Conference Finals, 2026

played in New Orleans, LA

68 degrees, fair, calm

Minnesota Vikings	0	7	0	3	-	10
New Orleans Saints	0	10	10	6	-	26

Scoring Summary
2Q: 12:53 NOS - Nolan Walters 9 pass from Alan Poole (Burt McCalla extra point)
2Q: 08:43 MIN - Jeremy Kirk 8 run (Kevin Matthews extra point)
2Q: 01:06 NOS - Burt McCalla 31 field goal
3Q: 07:24 NOS - Burt McCalla 46 field goal
3Q: 02:39 NOS - Phillip Newman 6 pass from Alan Poole (Burt McCalla extra point)
4Q: 12:11 NOS - Burt McCalla 25 field goal
4Q: 08:51 MIN - Kevin Matthews 41 field goal
4Q: 02:41 NOS - Burt McCalla 32 field goal

Scoring Summary
2Q: 12:53 NOS - Nolan Walters 9 pass from Alan Poole (Burt McCalla extra point)
2Q: 08:43 MIN - Jeremy Kirk 8 run (Kevin Matthews extra point)
2Q: 01:06 NOS - Burt McCalla 31 field goal
3Q: 07:24 NOS - Burt McCalla 46 field goal
3Q: 02:39 NOS - Phillip Newman 6 pass from Alan Poole (Burt McCalla extra point)
4Q: 12:11 NOS - Burt McCalla 25 field goal
4Q: 08:51 MIN - Kevin Matthews 41 field goal
4Q: 02:41 NOS - Burt McCalla 32 field goal

Team Statistics MIN NOS
Record 14-4 16-2
First Downs 14 20
- by Rushing 6 10
- by Passing 8 8
- by Penalty 0 2
Total Net Yards 256 302
- Offensive Plays 57 64
- Yards per Play 4.49 4.72
Net Rushing Yards 97 169
- Rushing Attempts 24 39
- Yards per Rush 4.04 4.33
Net Passing Yards 159 133
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 31 - 14 - 0 25 - 14 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards 173 133
- Sacks/Yards Lost 2/14 0/0
- Yards per Pass Play 4.82 5.32
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 1/0
3rd Down Conversions 2/12 3/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 9.0 9.0
4th Down Conversions 0/2 0/0
Penalties/Yards 4/20 5/40
Punt Returns/Yards 1/-2 4/26
Kick Returns/Yards 6/109 2/62
Interception Ret./Yards 1/0 0/0
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 1 5
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 1/0 2/3
Avg. Drive Start OWN 24 OWN 41
Time of Possession 26:07 33:53

Team Statistics	MIN	NOS
Record	14-4	16-2
First Downs	14	20
- by Rushing	6	10
- by Passing	8	8
- by Penalty	0	2
Total Net Yards	256	302
- Offensive Plays	57	64
- Yards per Play	4.49	4.72
Net Rushing Yards	97	169
- Rushing Attempts	24	39
- Yards per Rush	4.04	4.33
Net Passing Yards	159	133
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	31 - 14 - 0	25 - 14 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards	173	133
- Sacks/Yards Lost	2/14	0/0
- Yards per Pass Play	4.82	5.32
Fumbles/Lost	1/0	1/0
3rd Down Conversions	2/12	3/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	9.0	9.0
4th Down Conversions	0/2	0/0
Penalties/Yards	4/20	5/40
Punt Returns/Yards	1/-2	4/26
Kick Returns/Yards	6/109	2/62
Interception Ret./Yards	1/0	0/0
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	1	5
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	1/0	2/3
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 24	OWN 41
Time of Possession	26:07	33:53

Drive Charts

Minnesota Vikings
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	2:15	OWN 20	7	45	Punt
1	10:27	1:32	OWN 24	3	3	Punt
1	5:55	4:31	OWN 20	8	44	Punt
2	12:46	4:12	OWN 24	7	76	Touchdown
2	6:26	1:14	OPP 39	3	9	Missed FG
2	1:01	1:01	OWN 22	3	13	Half
3	11:30	2:41	OWN 3	5	7	Punt
3	7:17	2:14	OWN 21	3	0	Punt
3	2:29	1:58	OWN 18	3	2	Punt
4	12:04	3:20	OWN 28	5	48	Field Goal
4	4:43	0:51	OWN 19	4	-4	Downs
4	2:33	1:11	OWN 33	6	8	Downs

