Darnold throws 3 TD passes in 2nd half as Vikings overcome 3 turnovers to beat Flacco, Colts 21-13

MINNEAPOLIS -- Wherever this beardown commencement to nan play winds up starring nan Minnesota Vikings, it's clear that belief and resilience will beryllium responsible for a important measurement of their success.

Sam Darnold overcame 4 sacks and 3 turnovers by throwing 3 second-half touchdown passes, and nan Minnesota defense made Indianapolis backmost Joe Flacco's return to nan starting domiciled a unsmooth 1 arsenic nan Vikings hit nan Colts 21-13 connected Sunday night.

“I’m judge Sam will beryllium difficult connected himself for those 2 interceptions, but I’m going to enactment fierce pinch him because of my assurance successful him," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said.

Justin Jefferson had 137 receiving yards, Jordan Addison made a one-handed diving drawback successful nan backmost area of nan extremity area to get Minnesota connected nan committee aft a sloppy and scoreless first half, and Jalen Nailor had nan tiebreaking touchdown reception to thief nan Vikings (6-2) extremity a two-game skid.

“The turnovers are nothing. Those are conscionable small insignificant errors that we tin hole easily,” Jefferson said. “We've conscionable sewage to protect nan ball, conscionable not effort to make that large play. Sam is simply a phenomenal quarterback.”

Kenny Moore II had a 38-yard fumble return successful nan 2nd quarter, nan only touchdown for nan Colts (4-5) successful their first crippled each play that wasn't decided by six points aliases fewer.

“It decidedly shows that if we could person made this 1 play present aliases this 1 play here, things could beryllium different,” wide receiver Alec Pierce said.

Flacco replaced Anthony Richardson, pinch nan 2023 4th wide NFL draught prime struggling severely and becoming nan self-created taxable of a week of basking takes aft taking himself retired for a play past week because he was tired.

The AP NFL Comeback Player of nan Year grant victor pinch Cleveland past play aft he came disconnected his couch to thief nan Browns make nan playoffs, Flacco went 16 for 27 for 179 yards and 1 interception.

“Coming successful present against a squad for illustration this is going to beryllium difficult," Flacco said, "but I don’t deliberation you ever expect thing for illustration that.”

He moved nan Colts to nan Minnesota 40 midway done nan 4th fourth facing a 14-10 deficit, but Harrison Smith, who recovered an opening-drive fumble by Jonathan Taylor, collapsed up consecutive passes to unit a turnover connected downs.

“Sometimes going done definite situations tin thief you grow. There's nary maturation successful comfort,” Smith said. “I deliberation we took a measurement successful nan correct direction.”

Darnold, who vanished 28 for 34 for 290 yards, deed Josh Oliver for nan game-sealing people pinch 2:05 left.

“That's not really you tie it up, for sure, but we've battled done adversity passim this twelvemonth and we do it successful games arsenic well,” Darnold said. “We've sewage a really resilient group.”

The Vikings group an NFL grounds two years ago by rallying from a 33-0 halftime shortage to hit nan Colts 39-36 successful overtime, and their first half was eerily akin to that game. The convenient quality was they only trailed by a touchdown, aft limiting nan Colts to 92 yards connected 20 plays.

Will Reichard, who started his rookie play by making his first 34 kicks, became nan past regular successful nan convention to miss by pulling a 53-yard section extremity effort right. Then his 31-yarder bounced disconnected nan correct upright.

Darnold spoiled a promising first possession for nan Vikings pinch an on-the-run, across-his-body propulsion to T.J. Hockenson successful double sum that was intercepted successful nan extremity area by Zaire Franklin.

After Byron Murphy picked disconnected Flacco successful nan 4th quarter, Darnold gave it correct backmost connected nan adjacent play erstwhile Nick Cross undercut an overeager propulsion to Jefferson.

The Vikings welcomed their two-time Pro Bowl tight extremity Hockenson backmost from nan knee wounded that ended his 2023 play prematurely. His third-down drawback that would've moved nan chains was erased by a holding punishment connected near tackle Cam Robinson, who was hastily acquired this week aft a season-ending knee injury to standout Christian Darrisaw.

The Colts person a vulnerable protect line, nary matter who's blocking, and their unit up nan mediate was a problem for Darnold. Grover Stewart steamrolled halfway Garrett Bradbury connected a dropback adjacent midfield and dislodged nan shot arsenic he slammed Darnold to nan turf for Moore to scoop up for nan score.

Stewart, whose forearm grazed Darnold's facemask pinch truthful overmuch unit that it knocked him down, was initially flagged for nan hit. The punishment was waved off.

Colts: LT Bernhard Raimann (concussion) was held retired and replaced by rookie Matt Goncalves.

Vikings: LB Blake Cashman (toe) was sidelined for nan 3rd consecutive game.

Colts: Host Buffalo adjacent Sunday.

Vikings: Visit Jacksonville adjacent Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL