Ryan Longwell kicked a 30-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining as the Minnesota Vikings overcame an impressive performance by Reggie Bush to record a narrow triumph over the New Orleans Saints on Monday.
After his counterpart Martin Gramatica was unable to connect from 46 yards out with two minutes four seconds remaining, the Vikings quickly made their way down the field.
Benefiting from a pass interference call, Minnesota positioned Longwell for his third field goal attempt of the night. After tying his season long with a 53-yard kick in addition to making a 33-yarder, the veteran kicker calmly nailed the winning kick for Minnesota (2-3).
Drew Brees completed 26-for-46 for 330 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for New Orleans (2-3), which failed to move into a three-way tie for second place in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2). The Carolina Panthers (4-1) are in first place in the division.
The Saints were clicking on all cylinders early on as Brees found Devery Henderson with a 17-yard scoring strike just 4:47 into the first quarter to cap an eight-play, 47-yard drive.
New Orleans seemed poised to up the advantage nearly five minutes later, but a 46-yard field goal by Gramatica was blocked by defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Cornerback Antoine Winfield scooped up the ball at the Minnesota 41 and scampered 59 yards untouched to record the first blocked field goal for a touchdown in Vikings' regular-season history.
After the teams traded field goals, Winfield made his presence felt again by sacking and stripping the ball from Brees.
The turnover gave Minnesota the ball on the Saints' five-yard line, and three plays later, running back Chester Taylor lofted a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe to give the Vikings a 17-10 advantage just 1:41 into the second quarter.
With the Saints trailing, 20-10, with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter, Bush reeled in a punt from his own 29-yard line, side-stepped a few would-be tacklers before racing down the right sideline for a 71-yard touchdown.
After Gramatica booted a 53-yard field goal to tie the game at 20-20, Bush duplicated his previous feat.
The second overall pick of the 2006 draft, Bush reeled in the booming punt of Chris Kluwe, made a quick step to right before cutting upfield. Bush then split a pair of would-be tacklers and raced up the left sideline and into the end zone. Bush now has three punt returns for touchdowns this season, and four in his career - the most in Saints history.
Bernard Berrian reeled in a 33-yard touchdown from quarterback Gus Frerotte to tie the game at 27-27 for Minnesota before Longwell's winning kick.