NFL
By: Steve Rogers
The Minnesota Viking’s purplexingly profound performances have left us all pondering. Are the Vikings real contenders or just pretenders? On Saturday, the Vikings made NFL history when they broke a 32-year record for the largest comeback victory. The previous record was 32 points by the Buffalo Bills. After several self-inflicted wounds, the Vikings found themselves in a 33-0 hole at halftime against the Indianapolis Colts. Since the NFL was created back in 1920, this is only the second time ever that a team has been behind by more than 28 and managed to comeback and win the game. In over 100 years just two times ever.
When you have a crazy comeback like this you get weird stats and stories. This game is no different. When you look at the history of comebacks previously there had been 32 of at least 23 points. That means the 33 point comeback is also the 33 comeback of more than 23 points. Fun fact the last two teams that have comeback from at least 24 points and won a regular season game were both quarterbacked by Kirk Cousins. the first was in 2015 with Washington when they beat the Bucaneers. It’s known as the “You like that?! game. Cousins joins Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to have multiple 24 or more point comeback wins in their careers. Only eight times has a team comeback from 25 plus points in NFL history. That’s not all the Colts Quarterback Matt Ryan is now the losing quarterback in the last two occurrences. Matt Ryan is the only quarterback with multiple losses from 25 plus point leads. Ryan joins Tony Romo, and Jim Plunkett as the only quarterbacks to lose multiple games with at least a 23 point lead.
The 33-0 halftime deficit is also the largest halftime comeback in NFL history. After the Vikings got their first touchdown the Colts got a field goal to make the score 36-7 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter. That’s a 29 point deficit with less than 20 minutes to play. Which on its on is the second biggest comeback. The Vikings are the fifth team to comeback from a 22 plus point deficit in the fourth quarter. Wouldn’t you know it this Vikings franchise is on this list twice! In 1985 the Vikings were down 23-0 to the Eagles when they scored 28 unanswered and won 28-23.
The one thing that is established by this 2022 Vikings team is they might be the best fourth quarter team in the league. Going into last week they already had six fourth quarter comeback wins and three of those from double digits. Now you can make that four double digit comebacks and seven overall. This Vikings team has been making noise and continues to shock the world. Kirk Cousins has seven game winning drives this year, one shy of tying Mathew Stafford for the single season record. In what has already been deemed “The game of the year!” they shocked the world in Buffalo when they upset the super bowl favorite (at the time) Bills. Now they’ve added the greatest comeback in the history of the NFL to their resume. With such a magical season taking shape is this a team of destiny we’re seeing? One thing is certain this team started out as the comeback kids but they just became “The Comeback (Vi)Kings!” Just how far can this Vikings team go with the NFC North locked up they have an opportunity to also lock up the two seed and host at least one home playoff game in January.