New Orleans Saints
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	12:45	2:18	OWN 20	5	6	Punt
1	8:55	3:00	OWN 36	5	14	Punt
1	1:24	3:38	OWN 12	8	88	Touchdown
2	8:34	2:08	OWN 36	3	-12	Interception
2	5:12	4:11	OWN 37	9	49	Field Goal
3	15:00	3:30	OWN 40	8	23	Punt
3	8:49	1:32	OPP 37	3	8	Field Goal
3	5:03	2:34	OWN 49	5	51	Touchdown
3	0:31	3:27	OWN 43	6	49	Field Goal
4	8:44	4:01	OWN 22	6	10	Punt
4	3:52	1:19	OPP 15	3	0	Field Goal
4	1:22	1:22	OPP 41	3	1	Game

Game MVP: Bobby Irwin, New Orleans Saints

Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Jeremy Kirk	17	70	4.12	22	4	1
Mitch Fulcher	4	11	2.75	13	1	0
Frankie Giles	3	16	5.33	9	0	0

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+
Bobby Irwin	26	130	5.00	30	3
Mack Mathews	9	20	2.22	9	0
Alan Poole	2	8	4.00	9	0
Rex Dunn	2	11	5.50	10	1

Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Frankie Giles	31	14	173	2/14	0	48	0	63.0

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Alan Poole	25	14	133	0/0	2	26	1	80.9

Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG
WR Dixon Cash	4	6	60	15.00	24	32
TE B.J. Dodge	2	5	16	8.00	1	15
WR Rick Collins	2	3	24	12.00	0	13
WR Sherman Styles	2	8	14	7.00	3	12
RB Jeremy Kirk	1	1	1	1.00	0	1
WR Bernie Hassler	1	5	48	48.00	0	48
WR Butch Blackwood	1	1	8	8.00	0	8
FB Clyde Uerling	1	1	2	2.00	0	2
TE Josh Harding	0	1	0	0.00	0	0

New Orleans	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Phillip Newman	6	9	70	11.67	7	26	1
RB Bobby Irwin	4	4	29	7.25	4	19	0
WR Nolan Walters	1	3	9	9.00	0	9	1
TE Mitchell Emmons	1	3	9	9.00	0	9	0
FB Rex Dunn	1	1	10	10.00	6	10	0
TE Lenny Shields	1	3	6	6.00	0	6	0
RB Mack Mathews	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0
WR Stephen Granberry	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Interception Statistics

Minnesota	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
CB Les McFarlane	1	0	0.00	0

New Orleans	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Fumble Statistics

Minnesota	Fumb	Recov	Force
Butch Blackwood	1	0	0
Burt Woodson	0	1	0
Brady Spencer	0	0	1

New Orleans	Fumb	Recov	Force
Mack Mathews	1	0	0
Cedric Flournoy	0	1	0
Terrell Hicks	0	0	1

Punting Statistics

Minnesota	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Gino McDaniel	6	216	36.0	28.3	43	1

New Orleans	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Darnell Briggs	4	181	45.3	40.8	50	1

Kicking Statistics

Minnesota	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Kevin Matthews	1/2	1/2	0/0	41	1/1

New Orleans	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Burt McCalla	4/4	1/1	0/0	46	2/2

Punt Return Statistics

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Bernie Hassler	1	-2	-2.0	0

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Timothy Hiller	4	26	6.5	0

Kick Return Statistics

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Butch Blackwood	5	91	18.2	0
Earl Gramble	1	18	18.0	0

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Bobby Irwin	2	62	31.0	0

Defensive Statistics

Minnesota	Tack	Asst	RPlay	PPlay
S Emmitt Caldwell	6	2	38	23
ILB Roman Cassidy	4	2	16	11
DE Carey Richardson	4	1	35	23
OLB Brady Spencer	4	0	15	10
DT Tyrone Sawyers	3	4	26	15
S Harry Hines	3	1	29	16
OLB Ernest Ballard	3	0	11	5
DE Mark Archer	3	0	31	17
CB Earl Gramble	3	0	24	20
OLB Shannon McKenzie	2	2	28	18
DT Deion Palmer	2	1	17	10
S Leslie Ramthun	2	0	12	13
ILB Nolan Money	2	0	14	9
CB J.C. Sturm	2	0	27	14
DT Chris Roberson	2	0	22	15
CB Les McFarlane	1	2	16	17
CB Michael Huffman	1	1	28	15
DE Britt Wynn	1	1	11	9
S Jorge Winkler	1	0	6	5
OLB Earnest Shepherd	1	0	11	3

