The Indianapolis Colts turned to Joe Flacco this week, benching 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson in hopes of stabilizing an erratic offense. The swap didn't make a glaring difference, however, at least against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite scoring first to start Sunday's prime-time Week 9 matchup, the Flacco-led Colts were unable to outlast Minnesota's physicality, as Sam Darnold and a balanced Kevin O'Connell attack survived their own hiccups to claim a 21-13 victory.
Flacco initially kept Indy afloat as the Colts' defensive front terrorized Darnold behind a battered line, which saw trade acquisition Cam Robinson debut as the Vikings' new left tackle just days after arriving. Yet the Colts' lone touchdown came on a defensive play, in which Grover Stewart strip-sacked Darnold and Kenny Moore II returned the ensuing fumble 38 yards. The Vikings, meanwhile, came alive in the third quarter, when Darnold fed Justin Jefferson (137 yards), Jordan Addison (5 catches), and even tight ends Josh Oliver (5 catches) and T.J. Hockenson, who made his long-anticipated return from a 2023 ACL tear.
The Vikings snap a two-game losing streak, improving to 6-2 on the season, thanks to Sunday's decision. That keeps them just one game behind the rival Detroit Lions in the ultra-competitive NFC North. The Colts, meanwhile, fall to 4-5 and remain in second place in the ailing AFC South.
Here are our major takeaways from Sunday night's game:
Play of the game
The Colts had the most disruptive play of the night, when Stewart slammed Darnold to the turf to force an early fumble, and rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell also wowed with a late toe-tapping sideline grab. This diving catch by Addison put Minnesota on the board, however, turning the tide of the contest:
No matter the QB, the Colts are hurting
Flacco wasn't awful in his first start as the indefinite QB1 for Indianapolis, and in fact brought a calm hand to the proceedings out of the gate. But he got into hardly any meaningful rhythm with Flores' defense keying in on the Jonathan Taylor-led ground game, underscoring Anthony Richardson's missing impact as a runner. By the end, with Indy trailing and Flacco required to air it out, the Vikings could dial up the pressure and easily affect his pocket comfortability. No matter how you slice it, Shane Steichen has issues under center, and they probably won't be easily corrected this season.
Darnold and Co. are back on track, sort of
Speaking of imperfect quarterback situations, Darnold had somewhat of a curious night under the lights. On one hand, he stayed composed until the finish, as he's done mostly all year for Minnesota. And he spread the ball all over the field, involving just about every pass catcher at his disposal. That's a big plus, especially as Hockenson continues to ramp up his activity. He was also a little more reckless, throwing an ill-advised end-zone pick early and another pick into congested coverage late. The X factor: his protection, which started shakily, especially on the interior, but seemed to improve as the night went.
The Vikings are here to stay in the North hunt
For now, at least. Again, this wasn't necessarily a world-beating victory for Minnesota. A win is a win, though, and getting to 6-2 rather than dropping a third straight is huge. Especially because the Vikings' next two -- at Jacksonville, and at the Tennessee Titans -- are just as, if not more, winnable. It's not hard to envision this team going into Soldier Field for a Thanksgiving Week matchup with the rival Chicago Bears sporting a 7-3 or 8-2 mark. That would likely mean serious wild-card consideration down the stretch.
What's next
The Colts (4-5) return home to host the Buffalo Bills (7-2), who edged the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Vikings (6-2) hit the road to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7), who fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, with a chance to keep pace with the Lions in the NFC North.
