Numbers Behind the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints Matchup

Minnesota and New Orleans will meet in the playoffs for the 4th time this Sunday. Here's a look at the history between them and some interesting statistics.

US Bank Stadium will be rocking this upcoming Sunday with the Saints coming to town to play the first ever playoff game inside the new stadium. Minnesota holds the overall series record in regards to regular season and playoffs, but recent history has been in favor of the Saints.

Here's a look at some of the historical numbers.

Minnesota leads the all-time series 21-11

The two teams first met back in 1968 when the Saints defeated the Vikings 20-17. Minnesota would go on to win the next eight of ten games between 1970-1983. The Vikings largest winning streak is six games, while New Orleans has managed to win four in a row between 2010-2014. New Orleans has won four of the last five.

Minnesota is 13-3 at home against New Orleans

Minnesota has dominated the series at home against the Saints. New Orleans won games in Minneapolis in 2011, 1993, and 1985. The success for the Saints has been at home where they are 8-8 all-time against Minnesota

Minnesota leads the playoff series 2-1

Minnesota and New Orleans have met in each round of the playoffs (Wild Card, Divisional, NFC Championship) with the Vikings holding a 2-1 advantage. New Orleans' lone playoff win was in the 2009-2010 NFC Championship game. I know I don't have to remind anyone around Minnesota of the specifics of that game.

• 1988: Minnesota 44, New Orleans 10 (Wild Card) *In New Orleans
• 2001: Minnesota 34, New Orleans 16 (Divisional) *In Minnesota
• 2010: New Orleans 31, Minnesota 28 OT (NFC Championship) *In New Orleans

Drew Brees is 4-2 Against Minnesota

It's been a successful career for Drew Brees as he gets ready to face the Vikings again. He is 4-2 overall against Minnesota with a 13-2 touchdown to interception ratio. He has thrown for 1,760 yards in those games averaging about 293 yards per contest.

Minnesota Has Never Beat Drew Brees on a Sunday

Those two wins that the Vikings have against Drew Brees? Neither of them were in games played on a Sunday. Both wins were on Monday Night Football with the first coming in 2008 and the second in 2017.

Plus a couple of loosely tied notes heading into this weekend...

No team that is hosting the Super Bowl has made it past the divisional round

Minnesota could be the first team to advance past the NFC Divisional Round with a win this weekend against New Orleans. History is not on the side of the team hosting the Super Bowl. Four times prior teams that were hosting the Super Bowl that season have lost in the divisional round. They are...

• 1969-1970: Oakland 21, Miami 14 (AFC Divisional) *Miami hosted Super Bowl V
• 1994-1995: San Diego 22, Miami 21 (AFC Divisional)  *Miami hosted Super Bowl XXIX
• 1998-1999: Denver 38, Miami 3 (AFC Divisional) *Miami Hosted Super Bowl XXXIII
• 2016-2017: New England 34, Houston 16 (AFC Divisional) *Houston Hosted Super Bowl LI

New Orleans Has Never Advanced Past the Divisional Round without a 1st Round Bye

The Saints have made it to two NFC Championship Games in their history (2006, 2009), but each time they did they had a first round bye. In the eight other years that the Saints made the postseason they failed to get any further than the NFC Divisional Round.

They were bounced out of the Wild Card in 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 2010. Seasons in which they won the NFC Wild Card round and lost in the NFC Divisional round include 2013, 2011, and 2000.

Just some tidbits heading into the game on Sunday. Minnesota and New Orleans meet in the NFC Divisional Round Sunday at 3:40 PM at US Bank Stadium.

Sources: Mcubed, Pro Football Reference