The Legendary Quote from Vikings Historic Comeback
Dustin Baker
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The Legendary Quote from Vikings Historic Comeback
The Minnesota Vikings erased a 33-point halftime deficit on Saturday versus the Indianapolis Colts, somehow winning 39-36 in a game that will be eternally cherished by Vikings fans.
Nothing started right for the Vikings and really didn’t improve until midway through the 3rd Quarter. Minnesota played buffoonishly for about two hours of real-life time, getting serious at the last possible second.
And then the heroics began.
The Legendary Quote from Vikings Historic Comeback
Down by 33 points in the locker room after the 2nd Quarter, veteran Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson told teammates, “We just need five touchdowns.“
On KFAN after the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell uplifted the same quote, attributing Peterson to the bold statement. And the diagnosis was true. If the Vikings had the gumption to prevent the Colts from scoring — unthinkably, they did, although it didn’t feel like it at the time — “all” they needed was a measly five paydirts to pull off the most remarkable comeback in NFL history and perhaps sports history.
Minnesota’s defense actually performed somewhat admirably all day, with the caveat that the Colts offense is one of the worst in the business, only besting the lowly Houston Texans via credible offensive statistical metrics. So, in that vein, the Vikings merely did what was expected, stimy a stinky offense.
But the entire first 40 minutes of game clock time felt horrendous for the Vikings, so any notion of “all we have to do” would’ve — or should’ve — been considered preposterous at halftime. Some players might’ve even considered Peterson’s comments sarcastic, as surely no team could circumvent a 33-point lead.
Well, these Vikings did, thanks to a clutch defense, quarterback Kirk Cousins, and playmakers K.J. Osborn, Justin Jefferson, and Dalvin Cook. Minnesota slowly seized momentum, waiting until the last possible moment in the game to make the herculean push. In fact, the Vikings trailed 36-7 with about two minutes remaining in the 3rd Quarter.
Unfortunately for Matt Ryan’s sake, the old war horse has now been snakebitten twice by choke-infused shenanigans, the first collapse six years ago in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. He was the league MVP, his Atlanta Falcons led New England 28-3, and the rest is infamous history.
Ryan hadn’t necessarily put that gaffe “behind him” from a national viewpoint, but the misery poured right back in after the Vikings effectuated Peterson’s five-touchdown slogan. Ryan is one of the best quarterbacks of his era, but his legacy will be marred by Patriots and Vikings grandiose comebacks.
The Colts will now fade into 2022 nothingness, contemplating offseason next steps at quarterback and head coach. In no way, shape, or form can Ryan be trusted as Indianapolis’ QB1 in 2023. And Jeff Saturday, an unproven coach in the first place, likely won’t be back. The Vikings probably ended the Ryan-Saturday era.
For the Vikings, the comeback was essentially a product of 1st Half self-sabotage. We shall see how they parlay the historic Saturday next weekend versus the New York Giants.
Overall, though, Peterson was right. The Vikings needed five touchdowns. They got ’em.
Lord Have Mercy. What Is This Team?
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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