Conference Finals, 2026

played in New Orleans, LA

68 degrees, fair, calm

Minnesota Vikings0703-10
New Orleans Saints010106-26

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

Team StatisticsMINNOS
Record14-416-2
First Downs1420
- by Rushing610
- by Passing88
- by Penalty02
Total Net Yards256302
- Offensive Plays5764
- Yards per Play4.494.72
Net Rushing Yards97169
- Rushing Attempts2439
- Yards per Rush4.044.33
Net Passing Yards159133
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt31 - 14 - 025 - 14 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards173133
- Sacks/Yards Lost2/140/0
- Yards per Pass Play4.825.32
Fumbles/Lost1/01/0
3rd Down Conversions2/123/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down9.09.0
4th Down Conversions0/20/0
Penalties/Yards4/205/40
Punt Returns/Yards1/-24/26
Kick Returns/Yards6/1092/62
Interception Ret./Yards1/00/0
2pt Conversions0/00/0
Red Zone Visits15
- Red Zone TDs/FGs1/02/3
Avg. Drive StartOWN 24OWN 41
Time of Possession26:0733:53

Drive Charts

Minnesota Vikings
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
115:002:15OWN 20745Punt
110:271:32OWN 2433Punt
15:554:31OWN 20844Punt
212:464:12OWN 24776Touchdown
26:261:14OPP 3939Missed FG
21:011:01OWN 22313Half
311:302:41OWN 357Punt
37:172:14OWN 2130Punt
32:291:58OWN 1832Punt
412:043:20OWN 28548Field Goal
44:430:51OWN 194-4Downs
42:331:11OWN 3368Downs
New Orleans Saints
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
112:452:18OWN 2056Punt
18:553:00OWN 36514Punt
11:243:38OWN 12888Touchdown
28:342:08OWN 363-12Interception
25:124:11OWN 37949Field Goal
315:003:30OWN 40823Punt
38:491:32OPP 3738Field Goal
35:032:34OWN 49551Touchdown
30:313:27OWN 43649Field Goal
48:444:01OWN 22610Punt
43:521:19OPP 1530Field Goal
41:221:22OPP 4131Game

Game MVP: Bobby Irwin, New Orleans Saints

Rushing Statistics

MinnesotaAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Jeremy Kirk17704.122241
Mitch Fulcher4112.751310
Frankie Giles3165.33900
New OrleansAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Bobby Irwin261305.003030
Mack Mathews9202.22900
Alan Poole284.00900
Rex Dunn2115.501010

Passing Statistics

MinnesotaAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Frankie Giles31141732/14048063.0
New OrleansAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Alan Poole25141330/0226180.9

Receiving Statistics

MinnesotaCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR Dixon Cash466015.0024320
TE B.J. Dodge25168.001150
WR Rick Collins232412.000130
WR Sherman Styles28147.003120
RB Jeremy Kirk1111.00010
WR Bernie Hassler154848.000480
WR Butch Blackwood1188.00080
FB Clyde Uerling1122.00020
TE Josh Harding0100.00000
New OrleansCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR Phillip Newman697011.677261
RB Bobby Irwin44297.254190
WR Nolan Walters1399.00091
TE Mitchell Emmons1399.00090
FB Rex Dunn111010.006100
TE Lenny Shields1366.00060
RB Mack Mathews0100.00000
WR Stephen Granberry0100.00000

Interception Statistics

MinnesotaIntsYardsAvgTD
CB Les McFarlane100.000
New OrleansIntsYardsAvgTD

Fumble Statistics

MinnesotaFumbRecovForceTD
Butch Blackwood1000
Burt Woodson0100
Brady Spencer0010
New OrleansFumbRecovForceTD
Mack Mathews1000
Cedric Flournoy0100
Terrell Hicks0010

Punting Statistics

MinnesotaPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Gino McDaniel621636.028.3431
New OrleansPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Darnell Briggs418145.340.8501

Kicking Statistics

MinnesotaFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Kevin Matthews1/21/20/0411/1
New OrleansFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Burt McCalla4/41/10/0462/2