New Orleans	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
CB Bob Heath	6	0	0.0	16	28
ILB Jose Barfield	5	1	0.0	19	19
CB Ty Covington	5	0	0.0	17	22
S Jorge Cloude	4	1	0.0	20	24
S Duane Sterritt	3	3	0.0	22	32
S Rickey Bridges	3	0	0.0	12	24
DT Eddie Bloomer	2	1	1.0	11	19
DE Max Tank	2	0	1.0	19	29
DT Junior Reeves	2	2	0.0	14	23
DT Johnny Rasmussen	2	2	0.0	13	11
DE Brent Robbins	2	1	0.0	20	20
ILB Earl Moulton	1	0	0.0	5	11
OLB Otis Wallis	1	0	0.0	6	7
TE Mitchell Emmons	1	0	---	---	---
DE Cary Clinton	1	0	0.0	9	17
OLB Lamar Bailey	0	1	0.0	6	6
OLB Willie Rexin	0	1	0.0	18	24
DT Burt Tamaarkin	0	1	0.0	10	10

Pass Rush Statistics

Minnesota	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Carey Richardson	0.0	0	2	1	23
DE Britt Wynn	0.0	0	1	0	9

New Orleans	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Max Tank	1.0	1	1	2	29
DT Eddie Bloomer	1.0	0	1	0	19
DE Brent Robbins	0.0	0	4	2	20
DT Johnny Rasmussen	0.0	0	1	1	11
DE Cary Clinton	0.0	0	1	1	17
DT Junior Reeves	0.0	0	1	0	23

Pass Defense Statistics

Minnesota	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
CB Earl Gramble	3	0	0	20
ILB Roman Cassidy	2	0	0	11
OLB Shannon McKenzie	2	0	0	18
CB Les McFarlane	1	0	1	17
OLB Brady Spencer	1	0	0	10
S Leslie Ramthun	1	0	0	13
ILB Nolan Money	1	0	0	9
OLB Ernest Ballard	1	0	0	5
S Harry Hines	1	0	0	16
OLB Earnest Shepherd	1	0	0	3
S Emmitt Caldwell	0	3	0	23
CB Michael Huffman	0	2	0	15

New Orleans	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
CB Ty Covington	4	0	22
S Jorge Cloude	3	0	24
CB Bob Heath	2	1	28
S Rickey Bridges	2	0	24
ILB Jose Barfield	2	0	19
DT Eddie Bloomer	1	0	19
S Duane Sterritt	0	1	32
OLB Otis Wallis	0	1	7
DE Brent Robbins	0	1	20

Blocking Statistics

Minnesota	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Marshall Burns	2	6	24	0	32
Donald Starks	1	7	23	1	29
Keith Blake	1	4	22	0	22
Pete Luster	1	1	8	0	11
Brent Finkes	1	1	19	0	27
Kris Arnold	0	1	2	0	11
B.J. Dodge	0	1	19	0	21
Clyde Uerling	0	1	12	0	17
Lamar Martin	0	0	21	1	28

New Orleans	KeyBl	BlOpp	Panc	RPly	PPly
Neil Delgado	3	6	1	36	21
Cedric Flournoy	3	5	0	31	14
Curtis Olivarez	2	8	0	39	25
D.J. Matthews	2	2	0	11	12
Marlon Finley	1	6	0	29	23
Rex Dunn	1	3	0	19	15
Mel Galiardo	1	1	0	10	2
Joseph Sherman	0	3	0	36	22
Mitchell Emmons	0	2	0	26	12
Donnell Pritchett	0	1	0	3	4

Special Teams Statistics

Minnesota	Tackles	STPlays
Mitch Fulcher	3	19
Burt Woodson	1	17
Dixon Cash	1	14
Sherman Styles	1	6
Brady Spencer	0	19
Josh Harding	0	18
Les McFarlane	0	18
Jorge Winkler	0	13
Butch Blackwood	0	12
Clyde Uerling	0	11
Keith Blake	0	8
Lamar Martin	0	8
Troy Branch	0	8
Kris Arnold	0	8
Pete Luster	0	8
Tyrone Sawyers	0	8
Gino McDaniel	0	8
Earl Gramble	0	8
Nolan Money	0	7
Rick Collins	0	7
Earnest Shepherd	0	6
Kevin Matthews	0	5
Carey Richardson	0	5
B.J. Dodge	0	5
Bernie Hassler	0	4
Emmitt Caldwell	0	4
Britt Wynn	0	4
Chris Roberson	0	4
Shannon McKenzie	0	4
J.C. Sturm	0	3
Michael Huffman	0	3
Deion Palmer	0	3
Mark Archer	0	3
Roman Cassidy	0	3
Ernest Ballard	0	2
Harry Hines	0	2
Jeremy Kirk	0	1

