NFL Madness: Vikings Pull Off Biggest Comeback Ever

The atmosphere at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota was rare last night. At halftime of the game in which the Vikings received the Indianapolis Colts, the visitors dominated by a resounding 0-33. The locals, despite leaving at the time with a 10-3 record so far this season, they went to the locker room booed by their fans, horrified by what she had seen in the first two rooms. As if it were a non-professional team, the Vikings put on a lousy show of turnovers, poorly executed plays, no defense, and even some comic fall from their quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

During the break, the debate was no longer on a possible comeback, but on whether the Minnesotas were really as serious a team as their winning record said. Just three weeks before the start of the regular season, the Vikings seemed to be breaking down and becoming a ‘candy’ for whoever came across them in the playoffs. A team as fair as the Colts, with a record of 4-8-1, with an interim coach in charge (Jeff Saturday) and without the mainstays of their offense and defense (Jonathan Taylor and Shaquille Leonard), was handcuffing them at will. The thing did not look good.

Already in the second half of the game, the locals showed a minimum of self-respect, trying to get a handful of points to cover up the ridicule they were perpetrating. With two quick touchdown drives they managed to put the score at 14-36, as the Colts did. The difference was still almost embarrassing, although the Colts got stuck in attack, probably relaxed by the comfortable income they enjoyed. It already happened to them in their previous meeting, when they conceded a 33-0 win over the Cowboys only in the fourth quarter. It seemed impossible that they would make the same mistake again, although at the beginning of the final quarter the Vikings scored again and a buzz arose in the stands.

Indianapolis continued to be unable to gain yards and were forced to return the ball, although an interception by Cousins ​​and a turnover on downs gave the Colts some air. The Vikings did not give up, spurred on by a crowd that went crazy when, with 5 minutes to go, they saw their team move to just one score. Kirk Cousins ​​already had three touchdowns, but saved the best for last. The Vikings got the ball back with 2:31 to go after a controversial call by the Colts, who played it and didn’t go well. It didn’t take long for the madness to break out: on the first play, Cousins ​​connected with a Dalvin Cook who advanced 64 yards to the end zone. Minnesota added two more points in the conversion and the score reflected a 36-36 that forced you to rub your eyes.

Neither of the two franchises took advantage of the remaining time, and the match went to extra time. Although it had been a long time since the sentence had been handed down, since the Colts already seemed defeated despite continuing with options for victory. Their collapse, ended in the extra quarter by a Vikings field goal with seven seconds to go for 39-36, is already NFL history. It is the biggest comeback ever seen (33 points difference), surpassing the 32 that the Buffalo Bills lifted from the Houston Oilers in the 1992 playoffs. Minnesota players and fans celebrated it as if it were a Super Bowl, aware of having fully entered the list of those who never give up.

Biggest comebacks in NFL history