MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings are back in the playoffs, winning the NFC North division title in historic fashion on Saturday.
The Vikings rallied from a 33-point halftime deficit to stun the Colts, 39-36, in overtime at a raucous US Bank Stadium.
The 33-point comeback is the greatest in NFL history.
Saturday’s shock result appeared to be the furthest result possible after the first 30 minutes. The Colts took a 33-0 halftime lead thanks to a blocked kick returned for a touchdown and a pick-six.
But Kirk Cousins and the Vikings mounted a furious rally in the final two frames, punctuated by Dalvin Cook’s 64-yard reception and run that pulled Minnesota within two. Cousins then connected with tight end TJ Hockenson on a two-point attempt to force overtime.
From there, the Vikings and Colts traded punts before Cousins drove Minnesota 55 yards in six plays to set up Greg Joseph’s game-winning field goal.
“We just pulled off the biggest comeback in NFL history, okay. I need a second,” Cousins told NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero after the game. “How did we do it? Equipment. It was an ugly first half, but we found a way. Complementary football. Lots of phases, lots of plays, lots of plays that I would love to have back in the second half.” , too, but we’ll take it.”
Cousins added: “There was trust. (Cornerback) Patrick Peterson said all we needed was five touchdowns. I thought he was being sarcastic. Obviously, there was some screaming. There was some frustration, but that doesn’t happen like that. Basic people don’t do that, what we just did.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that Peterson’s message to offense was the perfect antidote to their woeful first half.
“Patrick Peterson, I will never forget him as long as I live,” O’Connell said. “I came out to address the team before we got back, and I heard him walk up to the offense (and) he said, ‘We’re going to make stops. You only need five touchdowns. That’s nothing’. It was a nice little moment for me to start.
“I told him, ‘Pat, you’re absolutely right.’ That’s what we needed at the time, and it was probably the most motivated I’ve ever been to challenge players. So, they knew that regardless of today’s result, that first half wasn’t good enough and it’s never going to be acceptable to have that. kind of performance regardless of today’s result. No one is happier to be NFC North champions and the way we won it, I think it will stay with a lot of us for a long time. But there is still a lot to go back and do. We will surely rectify and continue to improve.”
This marks the Vikings’ first division title since the 2017 season and their first playoff berth since 2019.
Those playoff berths came with Mike Zimmer as head coach, but O’Connell has led the Vikings’ resurgence, as the 11-3 team has won a division crown with three games still to play.
Entering Week 15, the Vikings were the No. 2 seed in the NFC. With a playoff berth and a home game secured, they have an outside shot to top the No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles and clinch the conference’s only bye. More realistically, Minnesota’s onus will be on keeping the second seed.
Regardless, the Vikings are NFC North champions and back in the playoffs after a two-season hiatus.
Information: NFL.
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