Greg Joseph kicked a 40-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Minnesota Vikings to an improbable 39-36 home win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
Minnesota trailed 33-0 at halftime before orchestrating the largest comeback victory in NFL history. The rally came with a fitting prize as the Vikings (11-3) also clinched the NFC North title.
Kirk Cousins was 34-of-54 passing for 460 yards and four touchdowns for Minnesota, with two interceptions. Matt Ryan was 19-of-33 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown in defeat for the Colts (4-9-1).
With 1:41 remaining in overtime, Minnesota took over on its own 18-yard line and drove to the Indianapolis 22-yard line to set up Joseph’s try.
Trailing 36-7 late in the third quarter, the Vikings stormed back to cut the Indianapolis lead to 36-28 with 5:30 remaining following a 1-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Adam Thielen.
After an Indianapolis fumble, Minnesota got the ball back at its own 46-yard line with 3:25 remaining.
But the Colts stopped the Vikings on downs and took over at their own 44-yard line with 2:52 left.
Facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 36-yard line with 2:31 remaining, Indianapolis attempted to go for the first down in an effort to clinch the victory since Minnesota was out of timeouts. But Ryan was stopped short of the line to gain on a quarterback sneak and Minnesota regained possession.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Minnesota scored on a 64-yard touchdown by Dalvin Cook, who took a screen pass and outraced the Indianapolis defense to the end zone with 2:15 remaining.
The Vikings tied the game on a 2-point conversion pass from Cousins to T.J. Hockenson.
After forcing a three-and-out, Minnesota got the ball back on its own 26-yard line with 1:10 remaining inregulation but couldn’t get a first down and was forced to punt.
–Field Level Media