The New Orleans Saints have to wonder what it takes to catch a break and win a playoff game.
New Orleans became the second team to lose two playoff games in overtime when it fell to the Minnesota Vikings, 26-20, Sunday at the Superdome.
The loss is the third straight brutal one in the postseason for Sean Payton, Drew Brees & Co.
2017: Minneapolis Miracle
The Minnesota Vikings, same team that doused the Saints this season, pulled off an all-timer when Case Keenum found Stefon Diggs for an improbable touchdown pass as time ran out in a Divisional round game as time expired for a 29-24 victory.
2018: Flag, what flag?
The Saints appeared to be driving for a game-winning score in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when Brees looked for Tommylee Lewis. Los Angeles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman committed a blatant interference penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis well before the pass arrived inside the 5 that was not called, forcing the Saints to settle for Wil Lutz’s 31-yard field goal that made it 23-20 with 1:41 left in regulation. The Rams got a 48-yard field goal to tie it at 20 with 15 seconds left and Greg Zuerlein connected from 57 in overtime to send the Saints home. The non-call led to a rules decision that changed the NFL.
2019: Push off? What push off?
The Saints went to overtime at the Superdome with the Vikings and suffered another wicked defeat. This time, Kyle Rudolph caught a TD pass on third down in the extra session for the game-winning score. Did the Vikings’ TE push off? You be the judge.
