MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings accomplished the most important comeback in NFL historical past, erasing a 33-point deficit by beating the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 on Greg Joseph’s 40-yard discipline objective with Three seconds left in extra time on Saturday to clinch the NFC North division of their typical dramatic vogue.
Kirk Cousins handed for 460 yards and 4 touchdowns to steer the Vikings (11-3), who trailed 36-7 late within the third quarter and have become simply the third group in league historical past to win 10 video games in a single season by eight factors or fewer.
The Colts (4-9-1) stumbled onto the notorious facet of the record, simply forward of the Houston Oilers within the 1992 postseason once they blew a 32-point lead (35-3) and misplaced to Buffalo (41-38) in extra time. According to Sportradar information, this was solely the second loss in 1,551 regular-season or playoff video games within the league since 1930 by which a group had a 30-plus-point lead and misplaced.
The Vikings took this rally all the best way to their second possession of OT, after punting on their first one. Cousins hit Okay.J. Osborn — who had a landing and a career-high 157 yards — for 15 yards, Adam Thielen for 21 yards and Justin Jefferson for 13 yards to move into vary.
Ifeadi Odenigbo was referred to as for delay of recreation for mendacity on Jefferson to attempt to hold the Vikings from establishing for the kick, placing Joseph 5 yards nearer for the winner.
Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday didn’t precisely get conservative on this collapse. Matt Ryan was stopped brief on a fourth-and-1 sneak on the Minnesota 36 with 2:19 left in regulation. Then Cousins hit Dalvin Cook for a 64-yard landing on a display screen cross on the following play and T.J. Hockenson for the 2-point conversion to tie the sport earlier than the 2-minute warning.
Outscored 33-Zero within the fourth quarter of their most up-to-date recreation, a 54-19 loss to Dallas on Dec. 4, the Colts got here again contemporary from their bye week and shocked the Vikings with a 33-Zero halftime lead that was the second-largest within the NFL this season. Cincinnati led Carolina 35-Zero on Nov. 6.
The intermission deficit for Minnesota was the second-biggest in franchise historical past, behind a 45-10 rating at Seattle in 2002.
The Colts now have been outscored after halftime 72-9 of their final two video games. They had a six-game successful streak in opposition to the Vikings stopped. The final time Minnesota beat Indianapolis was in 1997, the ultimate recreation the Colts performed earlier than they drafted Peyton Manning.
WHISTLE WOES
The Vikings and their followers had been furious a number of instances after questionable calls went in opposition to them. With 3:23 left, Chandon Sullivan scooped up a fumble by Deon Jackson and returned it for what would’ve been a 39-yard landing. The Vikings got the restoration, however the play was blown lifeless.
Sullivan was referred to as for unsportsmanlike conduct after his tirade on the officers. The nickel cornerback thought he scored on a fumble return within the second quarter, too, when he ripped the ball out of Michael Pittman’s arms after a brief catch. That play was blown lifeless for ahead progress.
ALARMING START
The particular groups models bore the brunt of the brutal begin for the Vikings. Dallis Flowers returned the opening kickoff 49 yards, and the Colts had been in scoring place inside seconds.
Odenigbo plowed previous two blockers and sideswiped Ryan Wright’s punt along with his proper arm. JoJo Domann caught the deflected ball and returned it 24 yards for the too-easy rating and a 10-Zero lead.
Then with the Vikings trailing 20-0, coach Kevin O’Connell ordered a faux punt on fourth-and-1 from their very own 31. Wright’s cross sailed over Jalen Nailor’s head for a second straight turnover on downs.
JEFFERSON WATCH
Jefferson left the sport twice for temporary examination following jarring hits to the chest. The second one by Stephon Gilmore additionally received him within the facemask and drew an pointless roughness penalty. Both instances after Jefferson left the sport, Cousins threw to Jalen Reagor on the following play and was intercepted after an obvious miscommunication on the routes.
Jefferson had 12 catches for 123 yards and a landing and raised his season whole to 1,623 receiving yards. Calvin Johnson’s all-time document of 1,964 yards was set in 16 video games in 2012.
INJURY REPORT
Colts: RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) was harm on a 13-yard reception that ended with a tough sort out as he tumbled out of bounds, his first contact. He missed three video games with the damage earlier this season.
Vikings: LT Christian Darrisaw returned from a three-game absence for a concussion however limped off twice in extra time with leg cramps. CB Patrick Peterson left with the identical drawback.
UP NEXT
Colts: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 26, their second Monday night time recreation in 5 weeks.
Vikings: Host the New York Giants on Dec. 24, the primary time they are going to have performed on consecutive Saturdays because the 1997 postseason.
