MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota Vikings continue to create blockbuster theater in the 2022 season. Indianapolis scored on the first drive to after a lengthy return to give the Colts early momentum.
Something that would turnout to be pivotal later is when Jonathan Taylor exits the game early with an ankle injury after a 13-yard catch and run. Minnesota goes 3 and out only to have the blocked punt returned for a touchdown to make it all Colts early.
Minnesota attempted to start a drive with Dalvin Cook going for a quick 40, followed by a fumble. Getting their second Touchdown after the Cook fumble made it 17-0 Indianapolis.
The Vikings got into trouble with going for it on 4th and 1 early on their own side of the field, which forced the defense to defend a shorter field twice in the first half.
The defense both times held the Colts to field goals.
After the score reached 23-0, Michael Pittman had an apparent fumble that would have been a touchdown by Chandrick Sullivan, however the explanation given was that forward progress took the points off the board.
Nothing the Vikings could do with the forward progress call. Shortly before the half, the Colts add a field goal and a pick-six making it 33-0 Indianapolis
Patrick Peterson, one of the team captains spoke to the team at half stating that we only needed five touchdowns.
After an exchange of punts, Minnesota finally got their touchdown with a 2-yard strike to KJ Osborn.
That was the beginning momentum that Minnesota needed to get back on track. Indianapolis adds a field goal making it 36-7, in favor of the Colts. The next drive is finished by a CJ Ham TD run making it 36-14.
Another defensive stop forces another stop, and Justin Jefferson can finally hit that Griddy following his score of the day making it 36-21.
The next Indianapolis punt caused some controversy, Jalen Reagor returned the punt 51 yards only to have it negated by a face mask penalty called on Kris Boyd.
Instead of starting at the Indianapolis 24, the penalty drives the starting position of the field at the Minnesota 13. The drive ends with an Interception at the 2 yard line.
Right before the interception, there was a personal foul on Stephan Gilmore, which forced Jefferson out of the game for at minimum the next play. That hit from Gilmore could have led to an ejection for Gilmore however the All-Pro corner was able to stay in the game.
Jefferson was visibly not happy with the slamming of his helmet after the play. The next play was when the INT was thrown to Thomas of the Colts as Reagor and Cousins appeared to have a miscommunication. There was nobody within 10-15 yards of Thomas.
Another key defensive stop gives the Vikings a short field to add another score on a 1 yard touchdown to Adam Thielen, making the score 36-28.
The next Indianapolis drive creates more controversy. Another Fumble returned for a score by Chandrick Sullivan again was negated for runner being down by contact. With turnovers being automatically reviewed the play should have been allowed to continue.
Similar to the Jefferson play, along the sidelines in Detroit, that was another 7 taken off the board against the Colts. Sullivan was visably furious which draws a flag for 15 yards.
After those previous series of events any momentum from that turnover appeared all but lost as the Vikings turn the ball over on downs.
Indianapolis ends up taking over on downs. They start driving and force Minnesota to use all three of their timeouts. Indianapolis running back Zach Moss goes out of bounds which gave the Vikings an extra timeout. That extra stopping of the clock eventually helps Minnesota.
Indianapolis has a 4th and 1 at the Minnesota 35 and a half yard line. The initial call was that the runner was down short of the yard of gain.
Colts head coach Jeff Saturday challenges the spot of the ball in which you have nothing to lose except the ball and the game as we’ll find out later in the day.
If you look closely at the replay Colts QB Matt Ryan did make a second effort which would have given Indianapolis the first down and most like the ballgame.
However, because of forward progress, that was called at the time of the play, the additional yard was not granted. Saturday could have opted to take a 52-yard field goal try which would have made the game a two-possession game with about 2 and a half to go.
After the failed 4th and 1, Dalvin Cook cooks up a House Call for a 64 yard touchdown. Follow the touchdown with a 2 and you have a Tie game. After 33-0 at half that’s the last thing you expect.
Then again this is the same Matt Ryan who had a 28-3 lead in SuperBowl 51 which allowed another major comeback in the history of this league.
On the anniversary week of the Miracle at the Met, U.S Bank Stadium had a comeback of its own when Greg Joseph kicked a 40-yard field goal in overtime to win the NFC North for the Minnesota Vikings.
The 33-0 deficit is the biggest comeback in the history of the National Football League and it took everything in regulation and overtime to conquer the Bold Cold North.