After trailing 33-0 and 36-7 with 4:53 to play in the third quarter, the Vikings completed an improbable comeback on Saturday, stunning the Colts in Minneapolis, 39-36, in overtime.
The 33-point victory is the most in NFL history. The previous record was 32 points scored by the Bills in the 1992 wildcard round, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Former Colts coach Frank Reich was the Bills quarterback that day.
The Colts dominated the football game from the jump, running the score offensively and playing stout defense against the Vikings for most of the first three and a half quarters.
After taking a commanding 36–7 lead, the Colts punted three times, fumbled, turned it over on downs and then punted again. Meanwhile, Indianapolis’ defense faltered as Minnesota gained confidence and methodically scored touchdown after touchdown to get itself back into the game.
In all, the Vikings scored four touchdowns to extend the lead to 29, with the final score of regulation coming on a 64-yard screen pass from Kirk Cousins to running back Dalvin Cook with 2:15 to play. Cousins then hit tight end TJ Hockenson across the middle for a two-point conversion to complete the comeback.
After each team traded punts to start overtime, the Vikings finally pulled through in overtime. Cook averaged 24 yards to drive before Cousins hit consecutive receivers, K.J. Osborne and Adam Thielen to put the Vikings on the edge of the field with less than 30 seconds to play.
With time winding down, Cousins hit right tackle Justin Jefferson for 13 yards to the Colts’ 27-yard line. To make matters worse, the Colts were called for a defensive delay after the game to put the ball at the Indianapolis 22 yard with 7 seconds to play.
Vikings kicker Greg Joseph scored the final touchdown in the Colts’ brutal loss when he hit a 40-yard field goal to end the game and give the Vikings a 39–36 overtime victory.
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