Minnesota Vikings trampled in week 15 by Indianapolis Colts 6-34
The Minnesota Vikings suffered a disaster of monumental proportions during week 15 of the 2016 NFL season in a massive loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Minnesota Vikings entered week 15 of the NFL season needing a big win over the Indianapolis Colts, but failed to do so. They lost big against their opponents, falling 6-34 and making it even harder to push for relevance in the 2016 season.
For those who missed the game or want to take a walk down memory lane, here is a rundown of what happened during the game:
Minnesota won the and deferred to the Colts. Indianapolis took their opening drive and worked Frank Gore to move the chains, but a disciplined Vikings defense kept the plays in front of them. Andrew Luck extended the drive with a nice 3rd down pickup, but stalled. Finally, the Colts had to settle for a long field goal.
Down 0-3, the Vikings were on offense next. A Peterson run and catch left them with a long 3rd down chance, and a check-down to Kyle Rudolph didn’t come close. Minnesota was forced to punt.
Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin (33) carries the ball during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis had a nice punt return which set them up with good field position. Under pressure, Luck made an accurate deep pass and set the Colts up in prime position for a score. The Minnesota defense played strong, but a penalty by Linval Joseph on the field goal attempt trying to hurdle the center gave the Colts another chance, with Turbin punching in the score. Colts take a 10 point lead.
A quick 3 and out, including a false star penalty, gave the ball right back to Indianapolis. Thankfully, a nice punt from Locke put the Colts inside their own 20.
The Colts took over at the start of the second quarter. A penalty and a couple of throws off the mark led to a quick 3 and out, getting the ball back in the hands of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota wasted this possession, failing to move the chains and giving the ball right back to the Colts very quickly. Luckily, another sweet Locke punt pinned the Colts deep in their own territory.
Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Erik Swoope (86) celebrates his touchdown in front of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway (52) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
A combination of penalties and efficient play helped Indianapolis move the chains. A big throw from Luck to Swoope resulted in a long touchdown, putting the Vikings in a huge hole at 0-17 midway through the second quarter.
The Vikings had a nice drive attempt including a great catch by Kyle Rudolph. Adrian Peterson fumbled the football in the red zone and gave the ball back to Indianapolis.
Luck and company took advantage of a struggling Vikings defense, marching down the field and running in another touchdown for the Colts. Turbin broke at least 5 tackles on the play and put the Vikings behind 0-24.
Sam Bradford made a mistake on the Vikings drive, throwing an interception with little time on the clock. Still, Indianapolis was able to take advantage of the situation by knocking a field goal through.
At halftime, Minnesota trailed the Colts 0-27.
Minnesota came out with some aggression, moving the ball fairly well. Adam Thielen took a big hit to the head, but seemed to be okay on the sidelines. On the field, the chains kept moving until a strip sack ripped the ball out of Bradford’s hands and the Colts recovered.
Defense came alive for the Vikings in this drive, stopping the colts and forcing a punt. However, once Minnesota had control of the ball, they actually got moving. Nice catches by Asiata and Charles Johnson got the team in the red zone, where a sack pushed Minnesota back. Kai Forbath knocked through a field goal to put the Vikings on the board.
Down 3-27, the Colts were on offense again. Indianapolis continued to chip away at the Vikings defense, keeping the ball in bounds while moving the chains. Luck took a deep shot to Dorsett, and it paid off with a 50 yard score. Vikings go down 3-34 just after the start of the 4th quarter.
Minnesota fought back. Stefon Diggs showed some toughness in fighting for a first down while the team kept the ball moving into Colts territory. Forbath came on to attempt a 51 yard field goal, and knocked it through. However, Minnesota still trailed 6-34.
More from The Viking Age
Indianapolis went back into efficiency mode. They picked up first downs and moved the chains several times before punting the ball back to the Vikings.
The Vikings made a lot of short throw before taking a shot to Patterson on 4th down. The pass fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs and giving the ball back to the Colts on the wrong side of the football field.
With the game in hand, the Colts continued to run the ball to keep the clock moving. They also brought in their backups at this point, since it was extremely unlikely the Vikings would be making a comeback.
After a turnover on downs, Minnesota would have another chance to put some points on the board. Jerick McKinnon, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Kyle Rudolph all added some big yardage to the drive, but back-to-back sacks led to allowing the Vikings to let the clock run out.
The Minnesota Vikings will go on the road next week to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Packers. The importance of the game has yet to be determined, but expect a hard fought game against a division rival.
