24 on the last play of the game, the first time in NFL playoff history a game had ended on a touchdown as time expired. The 61-yard scoring play is remembered simply as the Minneapolis Miracle.

Jan 14, 2018Date

MIN 29, NO 24Final score

Keenum to Diggs61-yard TD

NFC DivisionalRound

Head-to-Head History

The Vikings and Saints have met 38 times since the Saints joined the NFL in 1967. These are the meetings that shaped the rivalry.

Selected Vikings vs Saints meetings, 1968 to 2023
Date	Location	Result	Note
Oct 13, 1968	Metropolitan Stadium	Saints 20, Vikings 17	The first-ever meeting between the two franchises, in the Saints' inaugural season.
Jan 3, 1988	Louisiana Superdome	Vikings 44, Saints 10	NFC Wild Card. New Orleans' first playoff appearance in franchise history.
Jan 6, 2001	Metrodome	Vikings 34, Saints 16	NFC Divisional. Randy Moss caught two touchdowns from Daunte Culpepper.
Jan 24, 2010	Louisiana Superdome	Saints 31, Vikings 28 (OT)	NFC Championship Game. New Orleans advanced to, and won, Super Bowl XLIV.
Jan 14, 2018	U.S. Bank Stadium	Vikings 29, Saints 24	NFC Divisional. The Minneapolis Miracle.
Jan 5, 2020	Mercedes-Benz Superdome	Vikings 26, Saints 20 (OT)	NFC Wild Card. Kirk Cousins found Kyle Rudolph for the overtime winner.
Nov 12, 2023	U.S. Bank Stadium	Vikings 27, Saints 19	Most recent meeting. Regular season, Week 10.

Not an exhaustive list of all 38 meetings. Figures reflect the combined regular-season and postseason series.

Key Players in the Rivalry

Players with a real, documented connection to Vikings vs Saints games.

Vikings

Case Keenum

Quarterback

Threw the deflected, 61-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs on the final play of the 2017 NFC Divisional playoff, the Minneapolis Miracle.

Stefon Diggs

Wide Receiver

Caught the deflected pass in stride and ran it in for the winning score as time expired, completing the Minneapolis Miracle on January 14, 2018.

Randy Moss

Wide Receiver

Caught two touchdown passes from Daunte Culpepper in Minnesota's 34-16 win over New Orleans in the January 2001 NFC Divisional playoff.

Saints

Drew Brees

Quarterback

New Orleans' long-time starting quarterback faced the Vikings repeatedly, including the Saints' 31-28 overtime win in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

Marcus Williams

Safety

The Saints defensive back whose missed tackle attempt allowed Stefon Diggs to complete the Minneapolis Miracle touchdown run in 2018.

Reggie Bush

Running Back

A key offensive weapon on the 2009 Saints team that eliminated Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game on its way to winning Super Bowl XLIV.

More Vikings history and matchup coverage on this site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who leads the Vikings vs Saints all-time series?

The Minnesota Vikings lead 25-13 across 38 meetings, including a 21-12 regular-season record and a 4-1 record in the playoffs.

What was the Minneapolis Miracle?

Minnesota's 29-24 win over the Saints in the January 14, 2018 NFC Divisional playoff, decided on a 61-yard Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs touchdown as time expired.

When do the Vikings next play the Saints?

Minnesota is scheduled to visit New Orleans in Week 5 of the 2026 season, on October 11, 2026, at Caesars Superdome.

When was the last Vikings vs Saints game?

November 12, 2023, when the Vikings beat the Saints 27-19 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Have the Vikings and Saints met in the playoffs?

Yes, five times. Minnesota is 4-1, with wins in 1987, 2000, 2017 (the Minneapolis Miracle) and 2019, and a loss in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

What was the largest margin of victory in the series?

Minnesota's 44-10 win in the 1987 NFC Wild Card game, New Orleans' first playoff appearance in franchise history.

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