Punt Return Statistics

MinnesotaRetYardsAvgTD
Bernie Hassler1-2-2.00
New OrleansRetYardsAvgTD
Timothy Hiller4266.50

Kick Return Statistics

MinnesotaRetYardsAvgTD
Butch Blackwood59118.20
Earl Gramble11818.00
New OrleansRetYardsAvgTD
Bobby Irwin26231.00

Defensive Statistics

MinnesotaTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
S Emmitt Caldwell620.03823
ILB Roman Cassidy420.01611
DE Carey Richardson410.03523
OLB Brady Spencer400.01510
DT Tyrone Sawyers340.02615
S Harry Hines310.02916
OLB Ernest Ballard300.0115
DE Mark Archer300.03117
CB Earl Gramble300.02420
OLB Shannon McKenzie220.02818
DT Deion Palmer210.01710
S Leslie Ramthun200.01213
ILB Nolan Money200.0149
CB J.C. Sturm200.02714
DT Chris Roberson200.02215
CB Les McFarlane120.01617
CB Michael Huffman110.02815
DE Britt Wynn110.0119
S Jorge Winkler100.065
OLB Earnest Shepherd100.0113
New OrleansTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
CB Bob Heath600.01628
ILB Jose Barfield510.01919
CB Ty Covington500.01722
S Jorge Cloude410.02024
S Duane Sterritt330.02232
S Rickey Bridges300.01224
DT Eddie Bloomer211.01119
DE Max Tank201.01929
DT Junior Reeves220.01423
DT Johnny Rasmussen220.01311
DE Brent Robbins210.02020
ILB Earl Moulton100.0511
OLB Otis Wallis100.067
TE Mitchell Emmons10---------
DE Cary Clinton100.0917
OLB Lamar Bailey010.066
OLB Willie Rexin010.01824
DT Burt Tamaarkin010.01010

Pass Rush Statistics

MinnesotaSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Carey Richardson0.002123
DE Britt Wynn0.00109
New OrleansSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Max Tank1.011229
DT Eddie Bloomer1.001019
DE Brent Robbins0.004220
DT Johnny Rasmussen0.001111
DE Cary Clinton0.001117
DT Junior Reeves0.001023

Pass Defense Statistics

MinnesotaCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
CB Earl Gramble30020
ILB Roman Cassidy20011
OLB Shannon McKenzie20018
CB Les McFarlane10117
OLB Brady Spencer10010
S Leslie Ramthun10013
ILB Nolan Money1009
OLB Ernest Ballard1005
S Harry Hines10016
OLB Earnest Shepherd1003
S Emmitt Caldwell03023
CB Michael Huffman02015
New OrleansCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
CB Ty Covington40022
S Jorge Cloude30024
CB Bob Heath21028
S Rickey Bridges20024
ILB Jose Barfield20019
DT Eddie Bloomer10019
S Duane Sterritt01032
OLB Otis Wallis0107
DE Brent Robbins01020

Blocking Statistics

MinnesotaKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Marshall Burns26024032
Donald Starks17023129
Keith Blake14022022
Pete Luster1108011
Brent Finkes11019027
Kris Arnold0102011
B.J. Dodge01019021
Clyde Uerling01012017
Lamar Martin00021128
New OrleansKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Neil Delgado36136021
Cedric Flournoy35031014
Curtis Olivarez28039025
D.J. Matthews22011012
Marlon Finley16029023
Rex Dunn13019015
Mel Galiardo1101002
Joseph Sherman03036022
Mitchell Emmons02026012
Donnell Pritchett010304

