Comeback king Vikings set NFL rally record in win vs. Colts | AP News
Category: News & Politics
Via: perrie-halpern • 2 years ago • 23 commentsBy: DAVE CAMPBELL (AP NEWS)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With the Minnesota Vikings gathered in their humbled locker room at halftime in a huge hole, cornerback Patrick Peterson set the tone for an historic escape by promising his offensive teammates the defense would do its part to hold the Indianapolis Colts.
"You just need five touchdowns," Peterson told them. "That's nothing."
This rally sure was something, though.
The Vikings completed the biggest comeback in NFL history, erasing a 33-point deficit by beating the Colts 39-36 on Greg Joseph's 40-yard field goal with three seconds left in overtime Saturday to win the NFC North division in their typical dramatic fashion.
Kirk Cousins passed for 460 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Vikings (11-3), who trailed 36-7 late in the third quarter and became just the third team in league history to win 10 games in a season by eight points or fewer.
"We're going to grind it out until they tell us there's no more ball left to play," coach Kevin O'Connell said.
The Colts (4-9-1) landed on the infamous side of this list, just ahead of the Houston Oilers in the 1992 postseason. They blew a 32-point lead (35-3) and lost to Buffalo (41-38) in overtime.
"When you have chances to put people away, we've got to do a better job than we've done up until this point," quarterback Matt Ryan said.
According to Sportradar data available since 1930, the Vikings became only the second team in 1,551 regular-season or playoff games to trail by 30 or more points and still win.
"Nothing fazes us. We showed that in Buffalo," said Peterson, who aided a 33-30 overtime victory over the Bills on Nov. 13 after a 17-point deficit. "We showed that again today."
The Vikings took this rally all the way to their second possession of overtime. Cousins hit K.J. Osborn — who caught the first score and had a career-high 157 yards — for 15 yards. He found Adam Thielen — who had the second of three fourth-quarter touchdown passes — for 21 yards. Then he threw to Justin Jefferson for 13 yards to move into range.
Ifeadi Odenigbo was called for delay of game for lying on Jefferson to try to keep the Vikings from setting up for the kick, putting Joseph 5 yards closer for the winner.
"It's a special group, a lot of fighters," Thielen said.
Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday didn't exactly get conservative in this collapse. Ryan was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 sneak at the Minnesota 36 with 2:19 left in regulation. Then Cousins hit Dalvin Cook for a 64-yard touchdown on a screen pass on the next play and T.J. Hockenson for the 2-point conversion to tie the game before the 2-minute warning.
"We would have closed the game out and ended the game," Saturday said. "I'm in. Everybody's in. We didn't convert."
Outscored 33-0 in the fourth quarter of their most recent game, a 54-19 loss to Dallas on Dec. 4, the Colts came back fresh from their bye week and stunned the Vikings with a 33-0 halftime lead that was the second-largest in the NFL this season. Cincinnati led Carolina 35-0 on Nov. 6.
The intermission deficit for Minnesota was the second-biggest in franchise history, behind a 45-10 score at Seattle in 2002.
The Vikings even overcame a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns by Chandon Sullivan that were wiped out by the whistle.
"I know that there's other games that don't end like that. It was just cool to see everybody battle back and I'm just happy that I get to share this moment with my teammates," linebacker Eric Kendricks said, wiping away tears.
YOU LIKE THAT?
The last team to overcome a deficit of 24-plus points to win a regular season game was Washington over Tampa Bay in 2015, when Cousins was the quarterback. The previous regular season comeback record was 28 points in 1980, when San Francisco rallied from down 35-7 to win 38-35.
ALARMING START
The special teams units bore the brunt of the brutal start for the Vikings. Dallis Flowers returned the opening kickoff 49 yards, and the Colts were in scoring position within seconds.
Odenigbo plowed past two blockers and sideswiped Ryan Wright's punt with his right arm. JoJo Domann caught the deflected ball and returned it 24 yards for the too-easy score and a 10-0 lead.
Then with the Vikings trailing 20-0 on fourth-and-1 from their own 31, Wright's pass on a fake punt sailed over Jalen Nailor's head for a second straight turnover on downs.
JEFFERSON WATCH
Jefferson left the game twice for brief examination following jarring hits to the chest. On the second occurrence, Stephon Gilmore also got him in the facemask and drew an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter.
Both times after Jefferson left the game, Cousins threw to Jalen Reagor on the next play and was intercepted after an apparent miscommunication on the routes. The first one was returned by Julian Blackmon for a 17-yard touchdown that made it 30-0 in the second quarter.
