Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Saturday’s action in Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season. Catch up on each game’s biggest takeaways using the links below:
NFL Network Saturday tripleheader
Michael Baca’s takeaways:
- Vikings clinch NFC North with biggest comeback in NFL history. Minnesota orchestrated another miracle on Saturday, overcoming a 33-point deficit and winning in overtime for what now stands as the largest comeback in NFL history. Entering the second half down 33-0, all hope seemed lost for a Vikings team that handed the Colts opportunities with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a lost fumble near the red zone, a botched fake punt that led to another score, and a pick-six to enter halftime down 33-0. With Minnesota’s defense holding the Colts to three points and 102 total yards in the second half, the offense rattled off three consecutive touchdown drives starting with 8:26 left in the third quarter, clawing their way back into the game despite turning the ball over twice (interception, downs) in the fourth quarter and putting the game into OT thanks to Dalvin Cook‘s incredible 64-yard touchdown and T.J. Hockenson‘s two-point conversion. The Vikings scored 22 points in the final frame to get into OT, but even there the craziness continued as the Vikings got the ball first only to punt it away at midfield. After stopping the Colts a final time, Kirk Cousins drove down the field and found Justin Jefferson on a crucial 13-yard gain to get Greg Joseph into field goal range. Joseph booted the 40-yard FG to complete the epic comeback and clinch the NFC North title in the most dramatic way possible for a Week 15 intraconference game.
- A Saturday to forget for Indianapolis. Everything was going swimmingly for the Colts as they took advantage of every early mistake made by the Vikings. Indy’s 33-0 drubbing in the first half featured a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a recovered fumble on the ensuing drive that turned into another quick TD, a botched fake punt by the Vikings that essentially gave Indy three points for free and Julian Blackmon‘s 17-yard pick-six. The Colts scored on five of their six offensive possessions in the first half with kicker Chase McLaughlin (5 of 5 FGs) ensuring positive results. His last make, a 52-yarder, came with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter and it would be the Colts’ final score of the game. A defense that held the Vikings in check for the majority of three quarters was continuously gashed with splash plays, allowing 31 unanswered points following McLaughlin’s final kick. The Matt Ryan-led offense didn’t do them any favors either, as the Colts were held to just four plays in five of six fourth-quarter possessions, which included a late-game fumble by Deon Jackson that was lucky not to have ended in a TD return by the Vikings. The Colts still had a chance in OT despite allowing an already embarrassing comeback, but the lack of a run game (Johnathan Taylor exited the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury) pitted the Colts into precarious third-and-longs all game. Ryan couldn’t muster a big play on the Colts’ lone OT drive, going eight plays for 31 yards and a punt from their own 44-yard line. Forcing a tie was soon the desired result as the Vikings took over at their own 18 with one timeout and 1:41 to play, but even then a loss seemed inevitable and so does the fate of interim head coach Jeff Saturday.
- Jefferson continues record-setting pace despite slow start. The Vikings star wide receiver was held to just three receptions for 17 yards amid the hellish first half, which included a brief exit after getting slammed to the turf on a tackle, but Jefferson was instrumental in the comeback win, adding eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Jefferson, per usual, flashed his tremendous route-running skills against respected Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore for most of the game, and had the veteran on skates at the end of his 8-yard TD catch to start the fourth quarter. Of course, Jefferson’s number was called in the most crucial moment of OT, hauling in a screen pass and gaining the necessary yardage to get into FG range. Totaling 12 receptions for 123 yards and one score, Jefferson maintains his pace toward Calvin Johnson‘s single-season receiving record of 1,964 yards. With three games remaining (vs. NYG, at GB, at CHI), Jefferson’s spectacular 2022 season goes forward with 1,623 total receiving yards, which currently leads the NFL.
Next Gen stat of the day: The Vikings had a minimum win probability of 0.4% when trailing 33-0 in third quarter (second-lowest in eventual win for any team in NGS era, incl. playoffs).
NFL Research: The Vikings’ 33-point comeback is the largest in NFL history, edging out the Buffalo Bills’ 32-point comeback win over the Houston Oilers in the 1992 AFC wild-card game. Last team to come back from a 23-point deficit was Kirk Cousins in the “You Like That” game for Washington in Week 7, 2015 against the Buccaneers.