The last time the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints met in the playoffs, Stefon Diggs was sprinting down the sideline as time expired. The Minnesota Miracle sent one side home and the other side into a complete frenzy. On Sunday, these two teams will meet with a trip to the NFC Divisional Round on the line.

The Vikings will be on the road in this game. For them to be successful, they will need two things to happen. Minnesota will need to run the ball effectively, but more importantly, Kirk Cousins will need to show up.

Cousins is coming off another strong season as quarterback of the Vikings. He threw for 3,603 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. Cousins was viewed as the missing link in Minnesota after the Vikings made a run to the NFC Championship Game. He will now have to prove it in his first postseason start since 2015.

Cousins Can Have Big Game on Wild Card Weekend

When the Vikings take the field on Sunday, they will look to Dalvin Cook to set the tone. He has done so all season long and has emerged as one of the top runners in the league. That has benefited Cousins because of his ability as a play-action passer.

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The Saints ranked 20th in the league allowing 241.8 passing yards per game in the regular season. Like any other season, New Orleans relies on their offense to outscore their opponent. They are hard team to beat at home, but the Vikings could be up for the challenge.

Cousins is back to getting no respect as a quarterback. The Vikings won four out of five games before laying an egg against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Week 16. During that stretch, Cousins was turning critics into believers, but the game against the Packers ended that. Cousins moved to 0-9 on Monday night and his ability to win a big game continues to come into question.

A reputation is on the line here. In 2017, the Vikings believed they had a complete team and just needed a quarterback. That has not been the case during Cousins' two years. Regardless, this Vikings' team is very good and they are going up against a shaky defense in round one.

Many people will lean towards the Saints because they are home and no one believes in Cousins. This is a huge chance for Cousins and the Vikings to make a statement on a huge stage.