Vikings Can’t Let Go, so Saints Hold On : NFC: After penalty nullifies game-tying kick, New Orleans blocks a last-minute field-goal attempt to defeat Minnesota, 17-14.

Wade Wilson got help from New Orleans’ special teams and got even with Dennis Green and the Vikings.

One of Green’s first moves when he became Minnesota’s coach in 1992 was releasing Wilson. Sunday, the quarterback returned to the Metrodome for the first time and helped the Saints to a 17-14 victory.

Fuad Reveiz kicked what appeared to be a tying 41-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining, but Fred Strickland was called for holding Tyrone Leggett, who was rushing from the outside. Reveiz then kicked low on a 51-yard try, and Jim Wilks got his hand on the ball.

Rookie Tyrone Hughes had a 99-yard kickoff return, and Morten Andersen kicked a 24-yard field goal with 10:06 remaining for the Saints (7-4).

Minnesota (5-6) has lost four of its last five games and is under .500 for the first time under Green. The Vikings lost only five games all last season in winning the NFC Central, but now trail Detroit and Green Bay by two games.

Wilson, who played 11 years in Minnesota before being released without explanation by Green, was called upon to throw only 20 passes Sunday. He completed 13, for 111 yards, with two interceptions. But his 13-yard scramble set up Fred McAfee’s first-quarter touchdown run, and his 28-yard run set up Andersen’s winning field goal.

“It was strange being out there and getting hit by guys who always wanted to hit you in practice but couldn’t,” Wilson said. “There was more emotion for me personally, but the game was too important to get caught up in that.”

The Vikings had just taken a 14-7 lead when Hughes scored the tying touchdown on the final play of the third quarter. He received excellent blocking in the middle of the field, cut toward the right sideline, faked out Reveiz at the Saints’ 47 and then had clear sailing for New Orleans’ first kickoff-return touchdown since 1989.

“I think it was the turning point in the game,” Hughes said. “We knew we’d have some chances to return some kicks and make some yardage.”

Kickoff coverage has been poor all season for the Vikings, who also gave up a 48-yard return to Hughes in the first half. The Saints went 76 yards in their opening drive, ending with McAfee’s three-yard run.

In addition to Wilson’s 13-yard scramble on third and seven, McAfee had a four-yard run on fourth and inches and Quinn Early had a 26-yard run on a reverse during the drive.