The Minnesota Vikings had a lot of reasons for celebration after their 39-36 overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. It secured them the NFC North title while also helping them make NFL history.
The Vikings managed to get the win after they were down 33-0 in the first half, marking the biggest comeback in NFL history. The previous mark was at 32 points, which was the deficit the Buffalo Bills overcame to beat the Houston Oilers in the 1993 AFC Wild Card.
Facing 33-0 didn’t discourage Minnesota. They completely turned the game around in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns before adding three more in the fourth. In the meantime, the Colts’ offense completely stalled and only got a field goal in the second half. Minnesota even got around to attempting a game-winning drive in the last two minutes of regulation.
The overtime saw the two teams exchange punts before the Vikings got the ball back with 1:41 left on the clock. The offense managed to advance to Colt’s 22-yard line, setting up their kicker Greg Joseph for an easy field goal that sealed the game.
Minnesota’s quarterback Kirk Cousins was the star of the show, finishing the contest with 460 passing yards and four touchdowns. Running back Dalvin Cook also made a big impact, combining for 190 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown. K.J. Osborn added 157 yards receiving and a TD, while Justin Jefferson had 12 catches for 123 yards.
The Vikings improved to an 11-3 record at the top of the NFC North. They still have a chance to get the NFC’s top seed if the Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) slip at any point.