Jefferson had 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown and raised his season total to 1,623 receiving yards. Calvin Johnson's all-time record of 1,964 yards was set in 16 games in 2012.
INJURY REPORT
Colts: RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) left the game on the opening drive after a hard tackle as he tumbled out of bounds. He missed three games with the injury earlier this season.
Vikings: LT Christian Darrisaw returned from a three-game absence for a concussion. He limped off twice in overtime with leg cramps. Peterson left briefly with the same problem.
UP NEXT
Colts: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 26.
Vikings: Host the New York Giants on Dec. 24.
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Ahhh...another comeback!
Fantastic comeback, and an epic collapse by Indy!
Matt Ryan has now been on the losing end of the two of the biggest comebacks in NFL history. Not something that one strives for.
According to CBS Sports:
Vikings stun Colts: Matt Ryan has now been on the losing end of these four biggest blown leads in NFL history
Must have been fun to watch. The Broncos have another chance to lose today in the crummy game of the week.
I don't watch their games anymore, but do record them in case there are any highlights
Lived a couple blocks away from Mile High back in the Elway days.
Had season tickets and tailgate creds.
That guy could run a great 2-minute drill. A serious comeback QB!
Now live in KC so guess who my favorite comeback QB is now?
For some reason the Chiefs have always been a second half team.
Even before Mahomes.
Watching the Chiefs/Texans game as I write this.
Chiefs are going to give me a heart attack yet!
I live in the Highlands area northwest of the stadium...nice area of town
Have no idea what has happened to Wilson, but it seems to be a team effort. Don't think Hackett will be here next year, and perhaps Wilson.
I have watched the Broncos since the beginning....all the way back to Coach "Half-a-Loaf...and was there as the Bronco's played the Lions (?) in the DU stadium. I think Steve Tensi was the QB. In all that time I don't believe I have seen them playing worse than they have this season.
I think Elway is some kind of consultant to the organization now, but I bet he is glad he's not in management anymore.
The Peyton Manning years were sure fun though
Moving from Denver to KC was a big change. Thankfully Carl Peterson made me feel welcome. We both have Rolex collections.
Feel sorry for Broncos fans today.
Shit goes round and round.
LOL!
I feel that way about NASCAR--I can watch Sportscenter and see who won, any dramatic lead changes in the final laps, and any big wrecks in two minutes instead of watching continuous left turns for hours.
Will the Broncos try to get rid of Wilson after this disastrous year?
I actually like Wilson. Seems they might be starting to gel.
I don't think it's him so much as having an inexperienced rookie coach, and so many injuries. They looked good on paper, and have shown flashes of competence defensively, but their overall performance has been abysmal.
One thing's for sure. The new owners have very deep pockets and probably didn't expect this pig in a poke performance. I expect the summer will bring about some interesting changes.
He was pretty good while at Seattle, but is having a difficult time this year.
Maybe they can improve the o-line a bit in the off-season.
Ran into Mahomes in KC on the Plaza a few months ago.
We were both there having our Rolex's being serviced.
Mahomes is fun to watch.
Nice guy.
Sure hope Pat doesn't go from fame to burnout like so many young NFL QBs have
Mahomes is now a god in Kansas City; but fans can be very fickle when it comes to a few losses.
True. I was living in Huntsville, TX back when Jim Kelly played for the Houston Gamblers. He came into our place for his birthday and was a real dick. Never did really like him after that, although he did seem to turn out to be a nice guy after he matured.
Remember Ryan Leaf?
Moving from Denver to KC was a big change. Thankfully Carl Peterson made me feel welcome. We both have Rolex collections.
Strange weekend of football. Upsets, overtimes, record comebacks and the end of the Raiders Patriots game. WOW!
Russell Wilson was always good in SEATTLE just not quite good enough,
now not doing anything in Denver.
Gino Smith on the other hand has been a long term journeyman QB but has found new life
and record breaking statistics in Seattle.
Coincidence?
I was watching the game - I'm a Vikings fan...
I was having a very bad day - lost my keys (someone found them and returned them) - broke the handle off the front storm door (I put a new handle on yesterday) - broke the car scraper on the 4" of ice on my wife's windshield - had to go to my mom's at the last minute and shovel her stuff. I had to take a break at half time and retrieve the lost keys and clean the new snow from my driveway. When I get back it's halfway through that 3rd quarter. I guess 4 touchdowns in a quarter aren't impossible after all.
SKOL!!!