New Orleans Saints Win NFC
The New Orleans Saints edged the Minnesota Vikings Sunday night to win the NFC championship and advance to Super Bowl XLIV in two weeks in Miami. The Saints earned the right to wear the NFC championship hats and shirts after a hard-fought 31-28 overtime win over the Vikes.
Garrett Hartley kicked a 40-yard field goal in overtime to win the championship for New Orleans. The Vikings outgained the Saints by a large margin, 475 to 257 yards. But that margin might have even been larger if not for a Saints defense that roughed up Viking quarterback Brett Favre all game and forced two Minnesota fumbles when the Vikings were threatening to score.
New Orleans Saints Championship Hats
Minnesota was their own worst enemy, turning the ball over five times. The Vikings fumbled six times and lost possession three times. Favre threw two interceptions, including one on the Vikings’ final drive in the last minute of the fourth quarter.
The Saints won the coin toss to get the overtime kickoff and then got a great kickoff return from Pierre Thomas, who ran the ball out to the New Orleans 39 yard line. Saint quarterback Drew Brees led New Orleans on a 12 play drive that moved the ball to the Minnesota 22, converting one third and one fourth down play to keep the drive alive.