New Orleans	Tackles	STPlays
Bobby Irwin	2	21
Terrell Hicks	2	16
Rex Dunn	1	18
Sammie Rutter	1	12
D.J. Matthews	1	8
Junior Blair	0	19
Timothy Hiller	0	17
Kelvin Sandage	0	16
Otis Wallis	0	15
Lenny Shields	0	14
Burt McCalla	0	11
Earl Moulton	0	10
Rickey Bridges	0	10
Mack Mathews	0	10
Claude Richardson	0	8
Marlon Finley	0	8
Lamar Bailey	0	7
Mel Galiardo	0	7
Cary Clinton	0	7
Cedric Flournoy	0	5
Nolan Walters	0	4
Billy Joe Beckett	0	4
Brent Robbins	0	4
Darnell Briggs	0	4
Donnell Pritchett	0	4
Eddie Bloomer	0	3
Mitchell Emmons	0	3
Darnell Carr	0	3
Burt Tamaarkin	0	3
Duane Burgess	0	2
Duane Sterritt	0	2
Willie Rexin	0	2
Jose Barfield	0	2
Max Tank	0	2
Bob Heath	0	1
Junior Reeves	0	1
Johnny Rasmussen	0	1
Jorge Cloude	0	1
Ty Covington	0	1

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	10	48	4.8
Middle	6	23	3.8
Right	8	26	3.3
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	18	77	4.3
Middle	8	25	3.1
Right	12	68	5.7
None	1	-1	-1.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Frankie Giles	31	14	2	0	3	4	9	6	0

New Orleans	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Alan Poole	25	14	1	1	1	5	3	1	1

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	0	0	0	0.0
Short (0-8 Yds)	14	10	87	6.2
Medium (9-18 Yds)	13	3	38	2.9
Long (19+ Yds)	4	1	48	12.0

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	2	1	10	5.0
Short (0-8 Yds)	8	8	45	5.6
Medium (9-18 Yds)	9	4	52	5.8
Long (19+ Yds)	6	1	26	4.3

Detailed Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Sherman Styles	8	2	0	14	0	21
WR Dixon Cash	6	4	2	60	1	20
WR Bernie Hassler	5	1	1	48	1	21
TE B.J. Dodge	5	2	0	16	0	21
WR Rick Collins	3	2	0	24	0	16
RB Jeremy Kirk	1	1	0	1	0	27
WR Butch Blackwood	1	1	0	8	0	5
FB Clyde Uerling	1	1	0	2	0	17
TE Josh Harding	1	0	0	0	0	10

New Orleans	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Phillip Newman	9	6	0	70	1	23
RB Bobby Irwin	4	4	0	29	0	18
WR Nolan Walters	3	1	0	9	0	20
TE Mitchell Emmons	3	1	0	9	0	12
TE Lenny Shields	3	1	0	6	0	12
RB Mack Mathews	1	0	0	0	0	7
FB Rex Dunn	1	1	0	10	0	15
WR Stephen Granberry	1	0	1	0	0	7

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Frankie Giles	2	7	3.50	5.33
Jeremy Kirk	2	4	2.00	4.12

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Bobby Irwin	4	9	2.25	5.00
Mack Mathews	2	-3	-1.50	2.22
Rex Dunn	1	1	1.00	5.50

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Alan Poole	4	3	15	3.75	5.32

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg

New Orleans	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Nolan Walters	1	1	9	9.00	3.00
WR Phillip Newman	1	1	6	6.00	7.78
RB Bobby Irwin	1	1	0	0.00	7.25
WR Stephen Granberry	1	0	0	0.00	0.00

Third Down Rushing Statistics

Minnesota	Rushes	Conversions

New Orleans	Rushes	Conversions
Bobby Irwin	3	1
Alan Poole	2	1

Third Down Passing Statistics

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Conversions
Frankie Giles	10	4	2

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Conversions
Alan Poole	8	2	1

Third Down Receiving Statistics

Minnesota	Targ	Catch	Conversions
TE B.J. Dodge	2	1	0
WR Rick Collins	2	1	1
WR Sherman Styles	2	0	0
RB Jeremy Kirk	1	1	0
WR Bernie Hassler	1	0	0
WR Dixon Cash	1	1	1
TE Josh Harding	1	0	0

New Orleans	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Nolan Walters	2	1	1
WR Phillip Newman	2	0	0
TE Mitchell Emmons	2	0	0
RB Bobby Irwin	1	1	0
TE Lenny Shields	1	0	0

Section Attendance
Stadium 73,900 (80,200 capacity)
Upper Deck 18,300 (20,400)
End Zone 13,500 (14,700)
Mezzanine 7,900 (8,500)
Sideline Seats 12,400 (13,000)
Club Seats 19,100 (19,900)
Luxury Boxes 2,700 (3,700)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	73,900 (80,200 capacity)
Upper Deck	18,300 (20,400)
End Zone	13,500 (14,700)
Mezzanine	7,900 (8,500)
Sideline Seats	12,400 (13,000)
Club Seats	19,100 (19,900)
Luxury Boxes	2,700 (3,700)