Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
During Kevin O’Connell’s first season as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, he made a very strong first impression. Not only did the Vikings win 13 games, make the playoffs, and take the division, but they also made history on multiple occasions. Nothing in NFL history compares to what they did against the Indianapolis Colts.
On December 17, 2022, Minnesota met a 4-8-1 Colts team. The Vikings already had ten wins and were looking to go 11-3. That should have been a straightforward outcome, with one team clearly better than the other. By halftime, the Vikings trailed 33-0, and it looked like a blowout loss.
If you remember that game, you know it was the greatest comeback in NFL history. Minnesota scored 39 points, while Indianapolis scored just three in the second half and overtime. It produced a pretty cool Kirk Cousins quote and was definitely a notable victory in a season of them for O’Connell.
This time around, there should be no expectations regarding a literal historical comeback, but the Vikings can avoid that sort of necessity altogether. Minnesota played poorly despite being a vastly better team. That is again true this season, and there is no reason for the Vikings to get behind early.
After two straight losses, O’Connell needs his team to come out ready immediately. The Colts have pulled the plug on former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, and they are going with veteran Joe Flacco. The past two seasons have proven that the 39-year-old still has the ability to get it done, but he isn’t a juggernaut by any means.
Minnesota must key on running back Jonathan Taylor and control Flacco in the passing game. Head coach Shane Steichen seems to be making moves out of desperation, and despite being a 4-4 team, the Colts should find themselves there. The Vikings must make sure to stomp out any signs of belief early and put the Colts away.
The Vikings have allowed teams to come back in their past few victories, and it has been a while since they played a dominant four quarters. This would be a great opportunity for the purple to execute in all phases of the game and get the job done.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.