Sports
MN Vikings Complete Biggest Comeback In NFL History, Clinch NFC North
The Minnesota Vikings were down 0 to 33, with 8:30 left in the third quarter, but rallied to win in overtime.
![Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph (1) celebrates with teammates after kicking a 40-yard field goal during overtime on Saturday, beating the Indianapolis Colts and completing the largest comeback in the history of the NFL.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/ap/22887410/20221217/054557/styles/patch_image/public/ap22351812448328___17173711373.jpg)
MINNEAPOLIS — No, you didn't dream it, Minnesota Vikings fans. Your team shocked the world Saturday by completing the largest comeback in NFL history.
The historic win came with the added bonus of clinching the NFC North and a home playoff berth.
Let's set the scene. Minnesota was down big to the 4-8-1 Indianapolis Colts, 0 to 33, with 8:30 left in the third quarter. A fumble, blocked punt, a pick-six, questionable calls from referees, and a whole lot of other ugly things had to happen to make the score so lopsided in front of a home crowd.
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The Colts at that point had a 99.6 percent chance to win, according to ESPN Analytics.
The rest, as they say, was history.
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Kirk Cousins threw for 417 yards in the second half alone. Receivers K.J. Osborn, C.J. Ham, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen each scored touchdowns to spark the comeback.
And the Vikings' defense kept the Colts to just a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Still down by 8, Dalvin Cook ran a screen pass 64 yards for another Vikings touchdown. He then helped Minnesota convert the two-point conversion, tieing the game 36-36 with just over 2 minutes left in regulation.
Minnesota won the coin toss in overtime and started with the ball, but was stopped after a decent drive at the Colts' 39-yard line. Knowing they needed just a tie to clinch their division, head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings opted to punt the ball.
The Vikings' defense was once again able to stuff the Colts after a short drive. Minnesota received a punt and the offense started work once again from their own 18, with 1:41 left in overtime.
Cousins lead the offense down into Colts territory, where Greg Joseph kicked a 40-yard field goal to seal the unbelievable comeback.
Watch highlights from the Vikings-Colts game here.
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