The Indianapolis Colts efficiently kicked a subject aim on the opening drive of the sport in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings of their Week 15 matchup. Then the Colts blocked a punt for a landing on the Vikings’ first possession. When Minnesota received the ball again, they fumbled two performs later, and Colts took benefit of the sphere place for one more landing. The Vikings then turned the ball over in 4 performs, and the Colts took benefit with a subject aim. The Vikings turned it over once more in 4 performs, and the Colts kicked one other subject aim.
When the Vikings protection lastly stopped the Colts, Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins responded by throwing a pick-six to Colts security Julian Blackmon. The Colts added yet one more subject aim simply earlier than halftime to take a 33-0 lead into the break.
Game over, proper? Not fairly. The Vikings stormed again to win, 39-36, in time beyond regulation for the most important comeback in NFL historical past. The dethrones the Bills’ 32-point comeback over the Houston Oilers in 1993 for the most important comeback the league has ever seen. Kicker Greg Joseph’s 40-yard subject aim in OT gave the Vikings the win, and likewise clinched the division championship.
Since 1930, NFL groups had been 1,548-1-1 when main by 30 factors or extra. Make it 1,548-2-1.
The win likelihood chart reveals simply how ridiculous this comeback was:
The largest play on the sport occurred with simply over two minutes left in regulation. After forcing a turnover on downs, Minnesota’s first play was a brief throw to star operating again Dalvin Cook, who busted it 64 yards for a landing. The Vikings would get the two-point dialog to the sport.
Justin Jefferson additionally had himself an evening, ending with 12 catches for 123 yards and a landing. Jefferson is perhaps the perfect vast out within the NFL, and he proved it on this recreation.
His landing got here on a completely nasty transfer into the purple zone. That Colts defensive again nonetheless doesn’t know what hit him.
Kirk Cousins additionally received the final snicker. The Vikings QB turned a meme early within the recreation for falling over when his lineman stepped on his foot:
This appeared prefer it was shaping as much as be a brutal recreation for Cousins after the pick-six, however he bounced again like a champ. Cousins ended the evening 34-of-54 for 460 yards, 4 touchdowns and two interceptions. Cousins received the final snicker, however even he couldn’t imagine this one.
For a second, it appeared like the sport was destined to finish in a tie. The Vikings solely wanted a tie to clinch the NFC North, and the Colts would have turn into the primary crew in league historical past to ever have two ties in a single season. Instead, Cousins hit an enormous strike down the center of the sphere on the Vikings’ last drive to arrange the game-winning subject aim.
Here’s the game-winning subject aim from the Vikings. Announcer Paul Allen misplaced his thoughts. Rightfully so.
The Vikings are going to the playoffs for the primary time since 2019. At 11-3, they presently maintain the No. 2 seed within the NFC Playoff image. This child is worked up about it:
What a win for the Vikings. It’s been simple for a lot of analysts to low cost Minnesota’s success this season, nevertheless it’s going to be laborious to proceed to doubt the Vikings after a comeback like this.