The Minnesota Vikings enter the NFL playoffs as massive underdogs against the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints. But they’re also bringing a completely healthy offensive to the fight for the first time in months. Will a healthy Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen be enough to counter Drew Brees?
That’s one of the key questions for Sunday’s playoff matchup between the Saints and Vikings in New Orleans.
Cook, with 250 carries, 1,135 yards, and 13 TDs on the season, returns from a shoulder injury. This should boost QB Kirk Cousins (307-444, 3,603 YDS, 26 TDs, 6 INTs), who’s struggled mightily Cook to keep defenses guessing. Cousins averaged 190 passing yards over the last three starts, with just three touchdowns and two interceptions. Conversely, he averaged 258 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception in the four games prior.
Thielen has battled a hamstring injury for most of the season, but Stefon Diggs has pulled his weight, leading the team with 1,130 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, for the Saints, Brees (281-378, 2979 yards, 27 TD, 4 interceptions) leads a sturdy passing game, averaging 282 yards per game over the last three and 265.2 on the season. This is a Vikings pass defense that gives up 233 yards per game; it’ll certainly want to focus on league’s most prolific receiver, Michael Thomas, who has an NFL-record 149 receptions for 1725 yards and 9 TDs in 2019.
It’s not just Thomas, though; tight end Jared Cook will be a factor against the Vikings secondary. He ended the season strong, averaging 71.6 receiving yards with six scores in his final six games of the regular season. Minnesota ranked in the top third in receiving yards allowed to opposing tight ends.
What you won’t see in this matchup is much yellow, as Minnesota and New Orleans are the lowest penalized teams in the NFL.
Here’s everything you need to know to live stream Saints vs. Vikings, including what to watch for on the field.
| HOW TO STREAM SAINTS VS. VIKINGS | |
| SLING TV | TRY NOW |
| HULU WITH LIVE TV | TRY NOW |
| AT&T TV NOW | TRY NOW |
New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings
- When: 1:05pm ET, Sunday, Jan. 5
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Streaming: Fox
Vikings vs. Saints live stream: How to watch the NFL Playoffs online
1) Sling TV
- Sling TV pricing: $30-$45 per month (New subscribers get $10 off the first month.)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV,Roku,Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Microsoft Edge, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling offers a ton of live sports. Sling TV provides two base channel package options, each priced at $25 per month. Sling Orange includes three ESPN channels – including ESPN3, which will simulcast ABC sports broadcasts, while Sling Blue includes sports channels like NFL Network, NBCSN, and local channels. If you’re Team “Why Not Both,” Sling Orange + Blue combines the two for just $45 per month. Sports Extra: Sling Blue ($10 per month) also includes NFL RedZone.
How to use AirTV with Sling
AirTV solves one of Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “It’s practically magic.”
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. Those services have plenty of local channels.
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $54.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
3) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPN and FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
4) AT&T TV Now
- Cost: $50-$135 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
AT&T TV Now is a bonus for AT&T wireless customers, especially for those who happen to be soccer fans. It provides instant access to more than 45 channels, including local channels. That means NBC as well as NBCSN for Premier League action, Fox as well as FS1 and FS2 for MLS, Bundesliga, the U.S. men’s and women’s teams, and even Liga MX offerings, and ESPN and ESPN2 for its array of soccer and other sports programming. It even offers free HBO on PLUS and MAX channel suites. Plus, it comes with CloudDVR for up to 20 hours of TV recording per month. One account works on two devices, but you can add more devices for only $5.
Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints live stream: Notes
Big blows to the Vikings defense as both Mackensie Alexander (knee) and Mike Hughes (neck) are out against the Saints. pic.twitter.com/xaWnmwvTDL
— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) January 3, 2020
Both Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes will be out of action for the Vikings. This is a significant problem. Starting cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes are still good corners, though the former has surely taken a step back in the middle of what should be his prime.
Without Alexander or Hughes working out of the slot, Minnesota’s safeties, Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, will be leaned on more than usual. Danielle Hunter, one of the NFL’s best rush ends, must create consistent pressure on Brees. Look for backup CB Kris Boyd to get into the mix, but also look for Brees to target whoever he’s matching up with.
READ MORE:
- How to watch the NFL Playoffs live online
- How to watch NFL RedZone without cable
- How to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without a DirecTV satellite
- How to watch NFL Network online (without cable)
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