The Minneapolis Miracle II: Vikings Rally for the Biggest Comeback in NFL History

Then instantly, the Vikings’ uncommon capability to win nail-biters kicked into gear— this time in unprecedented trend.The Vikings pulled off the most important comeback in NFL historical past in a sport that’s already being hailed as a traditional. 

When the Vikings beat the Colts 39-36 on a game-winning discipline aim in extra time, it topped a sport merely often known as “The Comeback.” That was within the playoffs after the 1992 season, when the Buffalo Payments stormed again from a 32-point deficit to beat the Houston Oilers. In a weird twist, the Payments quarterback that day was Frank Reich—who was fired because the Colts coach earlier this season. 

However what unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday transcended the sheer margin that the Vikings overcame. Just about every little thing that would go fallacious had gone fallacious for them. And whilst they began mounting an inconceivable comeback, unlucky turns stored going in opposition to them. Their win likelihood at one level within the third quarter was lower than 0.1%. 

The primary few possessions of the sport have been as disastrous as potential for Minnesota. After the Colts opened with a discipline aim, the Vikings went three-and-out earlier than having a punt blocked for a landing. Two performs into the subsequent possession, Indianapolis compelled a fumble main to a different landing. It was 17-0, and the Vikings had barely touched the ball. 

From there, it stored getting worse. Minnesota’s offense once more stalled after three performs, resulting in a failed fourth-down try. The identical factor occurred on the subsequent possession, besides that one ended with a failed pretend punt. After Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a pick-six halfway by way of the second quarter, the rating was 30-0. An extra discipline aim upped that to 33-0 earlier than halftime. 

Even the beginning of the second half didn’t start optimistically. However after yet one more three-and-out, Minnesota’s beforehand moribund offense instantly sprang to life whereas its protection began to shutdown Indianapolis.   

On three straight possessions, Cousins marched the offense down the sector for touchdowns. Nonetheless, Indianapolis was forward 36-21. The following drive produced Cousins’s second interception, seeming to halt any momentum. 

Advertisement

However because the Vikings protection continued to get fast stops, their offense acquired extra probabilities. One other landing go made it 36-28, resulting in the massive break they have been ready for—till the refs botched the play. 

On the Colts subsequent drive, operating again Deon Jackson clearly fumbled the soccer and defensive again Chandon Sullivan appeared to return it for a landing. But inexplicably, the officers dominated Jackson down. When a replay assessment overturned the apparent error, Minnesota acquired the ball on the spot of the fumble as an alternative of the landing. The following possession resulted in Minnesota’s third turnover on downs of the day. 

However after the Vikings acquired a fourth down cease of their very own, it took only one play for them to go the size of the sector. Operating again Dalvin Cook dinner took a brief go from Cousins 64 yards for a rating with simply over two minutes left. After a 2-point conversion, the sport was one way or the other tied up. The sport was headed for extra time. 

As epic because the second half was, it regarded prefer it would possibly finish in a deflating tie. Minnesota’s opening drive in extra time ended with a punt. So did the Colts’ first drive. When the Vikings acquired the ball again, there have been below two minutes left and so they have been inside their very own 20-yard-line. 

However Cousins led the offense down discipline with a trio of completions to Ok.J. Osborn, Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, the receivers who keyed the rejuvenated offense. Jefferson, top-of-the-line receivers within the NFL, had appeared harm twice in the course of the sport however had returned to the sector each instances. 

After the go to Jefferson, with below 20 seconds left, the Colts defenders tried to put on him to stop Minnesota from spiking the ball and stopping the clock to arrange a sport profitable discipline aim. The officers didn’t purchase it and known as a penalty. 

All that was left was the kick—and Greg Joseph’s 40-yarder sailed by way of the uprights to finish the sport. 

For Colts quarterback Matt Ryan, it was the second time that he was on the fallacious facet of comeback historical past. He was the Atlanta Falcons sign caller when the workforce coughed up a 28-3 result in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots within the Tremendous Bowl. 

For the Vikings, the win cemented them as division champions. It additionally made for an additional little bit of historical past at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. 

5 years in the past, Minnesota superior to the NFC Championship on one of many wildest performs in league historical past, when Stefon Diggs hauled in a 61-yard, game-winning landing go as time expired. 

The play was instantly often known as the Minneapolis Miracle. On Saturday, the workforce carried out a second one.

Write to Andrew Beaton at andrew.beaton@wsj.com