In a crazy game Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings staged the largest comeback in NFL history.
After trailing the Indianapolis Colts 33-0 at halftime, the Vikings, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, rallied to win 39-36 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The home team’s revival included several key plays, such as Cousins connecting with tight end T.J. Hockenson for a two-point conversion after a touchdown with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter to tie the game 36-36, forcing overtime.
Vikings kicker Greg Joseph clinched the game’s outcome in the closing seconds with a 40-yard field goal.
“I know we scared y’all in the first half,” said Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson in a clip posted by the NFL’s Twitter account. “But stick with us. We’re going to hold y’all on our back. We’re going to fight to the end.”
The Vikings beat the mark established by the Buffalo Bills in a wild-card playoff game in 1992. The Bills overcome a 32-point deficit against the Houston Oilers in that game, which became known as “The Comeback.”
With an 11-3 record, the Vikings have clinched a spot in the NFC North playoffs. The Colts fell to 4-9-1, having lost four of their past five games since interim coach Jeff Saturday took control.
The Colts’ defeat was recognized with a tweet from ESPN’s “Sports Center” criticizing quarterback Matt Ryan. “Matt Ryan has now lost the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history as well as the largest comeback in NFL history,” the tweet added.
That was an allusion to the 2017 Super Bowl, in which the New England Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons.