(Minneapolis) The Minnesota Vikings completed the greatest comeback in NFL history on Saturday as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 in overtime.
The Vikings erased a 33-point deficit and Greg Joseph ended the debate with a 40-yard field goal with just three seconds left in overtime.
Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes and 460 passing yards to help the Vikings (11-3) clinch the National Conference North title.
The Vikings trailed 36–7 late in the third quarter and became just the third team in franchise history to record 10 wins with eight points or fewer in a single season.
PHOTO ANDY CLAYTON-KING, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vikings fans supported their team in overtime.
“We’ll fight until we’re told we can’t play anymore,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
The Colts (4-9-1) fell to the wrong side of the roster, ahead of the Houston Oilers, who squandered a 32-point lead (35-3) at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in the 1992 playoffs.
“When you have an opportunity to close out the game, we have to do it better than we’ve done so far,” said Colts quarterback Matt Ryan.
According to data from Sportradar, it was the second loss in 1,551 playoff or league season games since 1930 in which a team squandered a 30-plus point lead to fold.
“Nothing scares us. We showed it in Buffalo,” said cornerback Patrick Peterson, who contributed to a 33-30 overtime victory over the Bills on Nov. 13 after going down by 17 points. “We showed it again today.”
The Vikings made history on their second overtime possession, clearing the ball in their first offensive series. Cousins joined KJ Osborn – who scored a touchdown and set a career rushing 157 yards – going 15 yards, Adam Thielen going 21 yards and Justin Jefferson going 13 yards to give Joseph a chance for a field goal attempt winning.
Ifeadi Odenigbo cashed in a penalty for delaying the game when she continued to hug Jefferson as the Vikings tried to get into position to ground the ball and stop the clock. This penalty allowed the home team to get back within five yards.
Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday was not careful during his team’s meltdown. Quarterback Matt Ryan was caught on fourth down, with 1 yards left, on the Vikings’ 36 line with 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On the next play, Cousins then hit a trap pass to Dalvin Cook, who turned it into a 64-yard touchdown run. TJ Hockenson caught the ball in the end zone on a two-point conversion to tie the game 36-36 before the two-minute break.
PHOTO MATT KROHN, USA TODAY SPORTS
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson
Dominated 33-0 in the fourth quarter in their most recent game, a 54-19 loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4, the Colts returned from their bye week with energy. They surprised the Vikings with a 33-0 halftime lead, the second-largest lead in the NFL this season. The Cincinnati Bengals led the Carolina Panthers 35-0 on November 6.
The halftime loss was the second largest in Vikings history, following a 45-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in 2002.
The Colts have now been outscored 72-9 in the second half over their last two games. They saw their six-game hitting streak against the Vikings end.
You had to go back to 1997 to notice the last time the Vikings got the better of the Colts. It was the Indianapolis team’s last game before selecting Peyton Manning in the draft.
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