Most NFL fans are pretty savvy about the value of screaming their brains out any time the enemy faces third down. And those who aren't as astute typically get eardrum-splitting cues via piped-in sound effects and overcaffeinated public address announcers screaming that it's time to become verbally unhinged.
No venue is better at this than the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
And yet it was Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins who outclassed future Hall of Famer Drew Brees on third-down plays as a 7½-point road playoff underdog in Sunday's 26-20 overtime upset.
Against the Saints' No. 6-ranked third-down defense, Cousins completed 9 of 12 passes with seven first downs, one touchdown, no turnovers and 110 yards.