Saints safety Marcus Williams' heartbreak is Vikings' euphoria

Saints teammates initially tried to protect Williams from the media throng, telling reporters he wasn't going to speak after the NFC divisional round playoff game. Minutes later, the red-eyed rookie turned around and tried to explain how he whiffed on a tackle that sprung Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs down the sideline on a 61-yard score as time expired.

If Williams makes the tackle inbounds, Diggs has a 27-yard catch, Minnesota doesn't have any timeouts, and the clock would begin ticking at New Orleans' 34-yard line with four seconds remaining.

"You've got to save the game," said Williams, a second-round pick from Utah. "... Man, I've just got to make the tackle. That is something that I always harp on is making that tackle and being an eraser, and I didn't come up with the play."

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, a first-team all-pro, took some of the blame for not providing pressure on Vikings quarterback Case Keenum as he chucked a long pass to try to get into field-goal range.

"We had them exactly where we wanted them at the end," said Jordan, son of former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan. "I feel as a defensive end and player of my caliber, I should have been able to eradicate that play all together."

Jordan also tried to comfort Williams. But he wanted to keep his message to his teammate private.

"It's been constant support from my teammates," Williams said. "They always tell me to never put my head down already, so I've got love and support from all of them. I don't feel like anybody in here is down on me or anything like that. I feel like we are all together."

Williams tired to look to next season. "Just overcome it," he said. "You can't let it beat you down. I mean, I'm going to take it upon myself to do all that I can to never let that happen again. I mean, if it happens again, then I shouldn't be playing."

After trailing 17-0 at the half, the Saints' defense intercepted Keenum and limited the Vikings to two Kia Forbath field goals in the second half until the last play. New Orleans led 24-23 on a Wil Lutz 43-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining.

Jordan, who tied for fourth in the NFL with 13 sacks this season, was limited to one tackle and one hit on Keenum, both in the second half.

"I think they had a great game plan," Jordan said. "Wherever I was lining up, it seemed like the run was going away from me, so I started mixing it up."