Wherever this good start to the season ends up taking the Minnesota Vikingsit is clear that belief and resilience will be responsible for a significant measure of their success.
Sam Darnold overcame four sacks and three turnovers by throwing three touchdown passes in the second half, and Minnesota’s defense made it difficult for Indianapolis quarterback Joe Flacco to return to the starting role as the Vikings beat the Colts 21 -13 Sunday evening.
“I’m sure Sam will be hard on himself for those two interceptions, but I’m going to stay aggressive with him because of my confidence in him,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
Justin Jefferson had 137 receiving yards, Jordan Addison made a one-handed dive into the back corner of the end zone to get Minnesota on the board after a sloppy, scoreless first half, and Jalen Nailor scored a decisive touchdown to help the Vikings. (6-2) stops a two-game skid.
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“The turnovers are nothing. These are just small, minor errors that we can fix easily,” Jefferson said. “We just have to protect the ball, but not try to make a big play. Sam is a phenomenal quarterback.
Kenny Moore II had a 38-yard fumble in the second quarter, the only touchdown for the Colts (4-5) in their first game of the season that wasn’t decided by six points or less.
“It definitely shows that if we could have played this one here or this one here, things could have been different,” receiver Alec Pierce said.
Flacco replaced Anthony Richardsonthe fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft being in serious trouble and becoming the self-created subject of a week of hot takes after coming out for a play last week because he was tired.
The AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award winner with Cleveland last season after got out of his couch To help the Browns qualify for the playoffs, Flacco went 16 of 27 for 179 yards and an interception.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes over Indianapolis Colts cornerback Samuel Womack III (33) during the first half in Minneapolis.
Ellen Schmidt | P.A.
“Coming in here against a team like this is going to be tough,” Flacco said, “but I don’t think you can ever anticipate something like this.”
He moved the Colts to the Minnesota 40 midway through the fourth quarter facing a 14-10 deficit, but Harrison Smith, who recovered a Jonathan Taylor fumble on the opening drive, broke up consecutive passes to force a turnover on the downs.
“Sometimes going through certain situations can help you grow. There’s no increase in comfort,” Smith said. “I think we’ve taken a step in the right direction.”
Darnold, who finished 28 of 34 for 290 yards, hit Josh Oliver for the deciding score with 2:05 left.
“That’s not how you build things, of course, but we’ve battled through adversity throughout this year and we do that in games as well,” Darnold said. “We have a really resilient group.”
A much less dramatic return
Vikings set NFL record two years ago rallying from a 33-0 halftime deficit to beat the Colts 39-36 in overtime, and their first half was eerily similar to that game. The convenient difference was that they trailed by just a touchdown, having held the Colts to 92 yards on 20 plays.
Will Reichard, who began his rookie season by making his first 34 shots on goal, became the last league regular to miss when he nailed a 53-yard field goal try to the right. Then his 31-yarder bounced off the right post.
Darnold spoiled a promising first possession for the Vikings with a running crossfield throw to TJ Hockenson in double coverage that was intercepted in the end zone by Zaire Franklin.
After Byron Murphy picked off Flacco in the fourth quarter, Darnold gave it back immediately on the next play when Nick Cross cut off an overenthusiastic throw to Jefferson.
Problem from the start
The Vikings welcomed Hockenson, their two-time Pro Bowl tight end, back from a knee injury that ended his 2023 season prematurely. His third catch that would have moved the chains was erased by a holding penalty on left tackle Cam Robinson, who was acquired in haste this week after the end of the season knee injury to the remarkable Christian Darrisaw.
The Colts have a dangerous defensive line no matter who is blocking, and their pressure up the middle was a problem for Darnold. Grover Stewart steamrolled center Garrett Bradbury on a dropback near midfield and dislodged the ball as he placed Darnold on the turf for Moore to recover the score.
Stewart, whose forearm grazed Darnold’s mask with so much force that it knocked him over, was initially flagged for the hit. The penalty was canceled.
Injuries
Foals: LT Bernhard Raimann (concussion) was held out and replaced by rookie Matt Goncalves.
Vikings: LB Blake Cashman (toe) was sidelined for the third straight game.
To be continued
Foals: Host Buffalo next Sunday.
Vikings: Visit Jacksonville next Sunday.