Special Teams Statistics

MinnesotaTacklesSTPlays
Mitch Fulcher319
Burt Woodson117
Dixon Cash114
Sherman Styles16
Brady Spencer019
Josh Harding018
Les McFarlane018
Jorge Winkler013
Butch Blackwood012
Clyde Uerling011
Keith Blake08
Lamar Martin08
Troy Branch08
Kris Arnold08
Pete Luster08
Tyrone Sawyers08
Gino McDaniel08
Earl Gramble08
Nolan Money07
Rick Collins07
Earnest Shepherd06
Kevin Matthews05
Carey Richardson05
B.J. Dodge05
Bernie Hassler04
Emmitt Caldwell04
Britt Wynn04
Chris Roberson04
Shannon McKenzie04
J.C. Sturm03
Michael Huffman03
Deion Palmer03
Mark Archer03
Roman Cassidy03
Ernest Ballard02
Harry Hines02
Jeremy Kirk01
New OrleansTacklesSTPlays
Bobby Irwin221
Terrell Hicks216
Rex Dunn118
Sammie Rutter112
D.J. Matthews18
Junior Blair019
Timothy Hiller017
Kelvin Sandage016
Otis Wallis015
Lenny Shields014
Burt McCalla011
Earl Moulton010
Rickey Bridges010
Mack Mathews010
Claude Richardson08
Marlon Finley08
Lamar Bailey07
Mel Galiardo07
Cary Clinton07
Cedric Flournoy05
Nolan Walters04
Billy Joe Beckett04
Brent Robbins04
Darnell Briggs04
Donnell Pritchett04
Eddie Bloomer03
Mitchell Emmons03
Darnell Carr03
Burt Tamaarkin03
Duane Burgess02
Duane Sterritt02
Willie Rexin02
Jose Barfield02
Max Tank02
Bob Heath01
Junior Reeves01
Johnny Rasmussen01
Jorge Cloude01
Ty Covington01

Directional Rushing Statistics

DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left10484.8
Middle6233.8
Right8263.3
None000.0
DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left18774.3
Middle8253.1
Right12685.7
None1-1-1.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

MinnesotaAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Frankie Giles31142034960
New OrleansAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Alan Poole25141115311

Directional Passing Statistics

DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen0000.0
Short (0-8 Yds)1410876.2
Medium (9-18 Yds)133382.9
Long (19+ Yds)414812.0
DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen21105.0
Short (0-8 Yds)88455.6
Medium (9-18 Yds)94525.8
Long (19+ Yds)61264.3

Detailed Receiving Statistics

MinnesotaTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
WR Sherman Styles82014021
WR Dixon Cash64260120
WR Bernie Hassler51148121
TE B.J. Dodge52016021
WR Rick Collins32024016
RB Jeremy Kirk1101027
WR Butch Blackwood110805
FB Clyde Uerling1102017
TE Josh Harding1000010
New OrleansTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
WR Phillip Newman96070123
RB Bobby Irwin44029018
WR Nolan Walters3109020
TE Mitchell Emmons3109012
TE Lenny Shields3106012
RB Mack Mathews100007
FB Rex Dunn11010015
WR Stephen Granberry101007

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

MinnesotaAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Frankie Giles273.505.33
Jeremy Kirk242.004.12
New OrleansAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Bobby Irwin492.255.00
Mack Mathews2-3-1.502.22
Rex Dunn111.005.50

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

MinnesotaAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
New OrleansAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Alan Poole43153.755.32

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

MinnesotaTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
New OrleansTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR Nolan Walters1199.003.00
WR Phillip Newman1166.007.78
RB Bobby Irwin1100.007.25
WR Stephen Granberry1000.000.00

Third Down Rushing Statistics

MinnesotaRushesConversions
New OrleansRushesConversions
Bobby Irwin31
Alan Poole21

Third Down Passing Statistics

MinnesotaAttCompConversions
Frankie Giles1042
New OrleansAttCompConversions
Alan Poole821

Third Down Receiving Statistics

MinnesotaTargCatchConversions
TE B.J. Dodge210
WR Rick Collins211
WR Sherman Styles200
RB Jeremy Kirk110
WR Bernie Hassler100
WR Dixon Cash111
TE Josh Harding100
New OrleansTargCatchConversions
WR Nolan Walters211
WR Phillip Newman200
TE Mitchell Emmons200
RB Bobby Irwin110
TE Lenny Shields100

SectionAttendance
Stadium73,900 (80,200 capacity)
Upper Deck18,300 (20,400)
End Zone13,500 (14,700)
Mezzanine7,900 (8,500)
Sideline Seats12,400 (13,000)
Club Seats19,100 (19,900)
Luxury Boxes2,700 (3,700)