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He is the worst leader in NFL history. In 102 years of NFL football, no team has come from behind when leading by 33 points — until Saturday. The Minnesota Vikings outscored the Indianapolis Colts 33-0 at halftime and somehow managed to pull out a 39-36 overtime win.
After the Colts led by 33 points, they posted the largest lead in NFL history.
Yes, the subtitle you are reading is 100% true. The Colts actually led 33-0 at halftime. Everything was going its way. Indy had played his best of the season. Each unit was contributing in a key way and helped the Colts build this big lead. Cornerback Dallis Flowers started the game with a 49-yard punt return that would become Indy’s opening field goal. The next three possessions resulted in scores for Indy. The first was a blocked punt, the second was a fumble by running back Dion Jackson that ended up scoring, and the third was a field goal to put Minnesota down.
The Vikings offense is coming. Down 20-0, Minnesota attempted a fake attempt that failed and led to another field goal. A few possessions later, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a pick-six to Julian Blackmon for a safety. Before you could blink, the Colts eventually won 33-0.
The Colts were poised to pull off their biggest upset win of the season. But the Vikings had other ideas. After the Colts found themselves 36-0 early in the third quarter, Minnesota began chipping away at Indianapolis’ lead and went on three straight touchdown drives to get back into the game. The Colts didn’t score a single point in the fourth quarter and were outscored 39-3 in the second half. Just as they went up 33-0, Indy was tied at 36 with 2:15 left in regulation.
The Vikings finally (somehow) found a way to win 39 to 36 in overtime, officially erasing a 33-point deficit and crushing what little glimpse of a season the Colts had left. Indianapolis fell to the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter, two weeks after losing 33-0 in the fourth quarter.
All three starts strong to help the Colts jump out to a 33-0 lead.
Let’s briefly focus on Saturday’s disastrous fall for the Indianapolis Colts, how they jumped out to a 33-0 lead. Every single part played a big role in Indy’s hot start. The special teams unit got off to a strong start with a 49-yard punt return to set up the Colts with an impressive field goal. Bubba Ventron’s block and Jojo Doman’s punt return on a Vikings possession gave the Colts a 10-0 lead.
On the next drive, cornerback Isaiah Rogers recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Zaire Franklin. Indy’s fumble recovery eventually led to another touchdown by running back Dion Jackson and a 17-0 lead in the first half. Ventron’s special teams unit bounced back and made another key stop on a fake attempt for another three-pointer and a 20-0 win for Indy. Later in the second quarter, safety Julian Blackmon intercepted quarterback Kirk Cousins for a touchdown, giving the Colts a 30-0 lead.
It’s a shame that the Colts were in full control early on in Saturday’s game and showed their best performance in all three arenas. Instead, this game will be remembered as an embarrassing loss and a historic failure for the franchise as a whole. This is the story of Indianapolis’ 2022 season. A season that will be remembered for the failures and the inability to finish games will ultimately cost them the chance to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
At this point, these next three games won’t mean much to fans, not another game after Saturday’s dreadful finish. The 4-9-1 Indianapolis Colts are sitting at home watching the playoffs from the comfort of their beds, as they should be after such a disappointing season.
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